We understand that buying a new furnace may not be a priority in the immediate future, but it’s wise to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. Below are the top 5 considerations that McKinley Heating Service Experts advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Just like any appliance, as furnaces age, the probability of frequent heating repairs increase. If your furnace is over 15 years old, you might start to experience relatively expensive repairs. More common and costly repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Edmonton area homes today vary significantly and their efficiency directly influences your utility bills. Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient, with up to 40% of your heating dollars going out the window (in a manner of speaking). Even newer furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A well maintained furnace will run more efficiently, lower the likelihood of expensive repairs and above all ensure your safety. After all, these are gas-fired appliances. Another important point is a properly serviced furnace will last longer before replacement is necessary.
4. Tune-up Checks
McKinley Heating Service Experts hears many questions pertaining to what really can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many essential checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- Much more...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the skill and hands-on experience to perform a tune-up should maintain heating equipment once a year. In short, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with aged equipment are some of the more obvious indicators of a need to replace your furnace.
Excessive energy costs and the need to reduce energy consumption are also pressing reasons to contemplate replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst suggested nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Edmonton area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call McKinley Heating Service Experts at 780-800-7092.