You wake up one winter morning, rub your eyes and set your feet on the floor – only to quickly realize your room is freezing because the heat never came on. When your furnace starts acting up, it can be hard to tell if it just needs a little tlc or if it’s finally time to call it quits. If you’re trying to decide whether to repair your furnace or get a new one all together, consider a few of these factors.
Cost:
Repair: A quick repair is cheaper than replacing the whole system, but constant repairs may cost you more in the long run than if you replaced it the first time.
Replace: Replacing an entire unit has a much higher upfront cost, but odds are you won’t have to put any more money into it for a few years.
Age:
Repair: If your furnace is less than 10 years old when it starts acting up, odds are it’s because of a small problem like a dusty filter, blown pilot light or malfunctioning thermostat that can be repaired fairly easily.
Replace: If your furnace is over 10 years old and continuously running into major problems, it might be time to consider replacing it.
Reliability:
Repair: If this is the first problem you’ve had in years, it’s probably best to repair the unit and see if that lasts.
Replace: If it’s the third time this season that you’re waking up to a cold home or rattling unit, then you should look into updating the furnace.
Your Home Investment
Repair: Repairing your furnace won’t exactly add to your home investment, but it also doesn’t hurt it.
Replace: Replacing a furnace or HVAC system might not be the first thing on every homeowner’s mind before they sell, but updating your system can really drive up your asking price.
Quality:
Repair: Repairing your system will of course leave you with the same furnace you have had for years, causing you to miss out on newer, more updated models.
Replace: Putting in a new system gives you the option to choose more energy efficient models, and even ones with air filtration systems which are certainly a step up from any furnaces installed 20 or 30 years ago.
Whatever the case may be, strange noises or a lack of heat coming from your furnace means you should have it checked out as quickly as possible and that’s where we come in! Whether you need a quick repair or are shopping for a new furnace, give the heating experts at Uptown Plumbing, Heating and Cooling a call and don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook!
