You snoozed your alarm this morning and when you finally wake up your eyes widen with horror because you’re late for work. Again.
A nice warm shower will take some of the frustration away, right? But as you step into the falling streams of crystal clear water your body shudders with the shock—the water is icy cold.
The furnace broke down again!
Just so you don’t mull over if you should repair or replace your furnace at work, we provide here a few of the factors that may help you make up your mind.
So keep scrolling to find out if you should really replace that furnace or call in a furnace technician to repair it.
To Replace Or Not To Replace—A Few Factors To Consider
First of all, consider:
1. How Long You Have Been Using The Furnace
Why should you be putting in money repairing a furnace that won’t live for much long? An average furnace can give you a good service for 15-20 years, after that, you will see signs of deterioration and poor heating.
- If you’re unsure how to find the age of your furnace, we’ve got you covered!
- Try to look for the year written on the furnace. There are a few technicians who practice writing the year of installation on the furnace. You can figure out then how old your furnace really is.
- Another way to find out is by turning off your furnace and waiting for it to cool. Next, look for the chamber door and you may find a metal identification plate. Next, record the serial numbers and model written on the plate. Now you can call your furnace manufacturer’s customer service and get the manufacturing date of your furnace.
If you’ve been using your furnace for a little over 20 years and it’s been giving frequent break downs, you may need to replace it after all. If not, a repair from an experienced technician would do.
2. The Cost Of Repair Vs. Replacement
Another factor that you need to consider while thinking about what to do with your faulty furnace is to compare its repair cost with its replacement cost. As a general rule of thumb, you want to replace the furnace if its repair cost exceeds 50% of its replacement cost. Moreover, if your furnace is old—has surpassed 75% of their life expectancy—you want to consider buying a new one if the repair costs are greater than 1/3rd of the replacement costs.
As a way for you to compare, a new furnace would generally cost you between $2000 and $6500 based on its efficiency level and type. This is just an estimate, however, and final prices may vary based on the brand you’re purchasing, its warranty and your location.
3. You’re Noticing Fluctuations In Your Utility Bills
While a few fluctuations in heating bills is normal due to weather changes and variation in demand and supply; if there are constant spikes in your bills, it is recommended that you call in a professional to check.
Moreover, compare your utility bills from that of the last winter and see if the change is something you should be worried about. A furnace technician should be able to help you in this regard.
Consider replacing your furnace if it is old (above 15 years), is causing great heating bills AND will be expensive to repair. If your furnace is fairly new and the repair cost is affordable, get a service instead.
The reason for replacing old furnaces when there are surges in heating bills is that as the furnace gets old, the smaller parts inside are subjected to wear and tear. As the parts become worn out, they are not able to fulfill your house’s heating demand. As a result, they use up more electricity to try to cope up with it. This is why your utility bills go up.
4. Your Furnace Is Leaking Carbon Monoxide
This factor is one of the most important ones and needs immediate attention. If your furnace is leaking carbon monoxide gas, you need to replace it immediately.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and is fatal if inhaled in large amounts. According to the CDC, over 2000 people had died from CO poisoning between the years 2010 and 2015.
If you notice these signs, your furnace may be leaking CO:
- Your furnace flame is yellow instead of blue
- There is unexplainable moisture on the walls and windows
- You are noticing rusting on the pipes
- There is soot around the furnace
- You and your family are feeling nauseous, disoriented and having headaches or other flu-like symptoms
In case you notice these symptoms, call emergency services and evacuate your home.
Conclusion
These were a few of the factors that you need to consider if you’re confused whether to repair your furnace or to replace it. Hopefully, this guide will help you in choosing the right thing for your home.
In case you’ve decided to replace your furnace and are looking for affordable furnace installation in PA, get in touch with us. AAC Heating and Cooling has experienced and trained technicians who are able to handle any and all types of situations related to HVAC.