Furnace Repair or Furnace Replacement – Don’t Put Your Family at Risk

When you should repair your furnace and when you should replace it.

A furnace is a complex piece of machinery that harnesses dangerous elements to create household comfort for you and your family. To be clear, a well-maintained and professionally serviced furnace is safe within the same margins as most household appliances; however, there are inherent dangers associated with a failing furnace. In a climate such as New Jersey, a furnace has to work extra hard due to long, cold winter months, so the repair versus replace consideration is an important one.

When it’s okay to repair a furnace:

The furnace is relatively new. In New Jersey, the lifecycle of a furnace is 15 to 20 years; an impeccably maintained furnace can reach 25 years of relatively trouble-free service. A poorly maintained furnace has an average lifecycle of approximately half that of a regularly serviced furnace.

If your furnace replacement was performed by a reputable, professional, and factory-trained HVAC Company, and you’ve kept up with all recommended furnace services, nearly any issue your furnace will experience in the first two-thirds of its expected lifecycle can be repaired. Ensure your furnace comes with a warranty that meets or exceeds industry standards, as a furnace repair that determines the failure is due to an expensive part will typically be covered under most warranties.
Minor or first-time furnace issues. When it comes to furnace repair, there are both major and minor issues.
Minor furnace repair costs in NJ are typically less than $500, including items such as replacing dirty flame sensors, switches, thermostats, or ignitors, addressing filter blockage, repairing the blower belt, or the motor capacitor. These are considered common furnace repairs, where the cost of a furnace replacement is typically not justified.

When you should replace or consider a new furnace installation

Repair costs are exceeding 80% of the value of a new furnace. Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to keep investing in a furnace that has served you well. This is purely a financial decision. Sometimes, a furnace repair just doesn’t pay.
The furnace has reached or (hopefully) exceeded its expected lifecycle. Sometimes you have to let go. A furnace in a NJ home that reaches the 20-year mark owes you nothing; it has done its job. Not to mention that the risk of a catastrophic failure on an older furnace increases over time. Sometimes, it’s best to salute a job well done and bring in a newer model to handle the next couple of decades.
Heating bills are going up. When your heating bills rise and it’s not caused by increasing utility costs in NJ, the older furnace is likely becoming less efficient over time, and repairing a furnace that is growing in its cost of operation over time is not worth it.

Major furnace failures indicate it may be time for a new furnace. Major issues involve potentially life-threatening failures, such as gas leaks or overheating, or expensive repairs, including the replacement of a cracked or corroded heat exchanger, blower motor, gas valve, or control board, all of which can cost in excess of $1,000. When the cost of a furnace repair exceeds the value or there are continued dangerous failures, saving money is not worth the risk.

PLEASE NOTE:

Do not attempt to repair your furnace on your own; call a professional.
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, evacuate the home immediately and call 911.

DMG Mechanical, New Jersey’s Family-Owned HVAC Company, has been providing trusted furnace repair, furnace replacement services, and HVAC service and maintenance programs to New Jersey homeowners for nearly two decades.