Should You Repair or Replace Your Heating System?

Replacing a heater is not a small service. This is a major overhaul to one of your home’s core features, and it takes a considerable amount of time and a substantial investment to complete. While your home could no doubt benefit from a new heater, you don’t necessarily want to go purchase one if your current heater works just fine. But what if it isn’t? What if your heater has stopped working and you know you’re going to have to call a professional HVAC technician for help anyway? Should you schedule a repair or have them install a new system completely?

This answer isn’t always straightforward. If you continually pay for repairs on a system that is too old and worn out, you’ll be wasting money that you could have otherwise put toward the cost of your new heater. If your heater seems to be fine and then suddenly has something small go wrong, then a repair is normally more than fine. But how do you know what option is right for you?

If the day comes where you find yourself faced with the decision as to whether you should repair or replace your heating system, there are three questions that you should ask yourself in order to make truly the best decision. We take a closer look at these questions on our blog.

Question 1: How Old Is Your Heater?

The first and arguably most important factor that should help you determine whether you should repair or replace your heater is its age. If your heater is old, then it needs to be replaced. If it isn’t that old, then repairs will likely be just fine. In general, the average heater can be expected to last roughly 15 to 20 years without issue, and up to as many as 25 years if properly cared for. If your heater is approaching this age, then a repair may get it working again for today, but could only be delaying the inevitable need for another repair and a new system for just a short period of time.

Conversely, if your heater is anywhere from 10 to 15 years old, then there’s a good chance the problem you have encountered isn’t all that serious. If the issue is routine and doesn’t carry an extremely high repair bill, then we encourage you to simply make the repair and let it continue to serve your home. Sometimes parts fail and sometimes problems come up when you least expect them. However, a quick fix in these cases is usually the best and most prudent financial decision.

Don’t know how old your heater is? We can help. Take a look at your heater’s manufacturer label, usually located on the door that covers the indoor unit itself. On that data label should be a manufacture date. This date is typically not more than a month or two before the date the system was actually installed. If this date was more than 25 years ago, then you should strongly consider replacing your heater fairly soon.

Question 2: Are Your Energy Bills Too High?

Whether or not you know your HVAC system’s age, there is another major indicator as to its condition that you can determine fairly easily: how much energy the system is using. Does it seem like your heating bills have shot through the roof over the last few years? Rising energy costs play a small factor, but they aren’t to blame for any sudden, huge spikes on your energy bill. These spikes are a sign of wear and tear taking their toll on your HVAC system, resulting in the system drawing more energy to keep up with your heating demands.

Replacing your system will not only install a more energy-efficient system in your home, but it will turn back the clock so your system is working at its most efficient once again. The savings of going from an old system to a new one could take a lot of the stress of winter energy bills away for good.

Question 3: Are You Ready to Improve Your Quality of Life?

A new furnace is going to require a greater investment in the short term, that much is true. However, it is also going to provide you with substantially greater value in the long term. This is because a new heater provides you with significantly greater comfort at a lower energy cost, and it does so reliably. New heaters are far less prone to problems, particularly when it comes to breakdowns or faults that cause them to stop working. If you’re tired of your heater giving out on you when you least expect it, then perhaps it’s time to replace it entirely.