How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your HVAC system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows require replacement every two years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every ten years. But what about your heating system?
If your heating equipment has yearly maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 10-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start thinking about replacing your heating equipment with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on utility costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be operating fine, it’s ideal to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your equipment breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also crucial to think about your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. A new heating system is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you want to research in advance is to see what tax credits and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Right now, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been verified past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help locate local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to take under advisement if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is the amount of money you’re spending on repairs. You can normally repair a furnace – replace a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will be greater than the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to examine long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t sure about your heating system’s ability to get you through the freezing temperatures safe and warm, give Becht/Givens Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your equipment and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Becht/Givens is providing discounts on specific heating and cooling systems so give us a call and ask about how much you can save!
