It would be really nice if there was a magical, always correct answer to every question but that’s just not realistic. For Merts Heating & Air conditioning one of those questions is something we hear all the time from our clients, “When should I replace my gas furnace?” The truth is there are several ways to answer the question based on the unique situation in your Illinois or Northwestern Indiana home. There are however some factors that need to be considered whenever you are thinking about a heating replacement.
Life expectancy
Every mechanical device has a likely retirement age. If your gas furnace has been professionally maintained since it was installed, it should last 18-20 years on average. If that’s your situation you may want to consider a heating replacement even if the furnace is working well. Age increases the odds of a major breakdown and it’s a lot less stressful to replace a furnace in an orderly and relaxed fashion rather than an emergency replacement during a severe cold snap.
Frequency of repairs
Almost everyone reaches a point where they refuse to spend any more money repairing their old car. It’s the same with your gas furnace. If you start to have costly breakdowns, it’s a sign you should be seriously considering a replacement in the near future. Only you can decide how much money is too much when it comes to repairing your old furnace. Our Merts technicians can provide you with some general guidelines based on the repair bill, the cost of a replacement, and the age of your furnace.
Rising heating bills
Even with maintenance, furnaces get less efficient as they age. The result is more expensive heating bills every year. A heating replacement can almost certainly reverse the trend. If your gas furnace is 15-20 years old, there’s a good chance it was only 60 to 70 percent efficient when brand new. These days furnaces have efficiency ratings of 90 to 95 percent or even higher. That’s a significant savings every month.
Put it all together
This is the best way to determine if a new gas furnace makes sense. The age, repair history, efficiency, and replacement cost should all be considered before any decision is made. If you want to see the numbers specifically for your Illinois or Northwestern Indiana home, call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning for your free, no-obligation estimate. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.