If you’re having furnace issues in your suburban Chicago home, you may be on the fence about whether to have it repaired or replaced. It can be a difficult decision since replacing a furnace is a big investment, but Chicago winters can be frigid, so you’ll want to make your decision fast so that your family stays safe and comfortable. However, you also want to choose the option that will best meet your needs and budget and that will keep your home warm for a long time.
The Average Life of a Furnace
The life of a furnace depends not only on the type of furnace, but how well the unit is maintained. A furnace that receives proper annual maintenance can last 20 years or even more. A furnace that has not been maintained may only last 15 years or less.
The Importance of Furnace Maintenance
It’s important to maintain your furnace to keep it operating properly, maximize its efficiency, and extend its life. Some maintenance you can do yourself, and some should be done by a professional. Maintenance tasks include:
- Replacing Your Furnace Filter: Air filters catch large debris particles that can decrease energy efficiency and potentially damage your HVAC system. That’s why it’s important to check your furnace filter monthly and change it when it’s full of dust and debris.
- Cleaning Vents and Ducts: Dust and debris can collect in your ducts and vents which restricts airflow and has a substantial negative impact on your HVAC system’s efficiency.
- Sealing Ductwork: Broken seals on your ductwork can mean that heat leaks into spaces behind your walls or above ceilings, which can increase your energy bills. Checking and fixing broken seals can prevent this from happening.
- Clearing Your Furnace Flue: If you have a gas furnace, you have a flue that directs carbon monoxide or other fumes out of the home, so a blocked flue can be dangerous. You should check the flue pipe for signs or moisture or rust, and then go outside and remove the flue cap to check for any blockages that need to be removed.
- Checking Your Gas Connection: Gas leaks can be dangerous, so you want to make sure that your connections are tight. You can check just by smelling the area near the connection, but you also should turn on the gas, apply soapy water to the connection, and look for bubbles.
Those items are very important, but the best way to ensure that your HVAC system is ready for cold temperatures is to have your system professionally inspected, cleaned, and serviced. You should do so before winter, and again before summer to make sure both your heating and cooling are working properly.
An inspection, cleaning, and servicing will include (but not be limited to) the following:
- A filter check
- Air flow adjustments
- Leak check
- Cleaning and adjustments of all furnace components
- Drain inspections
- Lubrication of parts
- Cycle check
- Thermostat inspection
- Heat exchanger inspection
- Wiring test and adjustment
- Flue inspection and clearing
- Check of carbon monoxide levels
- Gas line check
- Sensor check
Factors to Consider When Your Furnace Needs Repair
When making the decision whether to repair or replace your furnace, its age should be considered, but there are other factors to consider as well.
- What’s its overall condition? If you make the repair, but other repairs may be on the horizon, paying for a repair could be flushing money away.
- How much does the repair cost compared to replacement? If the repair cost is more than half the price of replacement, your money may be better spent on a new furnace.
- Does your furnace have a warranty and what are the terms of the warranty? It may cover repairs only, or it may cover replacement. If it covers replacement because the repair is too expensive, then your decision is a no brainer.
- How efficient is your furnace? Sometimes upgrading to a newer, efficient furnace can pay for itself in reduced energy bills.
- How well is your furnace working for you in general? If you haven’t been getting enough heat, or have had to repair it multiple times, it may be at the end of its life.
- How long will the repair last? If your technician tells you that the repair is just a band aid and that you may have to repair it again next year, it may be time for replacement.
Common Lower Cost Furnace Repairs
The average furnace repair cost varies depending on age of the unit, how well it’s kept, type of unit, and the home that it’s in. Some common repairs that will fall in this ballpark include:
- Repairing minor leaks
- Cleaning flame sensors or burners
- Electrical repairs
- Minor system adjustments
- Replacing switches
- Installing a new hot surface ignitor
- New flame sensor rod
- New motor capacitors
- Installing new drain lines
If your furnace just needs one of these repairs and is otherwise working well, it may not be time for replacement just yet.
Reasons for Replacement
While there is no black and white formula for determining that it’s time to replace your furnace, in certain scenarios replacement is likely your best option.
1. Carbon Monoxide Leak
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is very dangerous to your family. If you discover a carbon monoxide leak from your furnace, saving money by choosing repair over replacement may not be worth the risk. Some signs of a carbon monoxide leak include:
- Moisture on windows and walls
- Rusted furnace pipes
- Soot around or on the furnace
- Yellow burner flame
Carbon monoxide poisoning signs include nausea, headache, and disorientation. If you notice these symptoms, get everyone out of the house immediately and seek emergency medical care.
2. Over Fifteen Years Old
If your furnace is more than 15 years old and you’re having issues with it, it’s probably time to replace it. The older it gets, the more likely you are to have more repair needs, the cost of which will add up.
3. Repair Cost is 50% or More of the Replacement Cost
If the necessary repair is expensive, investing in a new furnace is likely the smarter move. 50% of the replacement cost is a general rule, although if your furnace is older, you might want to use 25% as your benchmark. Some examples of expensive repairs include:
- Replacing the gas control valve
- Replacing the blower motor
- Replacing the heat exchanger
- Replacing a vent motor
- Installing new circuit boards
- Replacing the venting and intake
4. Increased Energy Bills
As your furnace ages, parts start to wear down, which leads to more work for your furnace. This makes your furnace use more energy, and you’ll feel it in your wallet. When this occurs, replacing your furnace will pay for itself over time in saved energy costs.
5. Lower Effectiveness
If you notice that your home is not feeling as warm as it used to even though you’ve kept the thermostat the same, your furnace has likely lost some of its power due to age. This issue goes hand in hand with higher energy bills, so it’s probably time for replacement.
6. You’re Selling Your Home and Your Furnace is Older
When buyers are making an investment in a new home, they don’t like to see items in the home that are likely to cost them more money. This can be a deterrent to many home buyers. A new furnace, on the other hand, is a great selling feature.
7. You Want to Be Environmentally Friendly
Replacing your furnace with a new, energy-efficient model is good for the environment, using less energy. It’s also better for your indoor air quality and, again, will reduce your energy bills. Additionally, by purchasing a high-efficiency model, you may qualify for tax credits or rebates from your utility company.
8. Discounts or Financing Available
If when you’re deciding on repair or replacement, you come across a company offering special discounts or financing options for a new furnace, you may want to seize the opportunity.
Best Time of Year to Replace a Furnace
During the furnace off-season, which is late Spring to early Fall, you may find better deals on new furnaces and installation. However, if you have a furnace issue during the winter and repairs are going to be expensive, it’s probably not worth paying for the repair and waiting for the off season to replace it. If your furnace only needs minor repairs, you might want to wait for the off season to consider replacement.
Other Home Heating Options
While furnaces are the most common heating system, you do have other options.
Boilers
Boilers are an efficient heating system option, and they tend to last for a long time when they receive proper maintenance. Boilers are filled with water from a cold supply line, and then the water is heated by a gas burner or electric heating element. Then the heated water or steam then travels through pipes to radiators located throughout the home. Then the water returns to the boiler to be heated again.
Bolers have several advantages.
Boilers use less energy than forced air furnaces. Electric boilers tend to be more efficient than gas boilers. Boilers can last for 30 to 50 years, unlike forced air furnaces that last 15 to 20 years.
Since boilers don’t use ductwork, there’s no dust or mold buildup that gets into your home’s air. Boilers also create a consistently comfortable environment, since radiators distribute heat evenly through rooms.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice. They are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and provide both heating and cooling.
Although heat pump technology was invented in the 1850s, heat pumps didn’t make it into homes in the U.S. until the 1940s, and didn’t go mainstream until the 1970s when people were looking for alternatives to fossil fuels. Their energy efficiency and ability to both heat and cool with a singular source of heat filled a gap in the heating and cooling industry by providing homeowners with a better option.
Over time, heat pump technology has evolved, making heat pumps an even more efficient and environmentally friendly option. Now their popularity is exploding as people grow more and more conscious of climate change and the health of the environment.
Heat pumps work by redistributing air rather than heating or cooling it using energy. In the winter, the heat pump captures warm air from the outside to transfer it in. In the summer, the heat pump captures warm air from the inside and transfers it out.
These systems don’t create ashes, smoke, or other harmful debris that you need to clean from your air, making them ideal for keeping your home safe and comfortable. They also don’t contain hot surfaces that can burn you or your family.
Additionally, these systems dehumidify your home. This is great for the summer when the air becomes heavy with moisture.
Heat pumps can be ducted or ductless. Ducted heat pumps distribute air via ducts, while ductless heat pumps use wall mounted units, called mini-splits, to distribute the air.
Consult With a Reputable HVAC Company
When you’re making the repair or replace decision or deciding whether to switch to a different heating option, a reputable HVAC professional will sit down with you to discuss your needs and budget and explain your options. They will help you to weigh the pros and cons of each option so that you can make an informed decision.
TR Miller Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing has been serving the heating needs of suburban Chicago residents since 2008. We are a family-owned company, so we understand the needs and concerns of our customers. Our certified technicians are highly trained in HVAC maintenance, cleaning, repairs, and replacement and our entire team is dedicated to ensuring your family’s comfort and safety.
If you have a furnace issue, give us a call. We’d be happy to listen to your needs and review your options with you. One of our core values is integrity, so we will never recommend more than what you need. If your furnace can be repaired to extend its life, that’s what we’ll do. If it needs to be replaced, we’ll work with you to select an option that meets your needs and budget. We want to be your trusted HVAC partner for life!
