Is it time for a furnace upgrade?
A lot of people think California to be full of beaches, movie stars, sunshine, and warmth. What they don’t realize is that The Golden State does have some winter weather too. As a popular vacation destination, visitors may not know that the residents here sometimes need to worry about a furnace upgrade just like the residents in a northeastern state.
Like a homeowner in Maine, homeowners here also wonder, “Should I replace a 20-year-old furnace? or “When should I upgrade my furnace?” By the time your furnace is 20 years old, it isn’t being as efficient as it should be, even if it is still working. Yes, if it is still working, its end of life is due at any given moment, including the first night the temperatures get cold enough to have the furnace on.
To answer the question as to when should you get a furnace replacement, we offer the following list of indications of when it is time to get a furnace upgrade:
Repairs
Are the repairs becoming more frequent and more expensive? If you’ve answered yes to either or both of these questions, it is time to seek a furnace upgrade. You may have another two winters, but the sooner you upgrade your furnace, the less likely you’ll be to wake up in the middle of a winter night cold. The basic rule of furnace upgrade is to look at the repair cost vs the upgrade cost. If the repairs are costing as much as 50% of what a furnace upgrade would cost, it is time.
Heating Bill
Yes, the cost of utilities increases every year for all of us, but if your utility bill increases greatly from one winter to the next, it could be that your existing furnace is burning more fuel trying to keep up. You should review the matter and assess the cost of keeping the existing furnace versus the cost of a furnace upgrade by reviewing the efficiency rating. While a new furnace upgrade will cost more upfront, consider what it will save you over time with better and higher energy efficiency.
Weighing In the Factors
Along with the age, add up the repair cost and heating costs factors. You can’t just base this on one factor; you need to put them all together to get the best idea when to get a furnace upgrade.
Can you upgrade your furnace blower?
Depending on how old the existing furnace is, it may not be the best idea to upgrade the blower. However, when getting a furnace upgrade, yes – upgrading the blower is a good idea, and often recommended. A variable speed furnace blower motor will improve the efficiency of the furnace, making the comfort of your home even better. It is more efficient than turning a blower motor off and on for regulating indoor temperatures.
When you go with a one-speed blower for your furnace, you get an overwhelming blast of heat when it’s turned on, and just as quickly it stops when you turn the blower off. With a variable speed furnace blower, it will slowly work its way up and down in speed to reach the desired temperature setting, keeping consistent without the massive fluctuation.
Is a furnace worth upgrading?
As we have covered here, there are a few factors that should be considered for a furnace upgrade – the age + the repair cost + the utility expenses. A furnace that has proper routine maintenance, including professional inspections every year, can give you between 20 to 25 years of service. Then it begins costing you more, as they say, “nickel and diming” your bank account until you are broke.
At that point, considering the factors we’ve discussed, yes, it is well worth a furnace upgrade! You should work with a professional that knows how to upgrade furnaces, including guiding you toward getting the right one for your home and personal needs.
How much does it cost to upgrade a furnace?
Several factors are involved in the cost of a furnace upgrade too. The brand and the model you choose will vary in pricing, some brands being more expensive than others. Then there is the factor of size, as you want one that will keep your home comfortable.
Like an air conditioner, you can choose one that is too large or too small. Then there is the factor if you need an electric or gas-powered unit. An electric furnace upgrade can cost between $2,000 and $7,000, while a gas furnace upgrade can cost between $3,800 and $10,000.
As you begin your journey on finding the right furnace upgrade, you want to work with an expert that can answer the question, “What furnace do I need?” They should have some questions for you at that point, like what size is your home, is it single or multi-story, whether you have electric or gas connections, and of course, what’s your budget?
Wrapping It Up …
Are new furnaces more efficient? Absolutely! Like anything in our everyday lives, technology has improved furnaces too. There are several furnace replacement options to choose from as well, and of course, your budget will factor into some of the furnace upgrade options available to you.
In an existing home, you may already be set up for electric or gas-powered units, but there are options available to change from one to the other, though at an additional expense. Then there are the blower motor options we mentioned earlier and of course the capacity of a furnace upgrade. With the right professional, you can make the right decision – one that will keep your family and home warm on those chilly nights.
