How Often Should My Furnace be Replaced?

Having a warm home during the cold winter days in California is important for your safety and health. Without a working furnace, your home will become very uncomfortable. Knowing when to plan on replacing a furnace can help ease the burden of feeling unprepared. It isn’t an easy question to answer, but there are some things you can consider to help you get ready for the inevitable.

Your Furnace is Getting too Old

Without question, appliances simply cannot live forever. Your furnace has roughly an 18-20 lifespan at best. Taking care of your furnace with filter changes and regular checkups from a professional will help increase that lifespan. If your furnace is getting old, you will want to start saving back for a new one. The cost savings alone will likely make it worth it. You will probably want to get the furnace replaced as quickly as possible when you find out there will be a big difference in bills.

Inefficient Operating Costs

Old furnaces are not energy efficient and cost you extra money to run each month. If your furnace is rated at 60% AFUE (how much gas is used to heat your home), then you are wasting $.40 for every dollar of fuel used to heat your home. If you upgraded from that 60% AFUE to a new and super efficient 90% AFUE, you would save $33 for every $100 normally spent on heating bills. Not only will it be easier and cheaper to heat your home with a new furnace, but you will spend less on repairs.

Expensive Repairs

Finally, if your furnace costs too much to repair, it is worth looking into just putting in a new furnace. The common rule of thumb is if a repair costs 50% of a new furnace, then you get the new furnace. However, as your furnace gets older, that repair threshold drops. If you have a 20-year-old furnace, it likely isn’t worth paying $150 in repairs to keep it running.

Heating Services in Burbank, CA

At Air Max, we strive to help you make the best decisions for your home. If you need help with furnace repairs or looking at new furnace options in the Beverly Hills, Burbank or Thousand Oaks, CA areas, contact us today!