You may know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter should be replaced each month. Your pillows require replacement every two years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every decade. But what about your furnace?
If your heating equipment has yearly maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 15-20 years. Once your heating equipment reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start considering replacing your heating system with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s best to start looking now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you can’t properly look into your options. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also critical to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can dramatically affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. New heating equipment is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you need to research in advance is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Right now, you can receive U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for qualifying heating and cooling equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been verified past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help discover local rebates available in your community : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to think about if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairs. You can normally repair a furnace – replace a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will be greater than the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to examine long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs each season, it’s probably time to think about replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your furnace’s ability to get you through the winter safe and warm, give Jack Nelson Service Experts a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your system and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Jack Nelson is providing discounts on specific heating and cooling systems so call us and discover how much you can save!