We realize that purchasing a furnace may not be an immediate need, but it’s wise to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. 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
Similar to any other appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your heating equipment is over 15 years old, those repair can be especially expensive. Some of the typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Canada area homes today vary significantly and their efficiency directly influences your utility bills. Furnaces older than 15 years can be terribly inefficient, with up to 40% of your heating dollars going out the window (in a manner of speaking). Even recently manufactured furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A well maintained furnace will operate more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most importantly ensure your safety. Don’t forget, these are gas-fired appliances. Another point to mention is a properly maintained furnace will last longer before replacement is needed.
4. Tune-up Checks
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning receives a lot of questions concerning what actually 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
- Much more...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the skill and hands-on experience to perform a tune-up should maintain heating equipment once a year. Simply put, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with old equipment are a couple of the more obvious signals of a need to replace your furnace.
Out of control energy costs and the desire to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to contemplate replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst suggested nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Canada area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning at 866-397-3787.