What criteria do you use to decide if you should repair or replace your heating system? Most homeowners wait until it breaks down. However, investigating your options before it’s too late allows you the luxury of time to make the best decision. 

Most furnaces and heat pumps are designed to last about 15 years. But even if your system isn’t very old, you could still benefit from replacement if:

• An increase in efficiency will get better energy savings. Newer furnaces and heat pumps can reach higher efficiencies than systems manufactured even just a decade ago. Advanced systems such as modulating furnaces and variable-speed air handlers give efficiency a big boost.
• You haven’t given your heating system regular maintenance. When a system is not well maintained, it will eventually wear down. The foundation of a system’s life expectancy is based on good maintenance, which keeps all of the system’s components in good, working condition. In fact, according to experts, homeowners can tack on three to five years to the life of their system when it’s properly maintained.
• Major repairs are required. The general rule of thumb in the HVAC industry is to repair if the cost of doing so is less than 50 percent of the cost of a new system. The system should be replaced if the cost is 50 percent or more than that of a new system. Additionally, it’s almost never beneficial to repair a system if any of the major components need repaired.
• You have used the system a lot. Taking the average lifespan of a heating system, consider the frequency of use for our climate region. For instance, Minnesota homeowners might need to replace a furnace sooner than 15 years; South Carolina homeowners’ systems might last a little longer.

Whether you need to make a decision now or you’re just starting the process, using these criteria can help answer your “repair or replace” question.

Contact our expert technicians at Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning for more information on heating systems, or to schedule a consultation. We take pride in servicing the homes of our neighbors in the Raleigh area.

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

Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning services the Raleigh, NC area.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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