Should I repair or replace my furnace?

Wondering whether it’s time to finally replace the furnace in your Ottawa-area home?

A furnace plays the central role in keeping your home comfortable and warm — especially through the long Canadian winter. Though with the cost to replace a furnace with a completely new unit, it’s understandable that homeowners would consider relying on furnace maintenance and repairs as long as possible.

There are many different factors to consider when assessing the condition of your furnace. Certainly, whether or not it is effectively putting out heat is key — but it’s also important to consider the efficiency of the unit, as well as its effect on indoor air quality.

Read on for a more detailed breakdown of these important factors!

How old is the furnace?

With proper maintenance and care, furnaces have an expected lifespan of approximately 16-20 years. If your furnace is younger than this, it’s often worth spending the time and money on repairs in order to keep it running. As the furnace begins to age, however, you’ll start to notice that repairs and associated costs begin to go up.

Naturally, you don’t want to discover that your furnace no longer works on the coldest night of the year. So it’s important to be aware of the age of your furnace and to keep track of ongoing repairs as it begins to approach its expiration date.

If your furnace is less than 15 years old, repairs will be worth the investment as long as there are no fundamental issues with the unit itself or how it has been installed.

Have you noticed an increase in energy consumption and bills?

Furnaces start to lose efficiency as they age and will need to run longer in order to keep the heat at the desired level. This will start to have a noticeable impact on your heating bills and also leads to a less comfortable house with rooms being at inconsistent temperatures.

Over time, running an old, inefficient furnace will become more expensive than a replacement simply through the added costs on the monthly bill. It’s important to keep a close eye on costs over time and do some comparisons so you have a clear picture of how much the inefficiencies are costing you.

Has your furnace required multiple repairs in the past two years?

Another way to assess whether or not your furnace is about to give out is whether or not the frequency of repair visits has gone up. While each visit may not break the bank individually, the costs add up and, more importantly, are a key indicator that the furnace is on its last legs.

Is your furnace safe?

As your heating system gets older, it will also start to have a risk of creating carbon monoxide emissions. The risk depends on the type of system you have and the extent of the use. You can monitor the furnace for signs of carbon monoxide issues, and it’s also important to have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home to monitor for any issues.

Is the air in your home dry or dusty?

Another sign of a furnace showing its age is when the air in your home feels excessively dry. Older furnaces will have issues with moisturizing and cleaning the air — leading to poor air quality. This can especially cause issues for any who suffer from allergies. While this may not seem like as critical a factor as others mentioned above, if your furnace is failing to keep a good air quality in your home then it may be time for a replacement.

Looking for a second opinion on your Ottawa furnace?

If you aren’t sure and need a professional opinion, now’s the right time to give us a call. An expert HVAC technician from ABC Plumbing & Heating can come out to your home or property and inspect your furnace.

We’ll be happy to point out any potential warning signs and speak to any of your concerns. We may also be able to identify and perform any preventative maintenance needed in order to make sure your furnace keeps running its best for years to come!

For more information call us today at 1 (613) 489-0120.