Most homeowners struggle with knowing whether to repair their furnace or replace it. You should consider several factors when deciding whether to fix your existing furnace or upgrade to a new model. Since a replacement represents a major investment, these factors can help you complete a cost/benefit analysis to make the right decision for your family.
1. Carbon Monoxide Leaks
If your furnace leaks carbon monoxide because of a crack in its combustion chamber, you should replace it. A colorless, odorless gas, carbon monoxide can cause death when inhaled for long periods. Most deaths happen in the winter when people use their furnaces frequently.
These signs indicate your furnace might be leaking carbon monoxide:
- Yellow flame
- Soot streaks around your furnace
- Rusted pipes
- Excessive moisture on walls, windows, and surfaces
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headaches
- Disorientation
If you notice these signs, get your family out of your home immediately. Contact the gas company, turn off your gas, call the fire department, and seek medical attention. You’ll then need to contact our HVAC professionals at Allegiance Heating & Cooling in Mokena, IL to schedule a furnace replacement.
2. Older Furnace
Your furnace will eventually wear out even with regular maintenance. On average, you can expect your furnace to last around 20 years. However, this varies by brand, maintenance, and quality. As a furnace ages, it will need more frequent repairs. Instead of nursing your furnace along with costly patchwork, upgrading to a new model might make sense.
3. Significant Increase in Heating Bills
While heating costs can vary based on supply and demand, unusual increases in your heating bills can indicate a problem with your furnace. If you’ve noticed a significant spike in your utility bills compared to the previous season without a correspondent change in your usage, it could indicate you need a repair or an upgrade. If your furnace is relatively new, you can have the worn-out parts replaced to restore your furnace’s normal efficiency. However, if it’s older and would require extensive repairs to restore its effectiveness, it might be wise to replace it.
4. Inadequate Heating
If your furnace struggles to maintain your desired temperature or simply can’t keep up, you’ll want to determine the reason. Our HVAC technicians can inspect your furnace, diagnose the problem, and explain what repairs might be necessary. If you have an old furnace, repairs might only provide a temporary fix to an issue that will continue to worsen. In that case, it might make sense to replace your furnace with a modern system.
5. Frequent or Costly Repairs
At some point, repairing your furnace will no longer make financial sense. If your furnace is more than 15 years old and requires frequent repairs, replacing it with a new furnace would be a more rational decision. The same is true if you need an expensive repair to keep it running. If your current repair will cost around 50% of the cost of a replacement, experts recommend upgrading to a new furnace.
6. Intending to Sell
If you’re thinking about placing your home on the market within the next couple of years and have an aging furnace, replacing it might make buyers more interested. Prospective buyers might ask you for a price reduction if your furnace is outdated, or they might choose not to make an offer at all. In some cases, an aged, poorly working furnace might cause your home to fail an inspection. In that case, it would need to be replaced before your buyer could move forward with the sale.
By contrast, a recently upgraded furnace can attract potential buyers since they won’t have to worry about replacing it for years. However, if real estate values are depressed, simple furnace repairs that allow your heating system to pass an inspection might make more sense.
Talk With Your Local HVAC Experts
Deciding whether furnace repairs will be enough or if you should upgrade to a new model is a major decision. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, experiences frequent or costly breakdowns, is ineffective, or causes significant increases in your heating bills, a replacement might be in order.
At Allegiance Heating & Cooling, we have proudly served area residents and businesses for their heating services and cooling needs since 1999. We offer comprehensive HVAC services, including furnace repair, maintenance and installation, air conditioner repair, maintenance and installation, commercial HVAC services, indoor air quality services, and more. You can also rely on us for air duct cleaning and water filtration. Contact our HVAC team at Allegiance Heating & Cooling in Mokena today to schedule your service!
