You may know when you need to replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your furnace?
If your furnace has routine maintenance and is kept in good shape, it can last 12-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating system with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be operating fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also critical to take into account your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and energy efficiency. New heating equipment is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research in advance is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. This year, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific HVAC equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Follow this link to help locate local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to take under advisement if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re contemplating replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can normally repair heating equipment – change a part here, fix a piece there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to examine long-term spending. If you are having to repair your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating system’s ability to get you through the cold season safe and toasty, give Midland Air Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your equipment and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, Midland Air is providing discounts on certain home comfort systems so contact us and discover how much you can save!