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When do I need a new furnace?
The best time to buy a new furnace is before it breaks down.
This gives you the chance to shop around in comfort, instead
of rushing to get the heat back on.
If your system already has broken down and the repair costs
exceed $500+ the better investment is to replace instead
of repair.
The typical furnace has a life expectancy of 15-20 years,
so if your current system is 10 to 15 years old, it may
be time to start preparing yourself and deliberate your
options.
An old furnace, even if it is working well, may be extracting
only 60% of the available heat from the fuel used to heat
your home. Newer fuel-efficient heating systems use as much
as 90% of the heat available in the fuel. If you're looking
to lower your fuel bills, now is the time to start shopping
for a new heating system. (Different possibilities)
How do you know if it's time to replace your old cooling
and heating equipment or improve the performance of your
overall system? If you have any of the following problems,
It may be time to call a professional contractor to help
you make a change if;
- Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy
bills are going up. Nothing lasts forever, and if you're
paying hundreds of dollars each year to maintain and repair
your existing equipment, then it is time for a change. The
cost savings will exceed the repairs and will include decreased
fuel/power costs.
- Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years
old, or your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
Older heat pumps and air conditioners are often about 60%
efficient, but newer equipment can be over 90% efficient.
What does this mean? If you have a monthly fuel or power
bill of $150, you could see your energy cost drop to as
little as $100/month. Ask your contractor to explain the
energy rating for each system.
- No one is home for long periods of the day, and you don't
have a programmable thermostat. There is no sense heating
or cooling an empty house.
Have a programmable thermostat installed, to start saving
energy and money while you're away or even sleeping.
In the same time, you save the environment.
- Some of your rooms are too hot or too cold. Improper equipment
operation, duct problems, or inadequate insulation could
be the cause. A good HVAC contractor can analyze your zoning
needs, and help solves the problem.
- Your equipment has humidity problems. Poor equipment operation,
inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air
to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer,
breeding disease and causing health and comfort problems
in your home.
- Your home has excessive dust. Leaky ducts can pull dust
in from attics, crawlspaces, and basements and distribute
them through the house. Having your ducts sealed may be
a simple solution.
- Your cooling system is noisy. Undersized duct systems
or problems with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment
can often cause your system to overwork, producing noise
and inefficient power usage.
- Someone in your home has severe allergies. Allergies are
a part of life, but some systems are more prone to growing
molds and attracting dust. An inspection of your system
will help you understand how to improve or replace your
current system with one that is friendlier to your health.
Ducts
Warm air ducts and cold air returns that pass through cold
areas (such as an unheated basement, crawl space or garage)
should be insulated.
Before you insulate ducts, use duct-tape to repair any cracks
in the seams.
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