Should I Repair or Replace My Furnace?

December 29, 2014

During the winter heating season, the health and operation of your home’s furnace is obviously vital to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace problems, you might be wondering whether it’s in your best interests to repair or replace your furnace. There are many factors that will help you resolve which option is best for you. Your Dallas area HVAC service advisor can help you assess your needs and your current HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the appropriate short- and long-term answer for your Dallas home.

When Repair Is Best

In most cases, furnace troubles can be easily sourced and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., less than 10 years of system life — odds are highly likely that any issues it exhibits can be solved through repair. Furthermore, if your furnace is still heating your Dallas area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you verify this), then it is still probable that you will repair it. Usually, as long as you are not seeing a steady increase in your heating bills with constant usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is functioning efficiently. Conventional wisdom relating to furnace repairs is that as long as the repairs you must get are less than one-third of the investment of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its anticipated lifetime, repair is likely your best option. Keep in mind that even if you are experiencing a reduction in heating efficiency, there are other paths you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC professional about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your Dallas home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these enhancement could advance the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Levy & Son Service Experts about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will add years of quality service from your furnace and help you minimize further repairs or drops in efficiency.

When Replacement Is Best

Eventually, repair will not be able to affordably resolve your issues. The anticipated lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; after which, the heating system will deteriorate and fail more and more often. Thus, if your furnace is nearing or passed the 15 year mark, it is time to discuss replacement. Beyond the factor of the age of your equipment, if you need your HVAC service provider for repairs too often, this could also be a sign that your furnace is beyond help and requires a replacement. Although repairs may seem like an easy fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace operating for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges can add up quickly and cost you more in the long run. There are many things that may determine whether replacement is ideal for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. Having your furnace installed properly is critical to the performance of the unit. In addition, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized correctly for your Dallas home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you should consider replacing the system and starting anew, rather than continually addressing breakdowns and poor function.

If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your Dallas home’s heating system is right for you, contact Levy & Son Service Experts today.

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