Waking up to a cold house on a winter morning can quickly go from frustrating to a minor crisis. During cooler months, we rely on our home’s furnace to keep our family comfortable and safe. When its reliability comes into question, the choice of repair or replace can be overwhelming.
Eventually all homeowners will be faced with the difficult decision of whether to continue to repair their home’s furnace or explore replacement options. Like other home systems, your furnace is not designed to last forever, even with regularly scheduled maintenance.
Although the final decision is up to the individual homeowner, working with a trusted team can help you make the best choice for your home. When it comes to Midlothian heating and air service, the Dial One Johnson plumbing team can provide cost analysis and provide options that fit any budget.
Factors to Consider When Choosing HVAC Repair or Replacement
Replacing a furnace is a major home investment, so it makes sense that you want to do your due diligence. With home systems costing between $2000-$6000, avoiding the need to make a decision during an emergency situation will save money and unnecessary stress.
In an ideal situation you would have ample time to research costs, different unit options and schedule a convenient time. The following factors should be considered any time you are considering a repair or heating replacement.
1. Age of Furnace
With the average life of a furnace ranging from 15-20 years, the age of your system will always come into question when repairs are needed. Even with regular maintenance, Midlothian HVAC repairs will increase in frequency. Older systems can have a repair completed on one day and a separate malfunction the next.
If your system is less than 10 years old, it is likely that your best option will be to repair. Check with your HVAC warranty as many will cover the unit up to 10 years. It should be noted that for most manufacturers the system will need to receive regular maintenance from a trained professional. Failure to do so may void the warranty prematurely.
If your system is 15 years or older, homeowners should consider replacement. The repair that is immediately needed may be used as a stop-gap, but it is likely that more frequent repairs are just around the corner.
2. Frequency and Cost of Repairs
At some point, the cost of continuing to repair the unit will outweigh the cost of replacing the system. This is especially true as the system ages, although newer systems are not immune. Multiple repairs in two years or less is considered excessive.
Frequent need for repair is a sign that the system is failing. It is likely that you will see costs increase with each repair and with your monthly utility bills.
Work with a heating and air expert to put together an accurate cost analysis of projected costs. While a warranty can provide some cushion for unexpected repair cost there still may be out of pocket expenses. If the cost of the repair is half or more of a new system, you may be better off with a full system replacement.
3. Furnace Efficiency
Perhaps you are rigorous in your furnace maintenance, and you address any minor repairs as soon as they arise, even the most reliable system can start to operate inefficiently. Spikes in energy costs and an uncomfortable home despite what the thermostat reads are common signs that your system is not operating at peak efficiency.
Issues with efficiency can often boil down to poor maintenance, such as clogged filters or restricted airflow in the ductwork. But as a system ages, it will struggle to disperse warm air throughout the entire home. As it struggles, it will run longer, consuming additional energy.
During diagnostics, your technician should be able to narrow down the culprit behind the inefficient behavior.
4. Plans to Sell Your Home
Homeowners that are planning on selling their home within the next few years should also consider the cost of repair versus replacement. While repairs may be more cost effective in the short term, replacement may be needed to pass an inspection.
If you are planning on selling your home in a few years and your system is already starting to age you will benefit from a replacement sooner. Not only will the system be under warranty for the remainder of the time you own the house, it will also be less likely to fail an inspection when you do get ready to sell.
As mentioned, replacement will eventually be necessary. In the meantime, being attentive and paying attention to the performance of your system will help prevent the need for emergency HVAC services.
How to Avoid an HVAC Emergency
We would love to tell you that there is a fool-proof way to guarantee that you will never run into an HVAC emergency, but that simply isn’t the case. There are, however, measures that you can take to ensure that your family is comfortable and safe even when winter is at full force.
The overwhelming majority of heating repair is avoidable with regular maintenance. For homeowners, this includes regularly replacing filters, having ducts cleaned every 2-3 years and not allowing repairs to linger.
This should also include servicing from a cooling and heating expert at least once a year. Licensed technicians will be able to address immediate needs, catch potential issues earlier and provide suggestions to help your system stay reliable even through peak usage.
Texas Autumn is considerably more mild than other parts of the country, providing the perfect opportunity to have your furnace serviced. What could be a minor inconvenience in the fall, can quickly progress to an emergency with the temperatures dip during winter months.
Aside from avoiding a potential crisis, it will be easier to schedule a service appointment that works with your schedule with some proactive planning.
Finding Midlothian HVAC Repair
The choice of repair or placement can weigh heavily on a homeowner. Relying on your local HVAC experts can help you make the best financial decision for your home and help relieve stress.
The Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating team has been helping homeowners with HVAC maintenance, repair and full system replacement for over 50 years. Our 24-hour emergency service and high quality workmanship mean that you can count on our team of professional, licensed technicians to get the job no matter the situation.
Call our team at 469-240-5618 or visit dial1plumbing.com to schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC experts today.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.