We know that buying a new furnace may not be a priority in the immediate future, but it’s important to learn the keys that will likely influence your choice when you are ready to buy. Below are the top 5 considerations that Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning advises our customers to think about during their evaluation:
1. Heating Repair Frequency
Just like any appliance, as furnaces age, the probability of frequent heating repairs increase. If your heating equipment is over 15 years old, those repair can be especially expensive. Some of the typical repairs include blower motor failures, ignition control failures and heat exchanger failures.
2. Operational Cost
The efficiency of gas furnaces in Fort Myers area homes today can vary widely and has a direct correlation to the amount of money you pay your utility company each month. Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient, resulting in up to 40% of your home energy dollars being wasted. Even newer furnaces can waste up to 20%.
3. System Maintenance
A well maintained furnace will run more efficiently, reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs and most of all ensure your safety. Remember, these are gas-fired appliances. Another point to mention is a properly serviced furnace will last longer before replacement is required.
4. Tune-up Checks
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning receives a lot of questions pertaining to what actually can be done to tune-up or maintain a furnace and there are actually many vital checks and calibrations in the process:
- Gas Pressure and gas valve calibration
- Cleaning and checking safety switches
- Cleaning the heat exchanger
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for dangerous conditions
- Cleaning the blower system
- Cleaning and replacement of worn ignition sensors
- And many others...
5. HVAC Maintenance Interval
A certified professional who has the knowledge, skills and experience to perform a tune-up should maintain heating equipment annually. To put it bluntly, without routine maintenance, frequent repairs combined with aged equipment are a few of the more obvious signals of a need to replace your furnace.
High energy costs and the desire to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to contemplate replacement of your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst shows nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their utility bills.
Fort Myers area homeowners seeking more information are urged to call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning at 239-908-6991.