Furnace

No one wants to spend money on a new furnace – until they jump out of bed on a freezing morning and find they have no heat.  

Replacing a furnace is a large investment, and most of us would like to keep ours running as long as possible, even as the repair bills start adding up.  However, there comes a time when replacing a furnace makes more sense than repairing it.  In fact, a high efficiency furnace could actually pay for itself if you consider the money saved on heating bills.

There are ways to gauge whether a furnace is worth repairing.  The chart below graphs the cost of the repair and age of equipment to show when a new furnace should be considered. 

Nicor Gas has also outlined several issues that should be considered when deciding to replace your furnace with a high efficiency model:

  1. Cracked Heat Exchanger.   The heat exchanger is the only barrier between the exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) and your home air. A crack could lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.  Replacing the heat exchanger could cost as much or more than replacing the entire furnace.
  1. Faulty Circuit Board.  This is the “brain” of the furnace.  It controls the functions and monitors the operation of the furnace.  Replacing the circuit board could cost about $1,000.  Depending on the age and efficiency of the furnace, replacing the furnace would likely be a cost-saving option.
  1. Broken Motor.  It is the furnace motor that powers the fan that pushes hot air through the home.  When the motor is not operating correctly, the heated air cannot get to all of the rooms of your home, which not only affects the comfort of your family, but also wastes energy (and money).  Installing a new furnace with a variable speed fan will not only improve the unit’s efficiency, but improve your home’s air quality. 

For more information on keeping your home warm in the winter (and cool in the summer) call TR Miller at (630) 357-4373. They will evaluate your system and give you an honest answer about whether to repair or replace your current unit.  Great offers available with ComEd and Nicor Rebates – see information here or give us a call.

And don’t forget to schedule your Furnace Clean & Check (if you don’t need a new system!)  Special Facebook Coupon available.  Grab it here.

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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