We realize that not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s smart to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. Below are the top 5 considerations that Fras-Air/General Service Experts advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Like any type of appliance, as furnaces age, the likeliness of heating repairs increase. If your furnace is over 15 years old, those repair can be especially expensive. Costly, yet typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Hillsborough area homes today naturally influences your home energy bills, and the level of efficiency can vary tremendously depending upon the system you buy. Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient, resulting in up to 40% of your home energy dollars being wasted. Even the latest models of furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A correctly maintained furnace will function more efficiently, lower the likelihood of expensive repairs and most importantly ensure your safety. After all, these are gas-fired appliances. Another point worth mentioning is a properly maintained furnace will last longer before replacement is necessary.
4. Tune-up Checks
Fras-Air/General Service Experts hears many questions relating to what actually can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many vital checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- And many others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the knowledge, skills and experience to perform a tune-up must maintain heating equipment annually. To put it bluntly, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with dated equipment are a couple of the more obvious signals of a need to replace your furnace.
High energy costs and the interest to reduce energy consumption are also pressing reasons to consider replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst suggested nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Hillsborough area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Fras-Air/General Service Experts at 908-448-2154.