We understand that not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s wise to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. Below are five considerations that Golden Seal Service Experts advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Similar to any other appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your system is over 15 years old, you might start to experience relatively expensive repairs. More common and costly repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Saint Charles area homes today vary significantly and their efficiency directly influences your utility bills. Furnaces older than 15 years can be extremely inefficient, wasting up to 40% of the dollars you spend to heat your home. Even newer furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A correctly maintained furnace will function more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most of all ensure your safety. Don’t forget, these are gas-fired appliances. Another important point is a properly serviced furnace will last longer before replacement is required.
4. Tune-up Checks
Golden Seal Service Experts hears many questions pertaining to what truly can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many essential 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
- Others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the insight, tools and expertise to perform a tune-up is needed to maintain heating equipment annually. To put it bluntly, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with old equipment are a couple of the more obvious signals of a need to replace your furnace.
Excessive energy costs and the need to reduce energy consumption are also pressing reasons to contemplate replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst stated that nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Saint Charles area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Golden Seal Service Experts at 630-246-2698.