How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when you should replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows need to be replaced every two years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years. But what about your heating equipment?
If your heating equipment has routine maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 10-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start considering replacing your furnace with upgraded, more energy-efficient heating equipment. Installed properly, these high-efficiency heating systems can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your heating system still seems to be running fine, it’s best to start looking now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a deep freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When considering new furnace options it’s also critical to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. New heating equipment is only as good as the duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research ahead of time is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Right now, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific HVAC equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Follow this link to help find local rebates available in your community : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Something to think about if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairs. You can typically repair a furnace – swap out a part here, fix a section there – but eventually the cost of repairing your furnace will be greater than the cost of replacing it and then you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to think about replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your furnace’s ability to get you through the cold season safe and toasty, give Stevenson Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your system and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Stevenson Service Experts is providing discounts on specific HVAC systems so call us and discover how much you can save!