There’s nothing homeowners would love more than having a furnace that runs smoothly and efficiently for the rest of time, but, unfortunately, that’s just not realistic. Heaters don’t last forever, and even the most robust units will eventually succumb to old age or wear and tear. However, that doesn’t make it any easier to know when it’s time to repair your furnace or replace it. While no two heaters are made alike, this article will help to shed some light on what kind of service your unit needs.
Whether you need to repair your furnace or replace it, Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating has the service options you desire. Our San Antonio technicians will work with you to determine whether repair or replacement is the best fit for your needs and budget.
Take a look at a few questions you should ask yourself if you’re trying to decide if you should repair or replace your heater.
1. How Old Is the Furnace?
Just like a car or a refrigerator, your furnace won’t last forever. In fact, the average unit only lasts between 15 and 20 years. If your furnace is approaching the end of its lifespan, it makes more financial sense to replace it. After all, you probably don’t want to invest too much money in repairing a heater that you’re going to have to replace in a year or two anyway.
Keep in mind that there are a few factors that could reduce your unit’s lifespan. Certain brands have a reputation for lasting longer than others. Maintenance is another factor that could greatly reduce the lifespan of your heater. Well-maintained furnaces that have received annual tune-ups will last longer than ones that haven’t received proper care.
2. How Much Will Repairs Cost?
Depending on the nature of the repairs your furnace needs, the price may be reasonable or astronomically high. If the price of repairs feels steep, we recommend pricing out what a new furnace would cost and then comparing the two numbers against one another.
If you have a newer system and the repairs are estimated to exceed half the cost of a replacement furnace, then you should just go with the replacement. If your furnace is older, then you should consider replacing it if the repairs are going to exceed one-third of the price of a new unit.
Installing a new furnace will cost anywhere from $2,000 to $6,500. The actual price will vary based on the type of furnace you choose to install as well as its efficiency level. Other factors may also impact the price, including brand, location, and warranties.
3. How Often Does Your Furnace Need Repairs?
It’s not unusual for your furnace to need occasional repairs, especially if your unit is older or gets a lot of daily usage. However, if your heater needs frequent repairs, then it might be time to consider a replacement instead. After all, it doesn’t take long for those repair bills to add up.
Frequent repairs could also be a sign that your furnace is at the end of its life. As a rule of thumb, heaters experience the most breakdowns in the last two years before they give out for good. If you’ve had to call our repair technicians more than once a year, you should start planning for a replacement sooner rather than later. The only exception would be if the furnace is young or newly installed. In that case, it might be that the issue was misdiagnosed.
4. Does Your Current Heater Meet Your Comfort Needs?
Have you noticed that some rooms in your house feel too cold or too hot? If you’re uncomfortable in your own home or find that you’re constantly adjusting the thermostat, your furnace could be to blame.
Whether you should repair or replace the system depends on what’s causing the issue. Your unit is a good candidate for repairs if the cause is faulty ductwork, a dirty air filter, or the replacement of a minor part.
5. How Energy Efficient Is Your Current Heater?
Did you know that high-efficiency systems might be eligible for local and state tax credits? You may also be eligible for incentives from local utility companies for installing a high-efficiency furnace. Not only that, but energy-efficient systems will lower your monthly utility bills.
Naturally, rebates and credits are only an option for furnace replacement, not repair. While we don’t recommend rushing out and replacing a brand-new heater just for the sake of receiving credits, this is an excellent option for homeowners with older, less reliable units.
6. How Well Has the Furnace Been Maintained?
This can be a tricky question to answer if you’ve moved into your house recently, but it can be an important factor in deciding if your furnace is worth repairing. Heaters that have undergone regular annual maintenance typically have a longer lifespan than furnaces that haven’t been maintained. The longer lifespan is due to the furnace being regularly cleaned, inspected, and repaired instead of simply being allowed to deteriorate from normal wear and tear.
7. Are Your Energy Bills Rising?
High energy bills are caused by more than just rising energy costs, so you should never write off higher-than-usual bills as something that’s out of your control. In fact, high energy bills are a red flag that your furnace is struggling to heat up your house. As your heater loses efficiency, it has to run longer and harder to maintain the same level of comfort you’ve grown used to.
In some cases, high energy bills caused by furnace inefficiency can be fixed with simple repairs or maintenance. This is the case for dirty air filters, leaky air ducts, blocked air ducts, and faulty thermostats. However, furnace inefficiency may be a side effect of having an old heater built with the last generation’s energy-efficiency technology. In that case, replacing the unit is the only way to lower your energy bills.
Reliable Heating Repair and Replacement in San Antonio
There’s no easy “yes or no” answer to whether you should replace or repair your furnace. Instead, you should try to answer a few important questions about your current system to determine which course of action is best. In some cases, furnace repairs are more than capable of restoring your heater’s performance at a reasonable price. In other cases, it makes more financial sense to replace the unit, especially if the unit is old, outdated, or unreliable.
Luckily, the team here at Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating offers the services you need to make your home comfortable again. We provide top-notch repairs, replacements, and maintenance services for heaters and air conditioners throughout San Antonio. Whether your system needs serious repair work or regular preventive maintenance, our goal is to provide you with the heating and cooling service your home needs to stay comfortable and energy efficient all year long.
Unsure of whether you should repair or replace your furnace? Our technicians can help you to make that decision! Call Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating today to speak with one of our knowledgeable technicians and schedule your San Antonio furnace service.
