Should I Repair or Replace My Furnace?

December 29, 2014

If the temperature outside is chilly, the health and function of your home’s furnace is obviously critical to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace difficulties, you might be wondering whether it’s in your best interests to repair or replace your furnace. There are many factors that will determine which option is best for you. Your East Syracuse area HVAC service advisor can help you assess your needs and your struggling HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the appropriate short- and long-term answer for your East Syracuse home.

When Repair Is Best

In most cases, furnace problems can be easily identified and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., less than ten years old — it stands a very good chance that any issues it exhibits can be solved through repair. On top of that, if your furnace is still heating your East Syracuse area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you verify this), then it is still probable that you will repair it. Commonly, as long as you are not seeing a trending increase in your heating bills with continual usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is considered in good shape. A good general rule of thumb relating to furnace repairs is that assuming the repairs you require are less than one-third of the cost of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its anticipated lifetime, repair is likely your best option. Don’t forget that even if you are experiencing a decrease in heating efficiency, there are other routes you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC service advisor about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your East Syracuse home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these solutions could advance the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Falso Service Experts about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will ensure your furnace is in top condition and help you prevent further repairs or drops in efficiency.

When Replacement Is Best

At times, repair cannot restore your heating system to a minimally effective level. The expected lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; after which, the heating system will start to fail more and more often. Thus, if your furnace is approaching or past 15 years old, it is time to consider replacement. Irregardless of equipment age, if you need your HVAC service provider for repairs too often, this could also be a sign that your furnace is beyond help and requires a replacement. Although repairs may seem like an easy fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace operating for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges ultimately cost you more money. There are a variety of things that may determine whether replacement is ideal for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. A furnace is only as good as its installation, making proper installation essential. Furthermore, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized according to specs for your East Syracuse home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you should consider replacing the system and starting anew, rather than continually addressing breakdowns and poor function.

If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your East Syracuse home’s heating system is right for you, contact Falso Service Experts today.


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