How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You probably know when it’s time to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows need to be replaced every two years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every decade. But what about your furnace?
If your heating system has routine maintenance and is kept in good shape, it can last 12-20 years. Once your heating equipment reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start thinking about replacing your heating system with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed properly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be operating fine, it’s better to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a deep freeze and you’re so desperate you can’t properly look into your options. When thinking about new furnace options it’s also critical to think about your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can seriously affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. A new heating system is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research ahead of time is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Currently, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only until the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help find local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to consider if your furnace isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re contemplating replacement is how much you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can usually repair a heating system – replace a part here, fix a piece there – but eventually the cost of repairing your heating system will be greater than the cost of replacing it and that’s when you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace each season, it’s probably time to think about replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the winter safe and warm, give Robinson Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your system and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Robinson Service Experts is providing discounts on certain home comfort systems so give us a call and find out how much you can save!