How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when you need to replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows require replacement every two years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every ten years. But what about your heating equipment?
If your heating equipment has seasonal maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 12-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start considering replacing your heating system with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s ideal to start looking into your options 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 time to look into your options. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also crucial to think about your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can seriously affect your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. A new furnace is only as good as the duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you need to research beforehand is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Currently, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for qualifying HVAC equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Use this link to help locate local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to think about if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can normally repair heating equipment – swap out a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your furnace will exceed the cost of replacing it and then you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on an annual basis, it’s probably time to think about replacement.
If you aren’t sure about your heating system’s ability to get you through the cold season safe and toasty, give McKinley Heating Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your furnace and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, McKinley Heating Service Experts is providing discounts on specific home comfort systems so give us a call and ask about how much you can save!
