VITO SERVICES HELPS ASSESS THE STATE AND ENERGY-EFFICIENCY OF YOUR CURRENT FURNACE
As the cold moves into to the Washington, DC, metro area, many local homeowner ask the same question each year: Should you repair your furnace or replace it?
Since 1934, Vito Services has fixed, repaired, installed and maintained thousands of heating systems in and around The DMV. Vito will help guide you through the process of figuring out if it's better to repair your current furnace or replace it with a new energy-efficient model.
ASSESS THE AGE OF YOUR FURNACE
System age is a safe starting point for any furnace repair assessment. As a rule of thumb, a furnace should last between 15 and 20 years.
WHAT DOES THE REPAIR COST?
The cost of the repair should be the other primary factor guiding your decision. Some people use the 50 percent rule; if the repair costs 50 percent more than replacement, they go with replacement.
FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS
How often is your furnace breaking down? Occasional minor repairs are expected. However, if your system needs frequent repairs or the breakdowns are getting progressively worse, it might be time to replace.
CURRENT ENERGY BILLS VS. FUEL CONSUMPTION OF NEW FURNACE
You can estimate how much less you'll spend heating your home by comparing your current furnace's annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating to the AFUE rating of a replacement furnace.
AFUE is a measure of how much of the fuel you're paying for is being used to heat your home. The higher the number the more heat you're getting for the gas you're buying.
- Up until 2015 the standard was 78% AFUE
- After 2015 the minumim standard for new furnaces was 80% AFUE
- Energy Star-approved gas furnaces must have 90% AFUE or greater
AFUE COMPARISON EXAMPLE
| You currently have a 78% AFUE furnace | You're thinking about upgrading to a 90% AFUE furnace |
| For every $1 you spend on natural gas for heating you are only getting $0.78 worth of BTU production | For every $1 you spend on natural gas for heating with the new furnace, you would get $0.90 worth of BTU production |
- The difference between efficiency (90% – 78%) is 12%
- If you were spending $1,000 per year on natural gas for your furnace, the calculation to determine the cost difference would be $1,000 x 0.12 = $120 per year of savings
- If the price of natural gas is static and the furnace lasts for 20 years, that's a unit lifetime savings of $2,400
COMFORT COMPARISON
Are there cold spots in your home? Are you not satisfied with the temperature of the air coming out of your ductwork or the speed with which your home heats? If your furnace isn't keeping up and requires an expensive repair, it might be time to consider replacement.
NOISE LEVELS
Do you have to turn up the volume on the television every time the furnace kicks on? Does it wake you up at night? The peace and quiet of a newer furnace might be worth the cost of replacement.
FLAME QUALITY
Is the flame in your furnace blue or yellow? A healthy furnace flame is blue. If the flame is yellow or flickering, it might indicate a serious issue like a carbon monoxide leak, necessitating immediate professional attention.
Does your Rockville MD Home Need Furnace Repair or Furnace Replacement? Call the HVAC Experts at Vito Services: 1-800-438-8486.
