Salt Lake County is beginning to experience cooler mornings and evenings. Prepare for the cold, bitter Utah weather by contemplating your furnace repair vs. replace needs.
Is a furnace repair your best choice in the long run, or would a newer system offer you the function and dependability you’ve been eager for? The experts at Express Home Services can help you decide which option is best for you and what best fits your budget.
When determining repair vs. replacement, there are many variables to consider:
The average life expectancy of your furnace is between 16 and 20 years. As your furnace begins to age, problems inevitably occur. If your furnace is original to the home, it is probably a builders’ model. This is generally the type that is an inexpensive, no-frills furnace. It won’t have two stages of heat or a variable speed motor. Most are not highly efficient either. As with any type of equipment, it is not designed to last forever and will eventually need to be replaced to maintain the quality of your home. There comes a time when maintaining an older furnace becomes cost-prohibitive, and eventually, a furnace replacement is required. Shopping for a replacement furnace in an emergency does not allow time to make your best decision or plan around your finances, so make an educated decision while time still allows! Being proactive in replacing your furnace saves you time, money, and unnecessary stress.
Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age (especially if they have not been properly maintained over the years). As a result, your furnace may run longer than is necessary to provide the same amount of heat as that of an efficiently-running system. Rather than spend that extra money on both the heat and electric bill each month, why not replace it with a newer, cost-effective furnace?
Furnaces will see the most of their breakdowns in the final 2 years of their lives. As a furnace age, it gets harder and harder to locate replacement parts for it. This not only means these parts come at a higher expense to you, but the waiting period could also be detrimental on a frigid Utah winter night! Replacing the furnace is the best option if you are having more issues with your machine as time goes by.
For some homeowners, keeping a comfortable temperature in the home is a constant battle that never seems to be resolved easily. This is a sign that your furnace lacks the ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable in your home. Newer furnaces are designed to combat this issue and ensure comfort in every room in your home. Ask about our Amana furnace that has two stages of heat and a variable speed motor. Amana is an American-made brand that we highly recommend based on its efficiency and competitive warranties offered. This furnace has a blower motor that senses the torque and ramps up or down in order to deliver the correct amount of airflow through your ductwork. This furnace also features two stages of heat. The first stage uses a lower BTU and airflow setting. If it doesn’t satisfy the thermostat within 7 to 10 minutes, it kicks on to the second stage. In the spring and fall, the first stage is usually sufficient to keep your home comfortable.
Old furnaces often start to make some strange noises as they get toward the end of their life. This can be both bothersome and worrying the more noticeable it becomes. Have you heard any banging, popping, rattling, or squealing noises coming from your furnace? If so, this is a sign that your furnace may be nearing the end of its life expectancy and it isn’t going to go out quietly.
Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies to airborne dust, mold, pollen, or dander? Are you suffering from dry skin, sneezing fits, or struggling to keep your home dust-free? Older furnaces often lack the ability to moisturize and clean the air in your home. Frequent dust accumulation, static shocks, drooping plants, and musical instruments that do not stay in tune are also signs of a dry, dusty home. These are all signs that suggest that your old furnace is not capable of providing you with the comfort you and your family need and desire. If you are having these issues in your home due to your furnace, call Express Home Services so we can help you resolve this issue.
Years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated the phase-out of R-22 refrigerant as the result of growing environmental concerns. Production of new air conditioning units charged with R-22 ended in 2010, and by 2020 the servicing of R-22-based systems will rely solely on recycled refrigerants. More than likely, your heating and cooling units will have sufficient R-22 unless a leak occurs. However, if a leak does occur, costs to charge existing units leaking R-22 refrigerant have gone up and are expected to rise since production is limited. In addition to saving you on costly repairs, today’s HVAC units offer a green alternative to those utilizing R-22. Why keep spending money on a machine that only gets more and more expensive to maintain? If you have an older, costlier system that needs to be topped off every year, it’s time to consider upgrading it to a new r-410 system.
So it’s time to replace your furnace…
These are the benefits associated with a furnace replacement:
Substantial Cost Savings
If your system is more than 10 years old and repair costs are approaching 50% of the value of the system, a great deal of energy can be saved by upgrading to a newer system. Depending on the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), upgrading could save you up to 40% on monthly heating and cooling costs! The extra money you are spending each month on energy costs could be used to upgrade your furnace, so why keep using your older and costlier system?
Incentives
In Salt Lake City, Utah, the purchase of many of our furnace options comes with a rebate from Questar Gas, in addition to a potential Federal Tax Credit, offsetting your initial investment costs.
Comfort
For any furnace, providing maximum comfort means achieving the proper amount of airflow. A new furnace will provide the ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable in every room in your home. There will be less dust, dander, and pollen floating around your home, giving you the peace of mind you need in your home. Moisture in your home will be easier to maintain, making mold less likely as well as making it less likely that you suffer from things like skin irritation and dry static.
Peace of mind
At Express Home Services, we know the peace of mind, trust, and dependability are of the utmost importance. We have teamed up with Amana, an HVAC distributor whose products and warranties far outweigh the competition. You can feel confident that, in the unlikely event that something does go wrong with your Amana system, your repairs will go quickly and smoothly.
Warranties on select units include:
- 10 Year part replacement.
- Lifetime system replacement.
- 10 Year labor.
