How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when you should replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your furnace?
If your heating system has routine maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 12-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start considering replacing your heating equipment with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed properly, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be operating fine, it’s better to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a terrible freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When contemplating 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 energy efficiency and comfort. A new heating system 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. Currently, 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 verified past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help discover local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to consider if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is the amount of money you’re spending on repairs. You can usually repair a furnace – swap out a part here, fix a section there – but eventually the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and then you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the winter safe and warm, give Stevenson Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your equipment and provide any options. Starting December 1st, Stevenson Service Experts is providing discounts on qualifying HVAC systems so call us and ask about how much you can save!