You may know when you need to replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows need to be replaced every two 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 working order, it can last 10-20 years. Once your heating equipment reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating equipment with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be running fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a deep freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also crucial to think about your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can significantly affect your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you need to research ahead of time is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Right now, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only until the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Follow this link to help discover local rebates available in your community : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to think about if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can usually repair a furnace – swap out a part here, fix a component there – but eventually the cost of repairing your heating system will exceed the cost of replacing it and that’s when you really need to examine long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs each season, 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 Teays Valley Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your equipment and provide any options. Starting December 1st, Teays Valley is providing discounts on qualifying HVAC systems so call us and discover how much you can save!