How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when it’s time to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your heating system?
If your heating equipment has routine maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 15-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start thinking about replacing your heating system with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed properly, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be operating fine, it’s ideal to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your equipment breaks down in the middle of a deep freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When considering 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. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason you want to research in advance is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. This year, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific heating and cooling equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Follow 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 contemplating replacement is what amount you’re spending on fixing your current furnace. You can usually repair heating equipment – swap out a part here, fix a piece there – but eventually the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to examine long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the freezing temperatures safe and cozy, give Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your equipment and provide any options. Starting December 1st, Aramendia Plumbing is providing discounts on specific HVAC systems so contact us and discover how much you can save!