Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace? Here’s How To Decide for Your Ocala, FL, Home

Do you need expert help with your furnace problems? Call Fast Air Repair at 352-290-7968 to book an appointment.

So, it’s one of those few cold winter days in Florida, and your furnace isn’t working as well as it should. What should you do? Furnaces are big ticket items. Therefore, when yours starts acting up, it can become a stressful time for you. Should you repair or replace your furnace?

As the leading furnace service in Ocala, FL, many people call us for a definitive answer to this question. However, as we always tell them, there’s no one-cap-fits-all answer for everyone. In this post, we’ll look at scenarios where it makes sense to replace your furnace and when to just repair it.

Signs You Should Replace Your Furnace

You should replace your furnace if any of the following applies to your situation.

Your Furnace Emits Carbon Monoxide While Running

Furnace systems leak carbon monoxide for various reasons. But in most cases, it usually stems from a damaged burner or a cracked heat exchanger. Replacing a heat exchanger can cost you up to 30% of the price of a new furnace.

The figure might be even closer to 50% if you have to replace other components as well. In this scenario, replacing the furnace might be more cost effective.

Keep in mind that carbon monoxide is highly dangerous. Don’t use the furnace if your detector keeps going off when your furnace kicks in. Such furnaces don’t meet the recommended safety standards.

Turn off the system and open up windows and doors to let in fresh air. Then, call a furnace repair expert to evaluate the problem.

The Furnace Is Old

Furnace systems don’t last forever. With proper maintenance, the average furnace typically lasts 15-20 years. If yours is already around this age bracket, replacing the unit is more cost effective than investing hundreds or even thousands on more repairs.

Even if you just moved into your home in the last few years, you could have an old furnace. Check the model number and other labels for an idea of the furnace’s age. You can also call up the previous owners to verify the age of the system.

The Furnace Is Too Noisy

Do you hear popping, screeching, rattling, and squealing noises while your furnace runs? Such noisy operation can be frustrating when you just want to relax on a cold winter night. You can trace most types of furnace noise to broken or failing components.

Call a furnace repair technician to evaluate the system and recommend possible fixes that can stop the noise. If those fixes involve replacing costly parts (especially on an older unit), you should consider replacing the system.

Repairs Amount to More Than 30% of the Cost of a New Furnace

One running theme thus far is that we don’t recommend spending too much on repairing a furnace, especially for older systems. However, even for a new system, you should have a cut-off point in terms of repair costs. The sweet spot is 30% of the cost of replacement.

According to Home Advisor, the average cost of a new furnace is just under $5,000. Therefore, you don’t want to spend $1,500 or more on repairs. It’s better to consider investment in a new furnace in that scenario.

Your Furnace Is No Longer Effective

Is your furnace struggling to heat your home these days? You should first explore possible causes. Something as simple as a closed vent can cause an efficient furnace to underperform. If you can’t find any discernible causes and your HVAC contractor can’t recommend any repairs, it’s time for a replacement.

Furnace systems lose effectiveness as the years roll by. At some point, the components will be too weak to meet your heating needs. If you’re asking, “Should I repair or replace the furnace?” in that scenario, make the cost-effective choice to replace it.

You Have High Energy Bills

Even when your furnace still heats your home well enough, you may still need to replace it. A system that has lost its efficiency can cause a huge spike in energy bills. You may ignore the sharp spike for a couple of months, but it will only keep increasing.

Throw in the cost of repair (which you’ll still pay for occasionally), and you have an opportunity to put more money back into your pocket by simply changing your furnace.

Top Reasons To Repair Your Furnace

Some of the top signs you should prioritize repairing your furnace include the following:

You Intend Putting Your Home on the Market Soon

If you’re a couple or so years away from selling your home, it makes sense to save money on a replacement. You can complete repairs that will keep the furnace working well enough for the next few years.

Some potential buyers will appreciate seeing a new furnace, but many will only care about the system working well enough. If the rest of your property ticks all the right boxes for valuators and potential buyers, a new furnace won’t change the value of your property or the speed of closing a sale by a great deal.

The Problems With Your Furnace Are Easy Fixes

It’s always cheaper to repair your furnace instead of shelling out thousands on a new furnace if the problems are cheap to deal with. Spending the odd $300 on your furnace every couple of years means you can go another ten years without replacing your furnace and still not reach 30% of the price of a new one.

So, before you start shopping for a new system, you should ask yourself if you can fix the problem with a cheap repair.

In some cases, homeowners find out that the problem lies elsewhere and not with the furnace directly. Imagine committing to a new furnace for an issue you can fix with a new $100 thermostat. Or one you fix by spending some money on repairing and insulating your ductwork.

The Furnace Is Still Under Warranty

If your furnace is still under warranty, you may get repairs done for the issues plaguing it for free. Reach out to your installers and discuss the repairs. However, you should check your warranty terms to ensure you haven’t broken any of the rules.

One common requirement for upholding your warranty contract involves always getting maintenance on your furnace every year. If you can’t provide proof of annual maintenance, you may need to pay for your repairs out of pocket.

The Furnace Is Less Than Ten Years Old

If your furnace is less than ten years old, it still has about 35-50% of its lifespan to go. You should prioritize repairs that will buy you a further five years or more with the system as long as they are not too costly.

Repair or Replace Your Furnace: Get Expert Guidance From Fast Air Repair Today

Your home’s HVAC system is a significant investment. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed when you have to make key decisions about it. If you’re still not sure if you should repair or replace your furnace, reach out to the expert team at Fast Air Repair.

Our highly knowledgeable crew will carefully evaluate your current furnace and provide unbiased guidance on the right approach to take. We can complete all kinds of repairs. If you do need a replacement, we will recommend the most efficient heating systems you can buy right now.

Call the Fast Air Repair team in Ocala, FL, today at 352-290-7968 to schedule a consultation.