Knowing when your furnace needs to be replaced isn’t always easy. It isn’t something even the professionals can automatically determine in many cases because there are so many things to take into consideration. However, there are a few things that are almost always an indicator that you need to replace your furnace and require little consideration to make that final decision.
Safety Issues
If your furnace is seriously endangering your family, repair is often not going to work and could only expose you further to harm. When your furnace has major safety issues, it is almost always going to be the best move to replace it. There is little need to weigh out furnace repair vs replacement in this situation because safety is something that cannot be compromised.
Do note, though, that if the issue is not directly with your furnace or is in only a small part of the furnace, then repair could be possible. Major damage that presents a safety issue, though, is a great indicator you should just replace the whole system.
Age
Every system will need to be replaced at some point. Continuing maintenance issues may be a sign yours is nearing the end of its life. If your furnace is over 20 years old, then it really is time for a new one. Regardless of how much maintenance and care you have put into your system, eventually it will just be too old. After a while, constant repairs will add up to more than buying a new system will cost.
Another issue with age is efficiency. If your furnace was built before 1992, then it likely has serious efficiency issues. Even those in the years after are going to be far less efficient than those made more recently. Not to mention all the energy savings that you are missing out on by keeping an out-of-date system. You can’t repair a furnace to make it more efficient. The only solution here is to replace it.
High Repair Costs
If you are looking at some very expensive repairs, then it is usually just better to replace it. There is no sense in spending on repairs that will add up to nearly the cost of a new one. This is especially true if your furnace is no longer under warranty. Once that warranty expires, any major breakdown is going to be quite expensive. It just won’t be worth it to put more money into a system that is likely going to need regular repairs going forward. Starting new lets you get off on the right foot and put your money into a system that will let you get the most for your money.
Deciding whether your furnace needs repaired or replaced takes some careful thinking. At its very core, the decision is usually made by comparing costs of each option. However, sometimes, it is just too clear that you need to go with replacing over repairing. A system that is dangerous, old or getting to the point where it is nickel and diming you, is one that really just needs to be replaced.
