We know that not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s smart to learn the keys that can drive your decision when that time comes. Below are five considerations that Strogen's Service Experts advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Like any type of appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your heating equipment is over 15 years old, those repair can be especially expensive. Costly, yet typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Rochester area homes today vary significantly and their efficiency directly influences your utility bills. Furnaces older than 15 years can be terribly inefficient, wasting up to 40% of the dollars you spend to heat your home. Even recently manufactured furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A properly maintained furnace will run more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most importantly ensure your safety. Don’t forget, these are gas-fired appliances. Another point to mention is a properly tuned furnace will last longer before replacement is required.
4. Tune-up Checks
Strogen's Service Experts hears many questions concerning what really can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many essential checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- Others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified professional who has the education to perform a tune-up is needed to maintain heating equipment once a year. To put it bluntly, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with dated equipment are some of the more obvious signs of a need to replace your furnace.
High energy costs and the need to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to weigh the replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst suggested nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Rochester area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Strogen's Service Experts at 603-923-4570.