If the temperature outside is chilly, the condition of your home’s furnace is obviously vital to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace difficulties, you probably are wondering whether it’s in your best interests to repair or replace your furnace. There are many factors that will help you resolve which option is best for you. Your Roanoke area HVAC technician can help you judge your needs and your struggling HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the best short- and long-term answer for your Roanoke home.
When Repair Is Best
More often than not, furnace problems can be easily sourced and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., under ten years — it stands a very good chance that any issues it has can be solved through repair. Furthermore, if your furnace is still heating your Roanoke area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you confirm this), then it is still probable that you will repair it. Commonly, as long as you are not seeing a continuous increase in your heating bills with regular usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is considered in good shape. A good general rule of thumb about furnace repairs is that assuming the repairs you need are less than one-third of the cost of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its predicted lifetime, repair is likely your best choice. Remember that even if you are experiencing a reduction in heating efficiency, there are other routes you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC professional about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your Roanoke home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these solutions could advance the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will keep your furnace functioning its best and help you prevent further repairs or drops in efficiency.
When Replacement Is Best
Sometimes, repair cannot restore your heating system to a minimally effective level. The expected lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; after which, the heating system will begin to fail more and more often. Accordingly, if your furnace is approaching or past 15 years old, it is time to think about replacement. Regardless of the age of your furnace, if you’ve been calling your HVAC service provider for repairs too often, this could also be a sign that your furnace is beyond help and requires a replacement. Although repairs may seem like a simple fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace functioning for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges can add up quickly and cost you more in the long run. There are many things that may determine whether replacement is ideal for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. Installation means everything in terms of furnace effectiveness. In addition, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized according to specs for your Roanoke home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you will probably need to consider a new unit instead of dealing with a heating system that lacks the capacity to properly heat your home.
If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your Roanoke home’s heating system is right for you, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today.