Repair or Replace Furnace? What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
At the beginning of each winter we see furnaces all over the city that haven’t been fired up since February or March get kicked on, then shut off. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t fret, there’s a good chance your system will be able to be fixed. In fact, it almost always can be fixed, save the situations where parts are obsolete. Read on for answers to the question: Should I repair or replace furnace?
Fixable Furnace Issues
What I want to convey here is that many repairs are not indicative of a system “on it’s last legs” or “about to die” – the quotes are what we’ve heard customers tell us other companies have said to them. As we talk about a lot at Homesense, it’s frustrating that many in the HVAC industry think the way to grow their business is by scaring customers into sales. So, I want to make sure the next time you have another company in your house, you’re educated.
The list below is by no means comprehensive, but gives some furnace fixes and common repairs that almost never should require you to have your furnace replaced.
- Hot Surface Ignitor
- High/Low Limit Switch
- Anything involving a thermostat
- Gas Valve
- Flame Sensor
- Thermocouple
- Filters/dirt buildup
Time to Replace Your Furnace
If you have an older furnace or air conditioner (10+ years), you might determine that a repair of $200 are more is enough to get you to replace your system. In addition, sometimes these smaller repairs can be indicative of other issues, so I don’t want you to think the small repair always solves every issue.
On the flip side, the issues below are larger repairs that oftentimes have costs involved that make it worth pricing out a new furnace. A big factor again is the age of your furnace, but it’s never a bad idea to have a comparison cost before you make a decision.
- Cracked Heat Exchanger
- Blower Motor
- Inducer Motor
- Control Board (this could be on other list too, depending on the brand)
If a technician finds an issue with any of these and you’re on the fence whether or not to repair or replace, I strongly encourage you to get a 2nd opinion on your furnace before making the call. I know it’s tough to delay when you’re in the middle of the winter and your home is cold, however it can be an unnecessary and costly decision.
Call Homesense to Fix of Replace Your Furnace
If you’re having trouble wading through any of the issues above, we’d be happy to talk and answer any of your questions. Try us at 317-203-8149.