You likely know when you need to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter should be replaced each month. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years. But what about your furnace?
If your furnace has annual 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 a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be operating fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your equipment breaks down in the middle of a terrible freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When thinking about new furnace options it’s also critical to take into account your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can seriously affect your home’s overall energy efficiency and comfort. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research in advance is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Right now, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific HVAC equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help discover local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to think about if your furnace isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can normally repair a furnace – swap out a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating system will outweigh the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are having to repair your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to consider replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your furnace’s ability to get you through the winter safe and toasty, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your equipment and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Service Experts is providing discounts on certain heating and cooling systems so call us and discover how much you can save!