You likely know when you need to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter should be replaced each month. Your pillows require replacement every two years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every decade. But what about your furnace?
If your heating equipment has seasonal maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 15-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating equipment with upgraded, more energy-efficient heating equipment. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s better 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 thinking about new furnace options it’s also important to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. A new furnace is only as good as the duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you want 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 heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help locate local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to consider if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can usually repair heating equipment – swap out a part here, fix a piece there – but at some point the cost of repairing your furnace will outweigh the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to consider replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the cold season safe and toasty, give A1 Chesney Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your furnace and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, A1 Chesney is providing discounts on qualifying home comfort systems so contact us and find out how much you can save!