Just like a car that's past its 'prime', sometimes it can be significantly LESS costly to simply replace the system than to suffer continuous repairs, high energy bills and constant heating and cooling failures. This is true even in short-term. A new system really can save you money. Here is an easy way to better understand when it's most beneficial to repair or replace your home comfort equipment.
If you multiply the cost of the repair today by the age of the equipment in years, and the result is more than $3,000, then you should carefully consider the decision to replace your equipment.
IMPORTANT: FURNACE SAFETY
The tires on a car wear from constant friction and rinding on pavement, and will eventually be in danger of failure with continued use. You regularly inspect your tires, and change them when they go bad.
Some older furnaces may be like a balding set of tires.
Your furnace's heat exchanger (the part that heats the air) wears from the inside out, due to expansion and contraction caused by heat from the burners. Over time, the resulting metal fatigue can be compared to bending a piece if metal over and over again until it breaks. Unlike balding tires on a car, you may have no way of noticing when your furnace's heat exchanger becomes a danger.
Furnaces should be tested each and every year for signs of wear and tear, leaks, metal fatigue and carbon monoxide. If a furnace is not regularly maintained by a professional technician, it can begin to operate inefficiently and even create dangerous carbon monoxide gas. If any of these signs of wear are found during the tune-up, you should consider replacing your system.
