Sometimes spending money can end up saving you money. In the case of furnaces and air conditioners this is often the case; spending money can really end up saving you money in a short period of time.  But be aware an inefficient furnace does not always need to be replaced as there are some repairs and/or changes that can be made first that could potentially help. For example, changing your furnace filters can help your system run more efficiently as well as making sure that your humidifier is set to the proper level. Often, simple repairs such as replacing the pilot light with an electronic ignition or sealing the joints in your ductwork can end up doing the trick thus saving you money and extending the life of your HVAC system.

If you really do suspect that you need a new heating or cooling system, schedule a free estimate with us today. Remember, a furnace should last for about 25 years if properly maintained.  So unless yours has been improperly installed, neglected, damaged or has faulty wiring, you should be able to have many good years of usage. So how will you know when it's really time to replace the furnace?

The three main reasons why you would need to replace a furnace are:

1) Extremely old and inefficient. If you move into a home that was built in the 1960's or even earlier then chances are that it has an old boiler system or even just an older version furnace. It doesn't always mean that you will need a new furnace but chances are that your system will need an overhaul to make it energy efficient for you. 

2) High cost of fuel to run your furnace. The use of Natural gas is cheaper in the Cincinnati area than electricity.  If you're using an electric furnace or an inefficient gas furnace you could save oodles of money by updating your heating system.  You may also qualify for a hefty tax credit with the upgrade.  The use of new technology and applications such as Hybrid heating systems(the use of a Heat Pump and a Gas Furnace) will give you the most bang for your buck.

3) Heating load. Heating load is the amount of energy required to maintain a steady 65-degree temperature indoors. To find out your heating load, you may want to consider contacting your utility company to perform an energy audit which will help you figure out ways to make your home more energy efficient- and possibly save you from replacing the entire furnace or a/c.  If you find that despite your efforts your furnace continues to work inefficiently then you will probably need a new furnace.

Figure This:

If you replace your furnace with a 97% efficient system (look for an energy star furnace or a/c system and compare the AFUE and BTU levels too), then you would cut your heating bills to around 20%. To see if it's worth spending the money, add up your fuel bills for last winter, then multiply that sum by 20%. Divide that figure into the cost of buying and installing the new system, about $3,000 or so, and you'll see how many years it will take to recoup your investment.