You probably know when you need to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your heating equipment?
If your heating equipment has routine maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 10-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start thinking about replacing your furnace with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be working fine, it’s best to start looking now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When contemplating 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 comfort and energy efficiency. New heating equipment is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research ahead of time is to see what tax credits and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Right now, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific HVAC equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been verified past 12/31/16. Use this link to help locate local rebates available in your community : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to think about if your furnace isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can normally repair a furnace – replace a part here, fix a section there – but eventually the cost of repairing your heating equipment will be greater than the cost of replacing it and that’s when you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace each season, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t sure about your heating system’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 system and provide any options. Starting December 1st, Service Experts is providing discounts on qualifying home comfort systems so call us and discover how much you can save!