A furnace is a big investment for St. Louis area homeowners. Understandably, you want to get the most use out of your furnace that you can. However, there comes a point where making repairs on your unit isn’t worth it anymore and you should begin thinking about a furnace replacement.
So how do you know when it’s time to move on to a new furnace? Below are five questions you can ask yourself to make a decision.
Five questions for making a furnace replacement decision
- How old is your furnace? The lifespan of the average furnace is 15 years, depending on how often it is used and how well it’s maintained. If your unit is more than 10 years old and you are facing some expensive repairs, it’s a good time to consider a furnace replacement.
- How efficient is your furnace? If you’ve had your furnace for several years, there are likely furnaces available to you that are much more energy-efficient than your current unit. Gas furnaces are available today with AFUE ratings of as high as 97 percent. If your current unit has a low AFUE rating, investing in a higher efficiency unit could save you a lot of money in the years to come.
- How well have you maintained your furnace? Have you had preventive maintenance performed on your furnace every year? Do you change your air filters every month during the heating season? The better you take care of your furnace, the longer it will last. Expensive repairs might not be worth it if your furnace has not been properly maintained over the years.
- Have you noticed changes in performance? Has your furnace been showing signs of aging? If you’ve been experiencing more and more hot and cold spots in your home or if your furnace has been making strange noises, it might not be working as well as it used to. A repair might be less expensive in the short term, but it’s not worth it to repair an old and poorly-operating unit.
- Have your energy bills been increasing? If your energy bills have been increasing over the past few years, your furnace is likely becoming less efficient. It’s best to have a higher efficiency furnace now so you can save money in the future.
If you have any questions about getting a furnace replacement, or if you would like to have a new furnace installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, your St. Louis area heating and cooling company.