Your home heating system will eventually need repair, but there comes a time when you have to answer a tough question: is it worth fixing this equipment again? Here are some factors to consider as you evaluate your heating system and decide whether to repair or replace your furnace.
- Age: A furnace should give many years of reliable service, but if your system is more than 15 years old, replacement may be your better choice. Age should not be the only factor in deciding to get a new furnace. However, in combination with some of the other issues listed here, an older furnace could be a candidate for replacement.
- Condition: If your furnace has been well maintained, is still in good condition and is working like it should, it will likely last a few more seasons. A furnace in poor condition, however, isn’t going to last much longer and may break down when you need it most.
- Efficiency: If you’ve noticed your heating bills going up with no improvement in home comfort — or worse, a reduction in home comfort — your furnace is losing efficiency. As demands on an inefficient furnace increase during heating season, the system is more likely to fail.
- Effectiveness: Inconsistent interior temperatures, elevated levels of indoor humidity or increased amounts of dust and particulates in your indoor air could mean a serious problem with your heating system. Try fixing leaks in the ductwork and increasing insulation levels in your home. If that doesn’t help, furnace replacement will probably be needed.
- Reliability: If your furnace is simply breaking down too often, replacement is probably the best option. When repair expenses equal half the replacement cost of a new system, it’s time to retire the old furnace and get a new one.
Arpi’s Industries Ltd. is one of Calgary’s most long-lived providers of heating, cooling and home comfort services, backed by almost 50 years of professional experience. Contact us today for more information on deciding whether to repair or replace your furnace, to get an estimate on a new system or to schedule an installation.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about whether to repair or replace your furnace and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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