How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?

You may know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your HVAC system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows need to be replaced every two years. Your smoke detectors must be replaced every ten years. But what about your furnace?

If your furnace has yearly maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 12-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating equipment with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on utility costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be operating fine, it’s ideal to start doing your research now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When thinking about new furnace options it’s also important to take into account your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. New heating equipment is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.

Another reason you need to research in advance is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. This year, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only through 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.

Something to consider if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can typically repair a heating system – swap out a part here, fix a section there – but at some point the cost of repairing your furnace will exceed the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to think about replacement.

If you aren’t positive about your heating system’s ability to get you through the cold season safe and warm, give Norrell Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your system and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Norrell Service Experts is providing discounts on specific HVAC systems so give us a call and discover how much you can save!