Repair Vs. Replace: What’s Right For My Heating System?
It’s a choice that most homeowners put off as long as possible, but one that all will have to deal with sooner or later: deciding whether to repair or replace their heating system.
Sometimes, your equipment makes the choice for you by failing completely – but more often than not, the timing isn’t so black and white.
Heating System Questions
If you’re on the repair/replace fence, here are five questions to ask yourself.
- How old is your furnace or boiler? As your equipment ages, it becomes less sensible to repair it. If you’re having problems with equipment that’s more than 10 years old, replacing it is usually a smarter choice, since you’ll also get efficiency improvements. For equipment younger than that, the choice becomes a little murkier. Here’s a rule of thumb: if a repair costs 50 percent or more of the replacement cost, it’s generally worth the upgrade – especially with older equipment.
- How well is your current equipment working? Are you noticing that your house is not as comfortable as it used to be – or that your bills are higher than usual even though the price of heating oil hasn’t changed very much? An old heating system could be operating at 60 percent efficiency or even less – which means that forty cents of every dollar you spend on fuel is doing something other than heating your house. Be on the lookout for strange odors and sounds coming from your equipment, too.
- What is the maintenance history of your heating equipment? If you’ve maintained your furnace or boiler properly since you bought it, it will likely last longer and encounter fewer big problems over the years. However, while proper maintenance may help you delay replacing your system for a few years longer, no amount of maintenance will make your equipment more efficient than it was when you bought it – or more efficient than new gear.
- Is my current equipment safe? A 10-year-old furnace or boiler is more likely than a four- or five-year-old model to develop problems that could endanger your family. For example, older heat exchangers can crack or rust, causing carbon monoxide leaks in your home (this is why annual heating tune-ups are so important, especially with older equipment).
- Have my heating needs changed? If you’ve added space to your house without changing your heating system, the next breakdown you have could be caused by pushing your equipment to meet the demands of a new heating load – a problem that is likely to recur if you keep your old, undersized system in place.
Heating System Conversions And Installations Near You
If it’s time to replace your heating system – or you’re thinking about converting your heating equipment to to something more efficient and easier to maintain – we can help!
Dixon Energy experts can install and service a wide range of natural gas heating systems and electric heat pump systems, as well as systems powered by heating oil and propane. And because we offer everything, we can help you make a selection that works for you.
Looking to replace your heating equipment, or convert your system to a new fuel? We can help! Contact the heating pros at Dixon Energy today to learn more about expert heating system installations in New Jersey!
