As your heating system ages, it can lose efficiency or stop working altogether. In many cases, a homeowner won’t even notice the problem until they find themselves without heat. The question then becomes: heating and cooling repairs or HVAC equipment replacement?
There are many factors to consider that will help determine the right choice for you:
- How old is your furnace?
If your furnace is 15 years old or more, chances are it’s a good time to replace it. Today’s furnaces have much higher efficiencies and can end up saving money on your utility bills. When you consider that 50% of your utility bill goes to heating and cooling your home, you can see how important it is to pay attention to the furnace in your home. - Have the air filters been changed regularly?
There is no hard and fast rule to how often the air filter should be changed. How many people live in your home? Do you have a pet or multiple pets? Does anyone in your home have asthma or allergies? There are many cases where air filters need to be changed as frequently as once a month. At a guideline, a standard air filter should be changed monthly while a premium air filter can be changed 2-3 times per year. - Has the furnace been regularly maintained?
It just makes sense that things will run better and last longer when they are taken care of. Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating inefficiency and failure. Your furnace should have an annual maintenance tune-up. These annual check-ups will prevent small problems from becoming big problems. - Did you buy your furnace OR did you inherit it when you bought your home?
The issue with inheriting the heating system when you buy a home is that you don’t know anything about it. Was it properly maintained? Were the air filters changed regularly? Or was the furnace ignored? More often than not, a furnace sits in the basement and is ignored until it has a problem or stops working.
There are 2 important things every homeowner should do:
- Schedule regular maintenance: We recommend that you schedule a safety and comfort tune-up every fall. Regular maintenance helps your heating equipment run at peak performance, extend the life of the equipment and gives you peace of mind. If you haven’t done that yet this year, do it now!
- Change your air filter regularly: A dirty air filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm. Check your air filter more frequently in colder when use tends to be heavier. Then buy a case of air filters and keep them on hand so you can be prepared!
When is it time to replace?
We’ll weigh out the facts. How old is the furnace? How expensive is the repair? There are times heating and cooling repairs will get the job done and sometimes, it just makes more sense to replace your heating equipment with a modern more efficient system. Today’s furnace and heat pumps are much more efficient and therefore less expensive to run. When you consider that at least 50% of your utility bill goes toward heating your home, you can see why it makes sense to replace.
If it’s time to replace, we recommend buying the highest efficiency furnace that you can afford. The return on investment is best with the highest efficiency furnace.
Understanding Efficiencies:
The efficiency of your furnace is measured in Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). The higher the AFUE rating, the greater the efficiency of the furnace. As your furnace ages or experiences, technical difficulties the efficiency of the unit will lower. With regular furnace maintenance, you can extend its life and help keep it at peak performance. A visit from our HVAC Technician can help your furnace continue to perform at its best.
Why Amana® brand?
Amana® is proudly designed, engineered, and assembled in the U.S.A , with the largest manufacturing plant located in Texas. Amana offers hands down the BEST warranty in the business and is backed up by the BEST contractors in the Twin Cities. If you’re ready to find out if a new furnace is in your future, turn to a member of The A-Team. The Amana preferred contractors are the best of the best of contractors in the Twin Cities.
