Time for Heating Repair?

When the HVAC system isn’t functioning properly, many homeowners wonder if they should do some heating repair or just replace the unit. This is a big decision and one that will take some analysis and contemplation. Here are some questions to ask:

- Is your system decades old? If you have a furnace or boiler that is twenty years old or even more ancient, it’s likely that it’s time to bite the bullet and get a newer model. There are currently some highly efficient units on the market that will save lots of money on utility bills. Lowered monthly utility bills will add up over time and put a big dent in the purchase price of a new unit.

- Is your HVAC more than ten years old? Even units that are only ten years old may be less efficient than they should be. A broken down heater may be repaired in order to chug along another ten years, but with those high electric or gas bills, is this what you really want?

- Have you considered an energy audit? An energy audit performed by a professional will give a good idea of where energy consumption could be reduced in a home. This is a good time to find out where heat is drifting out though leaks. Techs have highly effective tools to scope out the situation now such as infrared cameras and blower doors in order to sleuth out the heat loss culprits.

- Have you had your system cleaned and sealed? A good cleaning and sealing can make a big difference, too. A preventative round of maintenance in the way of cleaning, sealing, tuning up and testing the mechanisms will make an existing system work more efficiently.

- Do you have potential leaks? Some of the most common areas for heat to escape a home include chimneys, recessed lighting, outlets, plugs, unsealed windows, attics and missing chunks of plaster. Maybe your system isn’t working so poorly but instead has rampant heat leaks that are occurring.

- Have you insulated? A poorly insulated home will have high utility usage no matter what type of heater is in place. Blowing insulation into the walls and ceiling will make a big difference in fuel consumption.

- If you upgrade to a new HVAC, how large of a unit do you need? It’s important to hire a qualified heating specialist for heating repair in order to ascertain exactly how large of a system is needed for your home’s square footage and regional climate. Too much will be overkill; too little will mean that the system will be working too hard and utilizing too much fuel.

- Have you gotten several estimates? Whenever it’s time to repair or replace an HVAC unit, it’s wise to get at least three written estimates for services. This will be a great way to compare and contrast the quotes.

Is it time for heating repair or replacement? Asking yourself multiple questions such as how old your system is, whether you’ve had an energy audit, what the estimators say and what size unit is needed will all help with the decision making process.