Should I Repair or Replace My Furnace or Boiler?
A heating system is a big investment for any homeowner, and like any investment you have to think long and hard when it comes time to making big decisions about its future.
Key among those decisions is whether to fix or replace your furnace or boiler the next time it breaks down. While there are many factors that go into making that choice, we find that there are three basic questions you’ll have to answer to make the smartest decision possible:
- How old is your current furnace or boiler? The older your system is, the less sense it makes to invest in a repair. Performance in an older heating system drops off dramatically after a decade of use, even if you have properly maintained your equipment. Combine that drop-off with the significant improvement in today’s high efficiency furnaces and boilers and it tips the scales in favor of replacement.
- Are you happy with the way your current furnace or boiler is performing? If your family isn’t consistently comfortable in every room in your house, and if your monthly bills continue to rise despite performing routine annual maintenance, it may be time to move on to a new system.
- How much does a repair cost, and will it fix the problem long-term? Keep in mind that a repair might not completely fix a problem, especially in an older system. Here’s a rule of thumb: if the cumulative cost to repair your equipment is 50 percent of the cost of a new furnace or boiler, you should probably replace it.
Still not sure what direction to go? Contact us today and we’ll talk more about it. If you’re interested, we can give you a FREE, no obligation estimate on an upgrade that makes sense for your needs, budget, and home.
