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Ten Reasons You Should Consider Replacing Your Furnace

Depending on the type of furnace you have, most home heating systems will last around 15 to 20 years with regular furnace maintenance. As your furnace gets older, you will want to start making plans for home furnace replacement, like starting a special savings fund. That way, when your furnace does need to be replaced, you will have—at least part of—the money set aside for a new furnace.

Aside from your furnace wearing out and not working, you should also consider home heating replacement for the following reasons:

  1. Problems with the pilot light staying lit.

There are all sorts of underlying causes why pilot lights on gas heating systems will not stay on. There could be a bad thermocouple, which monitors the pilot light and shuts it off if there is something wrong. When the thermocouple wear outs, it will start shutting off gas to the pilot light for no reason whatsoever. You can have your heating installer replace the thermocouple.

There could also be problems with residue on the gas nozzles inside the furnace. Over time, they can become clogged. This can cause your furnace’s heating cycle not to run correctly or not to produce the right amount of heat in the home. You can have these things replaced as well.

However, if issues with the pilot light and related hardware start to become ongoing, where you have to call your home heating installer for service on a weekly or monthly basis, you may want to consider getting a new furnace instead.

hand adjusting gas furnace

  1. The blower motor has failed.

The blower motor is responsible for blowing the heated air through the ductwork and into your home. If it goes out, none of the heated air will be forced into the rooms inside your home. Rather, all that heat will remain around the furnace. The cost to get a new blower motor installed could range from $400 to $1,000.

If you compare the costs of a new blower motor with the costs of a new furnace, along with the benefit of a new system, you could end up saving money in the long-run by replacing your furnace right away. New furnaces have modern features like variable speed blower motors to improve heating efficiency. Some models may even offer special incentives like rebates or tax breaks.

  1. The heat exchanger inside the furnace is cracked.

The heat exchanger is the part of the furnace that helps keep carbon monoxide and other exhaust gases from getting inside the home. It vents these dangerous gases out through an attached air vent. When the heat exchanger cracks, it allows these deadly gases to move freely into ductwork and be blown around the home.

The cost to replace and install a cracked heat exchanger can end up totaling $2,000 or more. If you were to consider a new, energy-efficient modern furnace, you may be surprised to discover that the costs are very similar. It would make more sense to replace your furnace if you have an issue with the heat exchanger.

  1. A circuit board inside the furnace needs to be replaced.

Circuit boards control a wide range of functions on the furnace. These are also required to receive signals and send feedback to the thermostat. Essentially, circuit boards are the furnace’s brain. If one or more goes bad, the furnace will not operate correctly. For instance, the furnace could turn on and run constantly without ever shutting off.

Depending on how technologically advanced your current furnace is, replacement costs for a new circuit board can run from around $300 to $1,200. While it might seem better to replace the circuit board, stop to consider the age of the furnace. If it is already 15 years old, getting a new circuit board may only add another five years or so to the life of the furnace.

On the other hand, investing in a new furnace means you will have between 15 and 20 years of life. Not to mention, you would get all the latest features, options, and energy-efficient updates that your current system lacks.

plumber repairs furnace

  1. The maintenance and repair costs on your current furnace are becoming more frequent.

If your furnace has reached the point where you are having to replace hardware, parts, and components on a regular basis, or it is constantly breaking down, it is time for a new furnace. Over time, you could end up spending as much on maintenance and repairs as you would for the cost of a brand new furnace.

  1. You are replacing your air conditioning unit.

It can be a good idea to replace your furnace at the same time you are replacing your air conditioning unit. Even though you can find new AC systems that are compatible with your current furnace, they will not always allow you to take advantage of all the energy-saving features found on your new AC.

For example, if the new AC offers variable speed cooling but your furnace’s blower motor, which is also used by your AC, is not a variable speed motor, then you will not be able to use this feature. However, if you upgrade your furnace at the same time to one with a variable speed motor, then you would be able to use this feature on your new AC.

  1. You are looking to lower your home heating energy bills.

Installing a new furnace will help lower your energy bills. According to Energy.gov, an Energy Star® furnace could save you as much as $1,241 in heating costs. If you choose the best model available, your savings could increase to as much as $1,443.1

In addition to getting a new furnace installed, ensuring there are no air leaks around doors and windows can help lower your home’s heating cost. In addition, you should have weather stripping and/or have new caulking installed.

  1. Your home does not feel as comfortable as you would like it.

As your furnace gets older, it can reach a point where it is no longer capable of maintaining your preferred comfort level. You may notice some rooms seem warmer than others, or that your furnace has to run longer, causing you have to set the thermostat higher to achieve the desired temperature.

Another cause for this type of problem is that your furnace may not have been sized correctly for your home. If the furnace is too small, it will not be able to deliver heat properly. It will have to run more frequently and for longer intervals, which shortens its lifespan, in order to attempt to heat the home. Getting a new furnace installed by your home heating installation company will help resolve either of these issues.

  1. You are getting ready to sell your home.

If your home’s current heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old, it can be beneficial to get a new system installed before listing your home. Doing so could potentially increase the value of your home. In addition, you are often able to attract more potential buyers.

couple choosing the furnace unit

  1. You like having access to the latest technologies.

If you want to take advantage of new smart home technologies, which can also help reduce energy usage, then you will want to get a new furnace installed. Modern systems could allow you to remotely control the furnace through an app on your smartphone.

You may even have access to energy usage reports and other useful data that can show you ways to lower your energy usage while maintaining your preferred comfort level inside your home.

For additional information about heating replacement and how to get the savings and comfort provided by a new furnace, please feel free to contact your nearest Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing location in New Braunfels, Temple, San Antonio, or Austin Metro to schedule an appointment today!

Source:

  1. https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/purchasing-energy-efficient-residential-furnaces

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