pure air in your home

Should You Repair Or Replace Your Furnace? 3 Things To Consider

by Feride Halma

Furnace repair services always come in handy when your furnace starts suffering from breakdowns and malfunctions. However, there is a time when you need to replace the unit with a new one. Constant repairs can be costly when your furnace keeps breaking down even after thorough repair work is done.

If you have been torn between choosing to continue repairing your furnace or buying a new one, then you should check out the following factors. If any of these apply to your furnace, then it's time to start budgeting for a new furnace.

Your Furnace Is Several Years Old

Regardless of the quality standards of your heating unit, it gets to a time when it can't function effectively anymore. Depending on the quality of your furnace, it should serve you without posing any serious problems for about 15 to 30 years. Most furnaces start becoming problematic after these years of consistent use.

Once your furnace hits this age group, you'll constantly be dealing with increased signs of wear and tear. You'll start paying for frequent and costly repairs. If you realize the increasing trend of repairs after your furnace has hit the double-digit mark, then you should start planning for a new one as early as possible. 

Your Furnace Has Started Emitting Carbon Monoxide (CO)

As your furnace ages, it can develop cracks in the heat exchanger inside the furnace. Once this happens, your furnace will start emitting harmful carbon monoxide gas, which may leak into your rooms undetected. You'll notice an increasing complaint of nausea, headache, a burning feeling in the nose, and other symptoms among members of your household when CO leaks into the house. 

You should quickly aerate your house, especially the room affected by the leak by opening windows and airing out the entire house. You can also check for signs on objects and windows to know if your furnace is leaking CO or not. Some signs to check to include:

  • Rusty pipes
  • Soot around furnace
  • Yellow flame instead of blue

Anytime you notice these signs and hear complaints of the above symptoms, you should call a technician and replace the furnace immediately.

Repair Cost Supersedes Half the Cost of Replacement

Typically, the repair cost should be anything below the half price of a new furnace. However, when you notice the repair costs rising higher than half the price of a new furnace, it's time you start thinking about a new furnace. 

A new furnace should cost you between $1,500 and $5,000, depending on its quality and efficiency. If the price of repairing an old one hits anything closer to the cost of a new one, you should consider getting a new furnace for the heating job. To learn more, contact a heating service

Share