When Should I Replace My Furnace & A/C Unit?
You may have wondered when you should replace your furnace, or for that matter, your air conditioning unit. After all, it’s not something you think about every day. The good news is that there are few things you can look at before calling up a professional for an evaluation.
1. Retirement Age
Just like household appliances and perishable goods, your furnace and A/C unit both have “expiration dates,” but we prefer to call them retirement ages. In general, you can expect a well-maintained furnace to last 18-20 years. Of course, not every unit is the same, so keep this number in mind as a general guideline. Similarly, A/C units can be expected to last about 15 years. It’s important to remember that age isn’t the only thing you should consider, however. The efficiency ratings, repair costs, and energy bills that you pay will give you a more concrete idea of when replacement will be necessary.
2. Repair Costs
How expensive does an A/C or furnace repair have to be before it’s not worth repairing anymore? This is the question you will be grappling with when evaluating the condition of your units. After all, there really is no concrete answer. Like a car, the repair costs on your HVAC devices will only raise in cost the older the unit gets. A good rule of thumb is to simply replace it if the cost to repair is 50% of the cost of a new unit. What you’re looking for is whether or not the cost of the repair would cover a large portion of the new system. Once again, it’s important to evaluate repair costs in conjunction with the other tips on this list. By looking at the whole picture, you will likely get a better sense of when to repair your furnace or A/C unit, or simply upgrade the thing entirely.
3. Bills
With an old or aging unit, your energy costs can only go up from continued use. Not only has technology made furnaces and A/C units far more efficient, but the fact remains that older units simply have a harder time operating. It’s quite a bit like a classic car. The older it gets, the more gas it uses up. In turn, it just can’t quite make the same speeds it used to, all while working a little bit harder with each successive hill. Heating and air conditioning units operate the same way. Because of this, it’s important to keep an eye on your energy bills as these HVAC systems age. As their efficiency decreases, so does their cost-effectiveness, and the monthly bills you are paying may simply outweigh the cost of upgrading the unit entirely.
Of course, there is only so much you can do when it comes to evaluating the longevity of these systems. Be sure to schedule regular appointments with the pros at SameDay Heating & Air. They can give you a professional opinion on whether it’s time to upgrade your furnace or A/C. After all, there’s only so much personal investigation you can do on the issue. Remember to call in the people who know what they’re talking about!
Good news for you is that SameDay Heating & Air is having a buy one get one sale now through March 31st 2017. Invest in a new air conditioner and they’ll throw in a brand new Lennox furnace. To learn more about our other HVAC deals, or schedule an appointment, give us a call at (801) 726-3329.
