For many Sacramento-area homeowners, whether to repair or replace an aging furnace is a difficult decision. On one hand, a new furnace is a major financial investment. On the other hand, a new, more efficient model will likely lower your energy bills and eliminate the hassle and expense of potential emergency repairs. How can you be confident you’re making the right choice?

No one can predict with absolute certainty just how long your furnace will last. But there are some important factors to consider when deciding to repair or replace:

• Condition. How well has your furnace been maintained over its lifetime? Do you find yourself resolving one problem only to have another pop up? If your furnace has been neglected and frequently needs repairs whose costs are adding up, replacement may be the best option.
• Performance. Many factors can influence furnace performance, including leaky ductwork and restrictive filters. If your furnace isn’t heating as well or consistently as it once did, have an HVAC technician investigate all the possible causes before you replace it. A relatively low-cost solution might boost performance.
• Efficiency. A high-efficiency furnace is likely to lower your energy bills significantly, often to the point where the savings ultimately pay for the new system. And, of course, a more efficient system means less energy consumption and stress on the environment. For the highest energy efficiency, look into alternative solutions such as geothermal heating and cooling systems.
• Noise. A racket in your furnace indicates something is wrong. A technician should look into the problem soon, before it results in serious damage.
• Age. Age alone is not necessarily an important factor in the repair-or-replace dilemma. However, if your furnace is over 10 years old, a newer model will be more energy efficient.
• Inspection. Perhaps the easiest solution is to have a trusted technician evaluate your furnace’s condition. A technician also can explain in detail the potential benefits of newer models compared with your current system.

Deciding whether to repair or replace? Contact us anytime at All Year Heating, Air & Solar. We are happy to provide answers and advice.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about upgrading your furnace and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

All Year services the Greater Sacramento area.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!