As a homeowner, one of your most important tasks is monitoring the maintenance of your home’s air systems. Both your HVAC system and heating system are responsible for the comfort of your family, as well as their health and wellness. Your home’s overall air quality is directly related to the proper functioning of these pieces of equipment, and their upkeep is an ongoing responsibility. However, if your heating system has been having ongoing issues with functioning properly, it’s important to know if it’s worth repairing. Here, we will look at a few major ways to tell how to choose if you should repair or replace your home’s furnace.
Common Furnace Issues
Depending upon the age of your home, you may have one of many different heating systems. While modern homes are equipped with such current technologies as a heat pump or electric furnace, the majority of older homes have an old system using natural gas, propane, or a water heater. The type of furnace you own is an important factor in deciding whether repairing or replacing your furnace makes the most financial sense. If you have an older furnace that has had some of the most common issues, you may end up being on the receiving end of costly repairs and a large monthly heating bill.
For example, if your home doesn’t seem to be heating up to the thermostat level during the winter months, or the machine frequently makes strange noises, these could be the warning signs that you may have a cracked heat exchanger or simple wear and tear due to the older unit’s age. If you’re good about scheduling regular maintenance with a professional technician, yet still seem to be shelling out a lot of money in repair costs, it may be a good idea to get a quote on a modern furnace replacement.
Not only do inefficient, old furnaces drive up your heating bills, but they also are a very real threat to your family’s health. For example, if you have a gas furnace, a carbon monoxide leak could potentially be fatal. Likewise, if your furnace’s filters aren’t properly removing contaminants, the oxygen within your household’s living space could be unhealthy for family members with allergies or breathing issues. In the long run, furnace repair can only go so far. If any of these issues sound familiar, it may be time to start pricing a new heating system.
Your Ideal Replacement Heater
If you’ve made up your mind that the ongoing cost of repairs isn’t worth it and opted for a new heating system, now it’s time to weigh your options. The basic rule of thumb is to consider your household budget, then consider your home’s heating needs. For example, if you live in a geographical region that has temperate climates throughout the seasons, or if you’re interested in energy efficiency, a heat pump might be a good fit. There are also numerous tax credits available to homeowners that choose more energy-efficient air systems. This modern technology also has the advantage of replacing both your furnace and your air conditioning systems with a single unit. While the installation could be a little higher than other systems, you do have the advantage of retaining the services of one HVAC technician for all your maintenance needs, as well as a longer lifespan on the unit itself.
A heat pump may not be your style, however, and other options are out there. If you’re tired of depending upon fuel or propane delivery, a new unit running off electricity is significantly more energy-efficient than in previous years. Likewise, an electric furnace is easily adjusted with the aid of a “smart thermostat,” which can greatly decrease your monthly energy bills overall.