Your furnace has had its highs and its lows. It’s on the older side, so it encounters some problems that a brand-new furnace doesn’t. But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s out of the race yet.
It’s not as hard as you might think to determine when the repair is worth it, or when it’s simply time to put a new unit in its stead. Let’s help you figure out furnace replacement in Sanford right now.
Compare the Cost of Repair Vs. Replacement
This is known as the 50% rule–when your repairs cost 50% or more than the total price of a brand-new furnace, it’s just time to replace it and move on. This often happens at an inconvenient time, so it’s easy to think about the cost of the repair being smaller than the replacement, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you and your home.
While it can be tempting to just repair it and try to move on, consider these points before you stick with that decision:
- It’s Not Going to Get More Efficient: If it’s an older furnace and the repair bill is sky-high, you can bet that the monthly energy cost to run it is, too. Your furnace’s maintenance declines as it ages and endures use, and while repairs and maintenance can rejuvenate it a bit, at this point it’s not going to do much.
- Right Now, Your Heating Cycles Are Too Long: An efficient heater spends the least amount of time possible to heat your home. As a furnace ages, those heating cycles steadily increase in time, but it happens so gradually that you often don’t notice it. The cost to run it is higher than it is to run a new furnace.
- Technicians Can’t Reproduce Factory-New Conditions: No matter what, a repair will not restore your furnace back to good-as-new condition. Wear and tear isn’t a linear problem with a simple black-and-white solution. There’s a certain level of natural wear and tear on the components that can’t be fixed after enough time has passed, even by experienced technicians.
Why Replacement Might Still Be a Good Option
Let’s say your furnace is only eight years old. It’s halfway through its life expectancy, and then you get hit with one of those insane bills. Is it still a good idea to replace it? Well, it depends.
If the furnace wasn’t maintained properly, or if you moved into the home with it already installed and don’t have maintenance and repair records, there could be a lot of damage you can’t see. It may be as inefficient as a 15-year-old furnace at this point.
Beyond that, if the furnace is older, it’s not running at peak AFUE levels, so you end up wasting more gas than you would with a newer unit. Because this lowers your monthly cost, it’s worth it to consider a brand-new furnace even if it might not be what you were planning on.
Let’s Replace That Furnace Today
Now that you know what the 50% rule is and how it applies to your furnace, your decision should be a little bit easier. Is it time to replace, or is it still worth it to repair? Ultimately, you can be the judge, and we’ll carry out whatever request you have for your furnace. Call us today or click our submission form and we’ll get you set up with furnace services before you know it.
Contact Facemyer Air Conditioning and Heating today to schedule your furnace replacement as soon as possible.