If the heating or cooling component in your home is malfunctioning, the question may arise: repair or replace? In some cases, the decision is an easy one. Get it fixed and enjoy more years of reliable comfort ahead. However, what’s the best option when the expense of repair is considerable and the furnace or air conditioner has already accumulated many years of wear and tear? Here are some factors to help you make the right call when it comes to the question of repair or replace?
- How old is the unit? HVAC components differ when it comes to expected service life. A central air conditioner, for example, will last, on average, between seven and 15 years before replacement is likely to be necessary. A gas furnace is more long-lasting and may stay on the job up to 20 years or more.
- What’s the repair cost? Some HVAC fixes are simple and appropriately low-cost. Other repairs, however, may be prohibitively expensive, making the repair or replace question easy to answer. For example, the high cost of replacing the compressor in an existing AC or the heat exchanger in a gas furnace would likely not be a bargain if either unit is more than 10 years old and out of warranty. Purchasing a new unit is probably the better deal.
- How efficient is the unit? An air conditioner or furnace that has not yet reached the end of its expected life span may still not be a bargain to repair. Older units with lower energy-efficiency ratings consume more electricity or gas. Those higher operating costs continue if the existing unit is repaired instead of replaced. Conversely, a new AC or furnace with higher efficiency starts saving money from day one.
- Is there a safety issue? The expensive furnace heat exchanger is a critical safety component when it comes to keeping deadly carbon monoxide out of system airflow. Repairing the existing heat exchanger is not a safe option. Replacing it with a new exchanger is costly. If the furnace is approaching 10 years in age, buying a new furnace is likely the most economical — and the safest — decision.
Wondering whether its time to repair or replace? For an informed decision, ask the HVAC professionals at Detmer and Sons.
