How Do You Know If You Should Repair or Replace Your Furnace?

Silver water heater unit with controls, copper and PVC pipes against a gray tiled wall, on a reddish-brown floor.

One of the most aggravating things in the world is dealing with a broken furnace in the middle of the winter. It's cold outside and you have nothing to heat your home with. What makes it worse is that, if you would have just dealt with the maintenance of your furnace during the fall, you probably could have prevented this from happening because you would have known the furnace needed to be repaired or replaced.

So, since it is nearly fall, it is time to call an HVAC professional to perform maintenance on your furnace so that it is ready to keep your home warm this winter. But what do you do if they come back and say that there is something wrong with your furnace? How do you know if you should make the repairs or if it just time to get a new furnace? Read on to find out three questions you need to ask to make that decision.

1. How Old Is Your Current Furnace?

In most cases, if your furnace is nearing the end of its life cycle, then replacing it is probably the smartest solution. Of course, if you have just recently purchased the furnace, then repairing it makes more sense. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, you can expect your furnace to last for about 15 to 25 years.

If you did not buy the furnace and have it installed, how can you find out when it was installed? Luckily, it is easier than you think. Usually, the installation year is located on the furnace. If you cannot locate it, shut down your furnace if it is in use and give it time to cool down. Once it is cool, look for the metal plate on the unit's chamber door and take down its model and serial numbers.

With the model and serial numbers in hand, you can phone the manufacturer to get more information about the unit, including the year it was made. While it may not be an exact installation date, it will give you a pretty good estimate of when the furnace was installed.

2. How Much Will It Cost for Repairs/Replacement?

Your next step is to obtain several estimates for the furnace repairs as well as the replacement of the furnace. If you still have a warranty on your furnace, then the chances are that it is going to be cheaper to undergo the repairs.

To replace your furnace, you are going to need to think about the unit's size based on the size of your home, your desired efficiency level (which is measured in AFUE) and other variables deemed important to you, like single or multiple-stage.

As you try to determine whether to replace or repair based on cost, think long-term. If your furnace has already lived out 75 percent of its life and needs to undergo repairs, especially if they are going to cost over 33 percent of the cost of a replacement, then you should opt to go ahead with the replacement.

3. What Is Your Current Situation?

Each person and family leads a different life. It is for that reason that your individual situation must be considered as you approach the decision as to whether you should undergo repairs of your furnace or opt to replace it. If you do not have the funds to pay for a brand new furnace or finance one, then you may have no other choice than to repair your furnace regardless of its age or condition.

Equipped with all of the above information, do you think you should repair or replace your furnace? It's okay if you still don't have the answer, because E.T. Ferrell & Son Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Contact us today if you are having HVAC issues or would like to schedule a maintenance check-up.

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