You may know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your furnace?
If your heating equipment has annual maintenance and is kept in good shape, it can last 15-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start considering replacing your heating equipment with upgraded, more energy-efficient heating equipment. Installed properly, these high-efficiency heating systems can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s best to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a terrible freeze and you’re so desperate you can’t properly look into your options. When considering new furnace options it’s also critical to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall energy efficiency and comfort. A new heating system is only as good as the duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research beforehand is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Currently, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific heating and cooling equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Use this link to help discover local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to think about if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can usually repair a furnace – replace a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating system will outweigh the cost of replacing it and then you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your furnace’s ability to get you through the winter safe and toasty, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to visit your home and inspect your equipment and provide any options. Starting December 1st, Service Experts is providing discounts on qualifying home comfort systems so give us a call and find out how much you can save!