How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?

You likely know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter should be replaced each month. Your pillows require replacement every two years. Your smoke detectors must be replaced every decade. But what about your furnace?

If your heating system has annual maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 10-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating system with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on utility costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be running fine, it’s best to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also important to think about your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall energy efficiency and comfort. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.

Another reason to research in advance is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Right now, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help discover local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.

Something to take under advisement if your furnace isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re contemplating replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can normally repair a furnace – swap out a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will outweigh the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.

If you aren’t positive about your furnace’s ability to get you through the freezing temperatures safe and warm, give Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your furnace and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1^st, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is providing discounts on qualifying heating and cooling systems so give us a call and find out how much you can save!