Your furnace may have served you well for many years, but now it’s acting up to such an extent that you’re wondering if you should replace it. It’s a situation many homeowners in Sonora, CA, find themselves in each year. There are certain factors to consider, ideally with the help of a professional, before you make a final decision.
Furnace Age
You should know how long your furnace is designed to last. With gas furnaces, this time frame is around 15 years with proper maintenance. Electric and oil furnaces can run well for up to 25 years when properly maintained. By maintenance, we mean a professional tune-up once a year. Excessive use, which is unavoidable in extreme climates, will also shorten the lifespan.
Current Performance
Age on its own shouldn’t influence your decision. You should consider age along with your current performance. If your equipment is over 10 years old and running efficiently, there’s nothing to worry about. But if it’s suffering from, say, a bad motor or heat exchanger, then you would have to do some calculating. Neither motors nor heat exchangers are cheap to replace. A professional can’t guarantee that replacement will add years of life to a system.
Current vs. Future Expenses
Think of how much money you’re paying for heating each month and how much you’ve put into repairs recently. One sign of an inefficient furnace is low performance coupled with high utility bills. With a new and more energy-efficient system, you can cut out such energy waste and not worry so much about repairs. Certain eco-friendly units can qualify you for tax credits and state rebates. So the question is whether the high up-front cost of replacement is worth it in light of these incentives.
Established in 1975, Comphel Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is here to inspect your furnace and give an honest recommendation for either replacement or repair in Sonora. We also perform indoor air quality assessments, install ductless ACs, whole-house fans, and air purifiers. Call us today to ask any questions or schedule an appointment.
