ASI's Heating Systems when to Repair or Replace

HVAC Sales, Services, Repairs, Installations and Consumer Information

BBB Member Heating Cooling Repairs Installations Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

NATE Certified Technicians Heating Cooling Repairs Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

ASI's
Consumer Information

Air Conditioning

A/C Maintenance Tips

A/C & Pets are a Bad Mix

A/C Water Misters

A/C Preventing Failures

A/C Repair or Replace

A/C Troubleshooting

A/C Consumer Alerts

Cooling Cost Comparison

R22 Obsolete and R410A

Refrigerant Cycle

Residential Thermostats

T-Stat for Heat Pumps

T-Stat Multi-Stage

T-Stat Call for Heat

T-Stat Call for Cool

The Thermostat Wars

Residential Zone Controls

Heat Pumps

Heat Pump Troubleshooting

Geo Thermal Heat Pumps

Also see Air Conditioning above

Duct Work

Duct Work & Grille Sizing

Duct Work Leaks & Testing

Duct Work Maintenance Tips

Duct Work Troubleshooting

Dual Fuel Hybrid Systems

Dual Fuel Troubleshooting

Dual Fuel Controls

Electric Heat & Furnaces

Electric Furnace Troubleshooting

Electric Heat Troubleshooting

Gas Heat & Furnaces

Cracked Heat Exchangers

Furnace Failure #1 Cause

Furnace Flues are for the Birds

Furnace Maintenance Tips

Furnace Flue for the Birds

Gas Furnace Burner Ignition

Gas Furnace Flame Sensor

Gas Furnace HSI Igniter

Gas Furnace Inducer Fans

Gas Furnace Safety Devices

Gas Furnace Spark Ignition

Gas Furnace Standing Pilot

Gas Furnace Troubleshoot

Heating Troubleshooting

Heating Repair or Replace

Heating Operating Costs

Heating Consumer Alerts

Two Stage Gas Heat

Oil Furnaces

Oil Furnace Troubleshooting

Also see Gas Heat above

Radiant Heating Systems

Boiler Troubleshooting

HVAC Other General

Air Distribution Types

Air Filtration Types

Air Sterilization/UV Lamps

Gas Piping DIY Dangers

Heat Recovery

Humidity & Your Comfort

Indoor Air Quality

HVAC Efficiency Ratings

Evaporative Coolers

Equipment Grounding

Contractor Scam Alerts

HVAC Prevents Illnesses

Variable Speed Systems

HVAC Self Help Tips

Green Energy Saving Tips

Energy Saving Solutions

No Cost Energy Savings

Low Cost Energy Savings

More HVAC Help Articles

More HVAC Info Articles

ASI's HVAC Products

Air Conditioning Units

Gas Furnaces

Oil Furnaces

Electric Furnaces

Heat Pumps

Geo Thermal Heat Pumps

Thermostats

Water Heaters

ASI's HVAC Services

Air Conditioner Repairs

Furnace Repairs

Heat Pump Repairs

Maintenance Services

Heating Repair Services

Air Conditioning Installations

Heating Installations

Service Request Links

Request a Service Call

Request a Free Estimate

Request Maintenance

Tips on if you should Repair or Replace your Heating System

Should I Repair or Replace my Furnace?

Answer:
If your furnace starts breaking down, or if you think your gas bill is too high, it may be time to consider a replacement furnace. If your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, you must replace the furnace for safety reasons. A cracked heat exchanger can draw carbon monoxide into your home, so it is cause for an emergency furnace replacement.

There are several things to consider when your furnace breaks. The age of the furnace and past experience with repairs must be considered. If your furnace has seen it’s share of replacement parts then either you have a lemon or the darn thing is just getting old. With inexpensive parts, you can certainly take a chance and hope for the best. If the part is a high cost item then you must consider the overall cost against the advantage of the savings you could realize with an new furnace.

When it comes to your high gas bills, here are some basic numbers: Furnaces older than 5 years may have efficiency ratings as low as 60%. Essentially with this furnace for every $1 you spend on your gas bill, 40 cents is lost to the outside, doing nothing to heat your home. Current federal standards require efficiency rates of at least 78% in new furnaces, but high-efficiency units can achieve rates over 96%. That 40 cents of every dollar that you lose to an older furnace could be less than four cents with a new, high-efficiency unit.

What Should I Consider before I Buy a New System?

Answer:
When it's time for a new heating system, it makes sense to invest in high-efficiency equipment. The money you save in energy costs can pay back the price difference in just a few years. The type of system that's best for you depends on the size, style and age of your home, as well as the type of energy available.

The energy efficiency of a forced-air furnace is measured by its AFUE - annual fuel utilization efficiency. This number calculates the percent of energy used that is returned to your home in the form of warm air. For example, today's high-efficiency furnaces have an average AFUE of 93.2 - for every dollar you spend on heating energy, 93.2 percent is put back into your home as warmed air.

A standard furnace, with an AFUE of 80, has only one heat exchanger to extract the warmth produced by the gas burner. As the AFUE indicates, only 80 percent of the available heat is circulated back into your home – the rest turns into water vapor that’s exhausted outdoors through the flue pipe. In a high-efficiency furnace, with an AFUE of 90 percent or higher, a secondary heat exchanger will evaporate that water vapor a second time to pull out nearly all the available heat. For example if you invest in a York 98 AFUE furnace, only two percent of the available heat is wasted.

Forced-air furnaces manufactured 20 years ago had AFUE ratings of 60 percent or less. And if your home still has an old “gravity-flow” furnace with no blower fan, more than 70 percent of the heat can be wasted. New furnaces will also have other energy-smart features like electronic pilot light ignitions, sealed combustion units and vent dampers.

If you’ve owned your home for a few years, you’re probably familiar with the volatile nature of natural gas prices – and you might be wondering if you should switch to another type of heating fuel. Even with the seasonal increases in gas prices, caused by tight supplies, a high-efficiency natural gas furnace will cost less to operate than an electric furnace.

The next big innovation is making your system a hybrid heating system. By simply adding a heat pump in place of your air conditioner you can take advantage of huge savings over natural gas, propane, oil and even electric resistance heat.

Call or Click Today for your FREE ESTIMATE Heating Cooling Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

ASI's HVAC and Home Improvement Articles

Your money is literally flowing right out of your roof and crawl space! I can easily say that everyone has this problem, if you have an attic space and we all do, then you are wasting countless dollars every minute of every day. Easy Do It Yourself Energy Savings!

Great Energy Savings from Hybrid or Dual Fuel Systems
With the threat of energy prices increasing every year the idea of high efficiency and energy savings becomes more and more real to residents of the hydroelectric charged northwest. One approach that is very popular today is called a “dual fuel” heating system. First let’s define what a dual fuel system...

The Geo-Thermal System Explained in a Nut Shell
Geothermal is by far the highest efficiency heating and cooling system available today. While the systems require up to three times more investment upfront than a conventional heating and cooling system...

Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling News

Ameri-Serv Inc Helping the Treasure Valley Community
Ameri-Serv, Inc. Heating and Cooling has successfully helped dozens of Treasure Valley Families with thousands of dollars worth of free maintenance services and repairs through this holiday...

Call or Click Today for a Free Estimate Heating Cooling Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

Performance Guaranteed Heating Cooling Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

Breaking News: The Cost to Repair your old Air Conditioner just Skyrocketed

____________________________________________________

Tweet

SERVICE AND REPAIRS ON ALL HVAC BRANDS

HVAC Heating and Cooling Repairs Installations Furnaces Heat Pumps Air Conditioning

Amana - American Standard - Armstrong - Armstrong Air - Bard - Bryant - Carrier - Coleman - Comfort Aire - Comfortmaker - ICP - Goodman - Heil - Lennox Luxaire - Magic Aire - Maytag - Mr. Slim - Payne - Reznor - Rheem - Ruud - TempAir - Tempstar - Temptrol - Thermo Pride - Trane - Water Furnace - Weather-Rite - Westinghouse - Williams - York

Serving all of the Treasure Valley
SALES, SERVICE, REPAIR AND INSTALLATION OF HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
BOISE - MERIDIAN - NAMPA - CALDWELL - EAGLE - GARDEN CITY - STAR - KUNA - MIDDLETON

Boise - Meridian: (208) 342-4328 Nampa - Caldwell: (208) 467-2665

ASI is Locally Woman Owned and Operated ~ Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured ~ Idaho HVAC License C10036
13601 W McMillan Rd Suite 102-120 Boise, Idaho 83713 Office (208) 342-4328 Fax (208) 906-1282

Privacy Terms