We know that not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s smart to learn the keys that can drive your decision when that time comes. Below are the top 5 considerations that Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Just like any appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your system is over 15 years old, those repairs can become significant. Costly, yet typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Girard area homes today naturally influences your home energy bills, and the level of efficiency can vary tremendously depending upon the system you buy. Furnaces older than 15 years can be extremely inefficient, resulting in up to 40% of your home energy dollars being wasted. Even recently manufactured furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A well maintained furnace will run more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most of all ensure your safety. After all, these are gas-fired appliances. Another important point is a properly maintained furnace will last longer before replacement is necessary.
4. Tune-up Checks
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning receives a lot of questions relating to what really can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many vital checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- Others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the education to perform a tune-up must maintain heating equipment once a year. To put it bluntly, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with old equipment are some of the more obvious signs of a need to replace your furnace.
Excessive energy costs and the desire to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to weigh the replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst shows nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Girard area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning at 330-269-7235.