We understand that not everyone may need a new furnace right now, but it’s wise to learn the keys that would impact your decision when you do need to buy a new one. Below are five considerations that Norrell Service Experts advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Just like any appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent heating repairs increase. If your furnace is over 15 years old, those repairs can become significant. Some of the typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Birmingham area homes today vary significantly and their efficiency directly influences your utility bills. Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient, resulting in up to 40% of your home energy dollars being wasted. Even the latest models of furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A properly maintained furnace will operate more efficiently, lower the likelihood of expensive repairs and most importantly ensure your safety. Remember, these are gas-fired appliances. Another important point is a properly maintained furnace will last longer before replacement is required.
4. Tune-up Checks
Norrell Service Experts receives a lot of questions pertaining to what really can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many vital checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- And many others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified technician who has the skill and hands-on experience to perform a tune-up must maintain heating equipment once a year. In short, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with old equipment are a few of the more obvious signals of a need to replace your furnace.
High energy costs and the desire to reduce energy consumption are also pressing reasons to weigh the replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst suggested nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Birmingham area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Norrell Service Experts at 205-267-0023.