Problems With Your Old Furnace: Repair or Replace?
In the world of heating and air conditioning, the gas furnace is a very unique beast.
A completely independent system attached to the same thermostat that has its own challenges, efficiency ratings, and cost, furnaces can be finicky, and furnace repair is a tricky subject.
Often, the reasons to simply replace an older model are very valid.
If the heat exchanger is cracked and out of warranty, the part can be almost as expensive as a new system.
Some units are simply so old that smaller parts are impossible to find anymore.
In these two situations, replacing the furnace is absolutely the right decision.
However, there are many other factors to consider when a technician tells you "you should probably just get a new one.
" If you are not careful, you could be throwing thousands of dollars at a new piece of equipment that does not actually solve your problems.
Remember that while the box in your attic does in fact warm the air, it is merely part of a larger conditioning system.
Consider for a moment the possibility of a serious duct leak.
Your system could be having trouble keeping up in the winter, leading to the perfectly reasonable conclusion that the system needed to be upgraded.
However, if there were a major leak in the ductwork, the new unit would have the exact same problem in sending the right amount of air to each room.
Had the technician taken the time to examine the entire system tied to the furnace, repair could have saved the family several thousand dollars.
In addition to ductwork issues, sizing is a big factor in determining what to do.
Equipment that is too large for the space it conditions causes serious problems for the system.
By trying to force too much air through restrictive ductwork, the unit overworks itself, leading to more frequent problems.
In this case, the system does in fact need to be replaced, but not before a sizing calculation is performed.
If a trustworthy inspector cannot be scheduled in a timely fashion, it is far better to patch the unit for the time being until the proper math can be done.
If the true problem is the size of the heater, replacing it will lead to the exact same issues you have been encountering for years.
Too often homeowners blame their issues on shoddy work by contractors, when in reality the problem has always been that the homeowner simply did not take the time to ensure that a load calculation was performed before the new equipment was installed.
Ultimately, furnace repair is a Band-Aid and a gamble.
You could get six more months out of the system; you could get five more years.
In order to make the right decision for your home, it is vital to make sure all external factors are accounted for prior to any work being done.
Talk to your HVAC contractor and get a full diagnostic done before you settle on anything and you will be able to the extend the life of whatever equipment heats your home for the next several years.
A completely independent system attached to the same thermostat that has its own challenges, efficiency ratings, and cost, furnaces can be finicky, and furnace repair is a tricky subject.
Often, the reasons to simply replace an older model are very valid.
If the heat exchanger is cracked and out of warranty, the part can be almost as expensive as a new system.
Some units are simply so old that smaller parts are impossible to find anymore.
In these two situations, replacing the furnace is absolutely the right decision.
However, there are many other factors to consider when a technician tells you "you should probably just get a new one.
" If you are not careful, you could be throwing thousands of dollars at a new piece of equipment that does not actually solve your problems.
Remember that while the box in your attic does in fact warm the air, it is merely part of a larger conditioning system.
Consider for a moment the possibility of a serious duct leak.
Your system could be having trouble keeping up in the winter, leading to the perfectly reasonable conclusion that the system needed to be upgraded.
However, if there were a major leak in the ductwork, the new unit would have the exact same problem in sending the right amount of air to each room.
Had the technician taken the time to examine the entire system tied to the furnace, repair could have saved the family several thousand dollars.
In addition to ductwork issues, sizing is a big factor in determining what to do.
Equipment that is too large for the space it conditions causes serious problems for the system.
By trying to force too much air through restrictive ductwork, the unit overworks itself, leading to more frequent problems.
In this case, the system does in fact need to be replaced, but not before a sizing calculation is performed.
If a trustworthy inspector cannot be scheduled in a timely fashion, it is far better to patch the unit for the time being until the proper math can be done.
If the true problem is the size of the heater, replacing it will lead to the exact same issues you have been encountering for years.
Too often homeowners blame their issues on shoddy work by contractors, when in reality the problem has always been that the homeowner simply did not take the time to ensure that a load calculation was performed before the new equipment was installed.
Ultimately, furnace repair is a Band-Aid and a gamble.
You could get six more months out of the system; you could get five more years.
In order to make the right decision for your home, it is vital to make sure all external factors are accounted for prior to any work being done.
Talk to your HVAC contractor and get a full diagnostic done before you settle on anything and you will be able to the extend the life of whatever equipment heats your home for the next several years.
