Should I Repair or Replace the Furnace in my Utah Home?
Fix Your Furnace or Get A New One
Do you feel a chill in your home? Are your energy bills higher than normal? It could be time to check your furnace to determine whether it’s time to repair or replace it. This decision isn’t always easy because of the financial considerations and comfort concerns. Fixing your existing system can help save costs however, replacing your furnace might bring better performance and long-term energy savings.
In today’s blog post the pros at Western Heating & Air will break down the key elements of repair vs replacement to assist you in making this important decision for your home’s comfort.
Age of Furnace
One of the main factors that will influence whether you should repair or replace your furnace is its age. Furnaces typically last 10-15 years, though this can vary depending on usage, quality of components and regular maintenance. If your furnace is older than 15 years, it may be time to consider replacing it with a newer and more energy-efficient model. This can not only save you money on your monthly utility bills, but also make your home more comfortable.
Some furnaces last 15-20 years if they are properly maintained. Annual maintenance can save hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on your utility bills over time. If your furnace is over 10 years old and has not been maintained yearly, it’s never too late to start! Call Western to have us thoroughly check, clean, and tune up your unit . It’s better to catch potential problems now than to miss something and have to replace your furnace sooner than necessary.
Repair vs Replacement Costs
Another factor to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace your furnace is the cost of each option. An industry-accepted guideline for choosing between replacing and repairing HVAC systems is the $5,000 rule. When you multiply the age of your furnace by its estimated repair cost and the product is less than $5,000, the recommendation would be to repair the system. If you do this and the product is over $5,000, the guideline would be to install a new system.
Energy Efficiency and Performance
Finally, another important consideration when deciding between repair vs replacement is the performance and energy efficiency of your furnace. If your system has issues that require frequent repairs or tends to break down often, replacing it with a newer model can improve performance and save you money over time. If your furnace is still in good condition, repair may be a better option for you.
Real Life Repair vs Replace Case Study
Customer’s Challenge
The Cook family owns a home in Eagle Mountain. They began to notice their furnace making a quiet yet high pitched sound whenever it turned on. When it broke down, they knew they needed to call Western Heating & Air. They had only lived in this home for a year and didn’t know anything about the furnace.
Western’s Solution
A Western Technician was sent to visit the Cook family to see what the issue could be. At first glance, the technician could tell the furnace was old and not properly maintained. He determined that the furnace was 17 years old and noticed there were small cracks in the heat exchanger which could potentially leak carbon monoxide. The blower motor bearings had also gone out due to old age. The older furnace had not been properly maintained and a large amount of the gas used to heat the home was going to waste.
Final Results
The technician let the Cooks know that the best solution would be to replace their furnace then showed them where the cracks on the heat exchanger were located and explained that to repair this furnace would not be worth the cost as the system was in poor shape and quite old. That was all the Cook family needed to see to determine that replacing the furnace would be the healthiest and most cost-effective option.
You Have a Heating Partner in Western
The decision to repair or replace your furnace should take into account both your comfort needs and budget considerations. If you decide to replace, choosing the right furnace for your home is an important investment that can help you stay warm and comfortable all winter long. When you work with the team at Western, we will provide you with options for both repair and replacement along with information on convenient monthly financing if interested. By weighing out the costs and benefits of each option, you will have the tools to make an informed decision that best suits your needs and budget.
