Heating Repair: Is It Time for Full Replacement?

Every time you put more money into your HVAC system, a decision needs to be made. Is it worth paying for heating repair or would your money be better spent towards an entirely new system? No one likes the idea of parting with a big chunk of money when there is a cheaper alternative. At the same time, if you're consistently throwing money at a lost cause, you're just costing yourself in the long run. Here are some considerations you should take into account when deciding whether or not to replace your system.

Age

This is probably going to be one of the bigger deciding factors when it comes to determining whether it would be better to pay for heating repair or just to buy a new system. If you just had this system installed a year or two ago, you're certainly not going to be ready to change it out quite yet. So when is it a good time to start thinking about replacement? It's hard to say. Some systems are designed and sold specifically with the promise that they should last for 15, 20 years. Others are on their last legs around the decade mark. Anything less than that and, based on age alone, you should probably just get it fixed.

Cost

Obviously the cost of the heating repair bill is going to play a role in deciding whether or not it would just be better to replace the system. If the work you're looking at is going to cost more than a quarter of the price of replacement, you should probably just go ahead and upgrade to a new model. Of course, this introduces quite a few variables. HVAC systems aren't sold with a single price. So, before you decide whether or not to make those fixes, it's worth shopping around a bit and see what you would be spending if you decided to upgrade today.

Constantly Breaking

At some point, you have to cut your losses. If you have a system out of warranty that breaks down every winter, it's probably time to start thinking about replacing it. Not only will you save money in the long run, you will protect yourself from winding up in an emergency situation. It's not a pleasant idea to part with the amount of money it takes to replace your system, but it's not a pleasant thought to curl up under ten blankets on a cold night while your furnace sits broken and unused, either.