It’s likely to happen with every old furnace, you’ll wake up on a Michigan winter morning and find that the heat is no longer running and your home is ice-cold. You turn the thermostat up and nothing happens. Your furnace has stopped working. If you’re lucky, it’s a simple, inexpensive fix. But if the furnace is getting on in years and needs extensive repairs, you’ll have to decide if replacing it with a newer model is a better option than repairing the old unit and hoping it will keep working through the rest of the winter.
How long does a gas furnace last?
A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders found that a gas furnace will last an average of 15 to 20 years. So consider the age of the unit when deciding whether to repair or replace. When a furnace is installed most technicians will write the date the equipment was installed on the unit. You can also check the manufacturer’s identification plate, which is usually on the inside of the chamber door (be sure the unit is off and cool before checking inside). Record the model and serial number, then call the manufacturer’s customer service number to obtain the date of manufacture.
Furnace Repair Costs
If the furnace is more than 10-12 years old and repairing it would cost a 1/3 or more of the cost of installing a new furnace, it may be more economical to replace the unit.
Comparing Energy Savings
With natural gas cost increasing annually, it’s important to consider is the efficiency of your old furnace versus a newer unit. A standard measure of fuel efficiency is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency number (AFUE). AFUE measures the percentage of the fuel that’s converted to heat rather than being lost through inefficiency.
If the furnace is 15 or more years old, its AFUE is probably around 70. New furnaces will have an AFUE of at least 80%, which means you’ll burn 10% less fuel, saving 10% on your heating bill. High efficiency furnaces go as high a 95% AFUE , which could save you 25% on your heating bill.
Have questions about your furnace? Call Superior Plumbing and Heating. We can help evaluate your current system and recommend the most economical options for heating your home.