What is the life span of a furnace?
A furnace typically lasts about 20 years. This is dependent on the type of furnace and the maintenance of the furnace over its lifetime. If it has been routinely serviced over its life it will last longer and perform more efficiently. Think of it the same way you think of "an oil change" for your car.
Energy Saving tip:Â
Have you checked your thermostat? If you turn down your thermostat at night and when you are away from home you can potentially save ~2% of your heating bill for each degree that you lower the thermostat for at least 8 hours each day. Want to save hassle? Have a programmable thermostat installed. This will save both time and money immediately and costs very little!
How do I know if my furnace is going bad?
To start with I'll give you a list of potential signs that your furnace may be going bad. This list is directly from the EnergyStar.gov website.
*Your heat pump is more than 10 years old.
*Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
*Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
*Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
*Your home has humidity problems.
*Your home has excessive dust.
*Your heating system is noisy.
That is the view from EnergyStar.gov. They also give a free tool (Home Energy Yardstick) that you can use as a guideline. Now here is my viewpoint. To be completely honest if you are asking that question you probably have not had your system examined this season. That is the starting place and the place that you can save the most money. An average HVAC company charges less than $100 for a complete Tune-up for your system. A professional comes out and provides a complete cleaning and check of your furnace and will give you an expert opinion on whether replacement is necessary. A good company will even offer a discount on a replacement.
Can I save money by getting my system replaced?
YES! Now is actually an excellent time to get your HVAC replaced. Congress has currently included in one of their stimulus packages a 30% Federal Tax Credit of up to $500 for replacing your old furnace with a new energy efficient model. The Furnace has to have an AFUE of at least 95 (Never Fear! We are happy to explain the acronyms and options!). In addition, new systems can be 95% efficient. Contrast that with old systems. Most systems installed prior to 1992 have an efficiency of about 65%. Moving from 65% to 95% will give you a projected savings of $27 per $100. Now take a look at your bill and you will quickly see the value of replacing your system.
A furnace typically lasts about 20 years. This is dependent on the type of furnace and the maintenance of the furnace over its lifetime. If it has been routinely serviced over its life it will last longer and perform more efficiently. Think of it the same way you think of "an oil change" for your car.
Energy Saving tip:Â
Have you checked your thermostat? If you turn down your thermostat at night and when you are away from home you can potentially save ~2% of your heating bill for each degree that you lower the thermostat for at least 8 hours each day. Want to save hassle? Have a programmable thermostat installed. This will save both time and money immediately and costs very little!
How do I know if my furnace is going bad?
To start with I'll give you a list of potential signs that your furnace may be going bad. This list is directly from the EnergyStar.gov website.
*Your heat pump is more than 10 years old.
*Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
*Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
*Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
*Your home has humidity problems.
*Your home has excessive dust.
*Your heating system is noisy.
That is the view from EnergyStar.gov. They also give a free tool (Home Energy Yardstick) that you can use as a guideline. Now here is my viewpoint. To be completely honest if you are asking that question you probably have not had your system examined this season. That is the starting place and the place that you can save the most money. An average HVAC company charges less than $100 for a complete Tune-up for your system. A professional comes out and provides a complete cleaning and check of your furnace and will give you an expert opinion on whether replacement is necessary. A good company will even offer a discount on a replacement.
Can I save money by getting my system replaced?
YES! Now is actually an excellent time to get your HVAC replaced. Congress has currently included in one of their stimulus packages a 30% Federal Tax Credit of up to $500 for replacing your old furnace with a new energy efficient model. The Furnace has to have an AFUE of at least 95 (Never Fear! We are happy to explain the acronyms and options!). In addition, new systems can be 95% efficient. Contrast that with old systems. Most systems installed prior to 1992 have an efficiency of about 65%. Moving from 65% to 95% will give you a projected savings of $27 per $100. Now take a look at your bill and you will quickly see the value of replacing your system.