When its cold outside, the health and function of your home’s furnace is obviously critical to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace problems, you probably are wondering whether it’s in your best interests to repair or replace your furnace. There are several factors that will help you resolve which option is best for you. Your Gaithersburg area HVAC professional can help you judge your needs and your broken HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the ideal short- and long-term answer for your Gaithersburg home.
When Repair Is Best
More often than not, furnace problems can be easily pinpointed and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., under ten years — odds are highly likely that any issues it experiences can be solved through repair. Furthermore, if your furnace is still heating your Gaithersburg area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you verify this), then it is still likely and more affordable to repair it. Usually, as long as you are not seeing a steady increase in your heating bills with continual usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is functioning efficiently. A good general rule of thumb regarding furnace repairs is that assuming the repairs you require are less than one-third of the cost of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its predicted lifetime, repair is likely your best choice. Don’t forget that even if you are experiencing a decrease in heating efficiency, there are other paths you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC technician about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your Gaithersburg home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these enhancement could boost the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Parker Pearce Service Experts about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will keep your furnace functioning its best and help you prevent further repairs or drops in efficiency.
When Replacement Is Best
In some cases, repair cannot restore your heating system to a minimally effective level. The anticipated lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; thereafter, the heating system will start to fail more and more often. Thus, if your furnace is approaching or past 15 years old, it is time to discuss replacement. Regardless of the age of your furnace, if you require your HVAC service provider for repairs on a regular basis, this could also be a sign that it’s time to consider replacement. Although repairs may seem like an easy fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace functioning for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges can add up quickly and cost you more in the long run. There are several things that may determine whether replacement is best for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. Installation means everything in terms of furnace effectiveness. In addition, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized properly for your Gaithersburg home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you will probably need to consider a new unit instead of dealing with a heating system that lacks the capacity to properly heat your home.
If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your Gaithersburg home’s heating system is right for you, contact Parker Pearce Service Experts today.