Do You Need a New Furnace or Heat Pump Installation?
There’s a fine line between needing to fix your furnace or heat pump and requiring a replacement. Knowing the difference can save you frustration and money in excess repair and energy costs. Consider these tell-tale signs that it’s time to consider replacing your heating system in Houston, TX, with a furnace or heat pump installation:
System Age
Heating systems have a limited lifespan. Outside of that lifespan, costs increase as parts wear out and lose efficiency.
Most furnaces have an expected lifespan of 15 to 20 years, while heat pumps are usually 10 to 15 years. These lifespans assume your system receives routine maintenance to reduce the regular operational strain.
Energy Bills Keep Climbing
Energy bills can indicate that something’s off with your HVAC system, especially when there’s no apparent cause for increased consumption. Evaluating your electric bill in two important ways alerts you to these increases.
The first is simply comparing consumption from the current month to the previous month. You’ll see fluctuations. However, a significant increase that doesn’t correlate with a change in the weather is suspicious.
The second is comparing each month to the year prior, such as January this year to January last year. This usually helps account for seasonal variation, though some fluctuations may still occur.
Excessive Repair Costs
Along with energy costs, furnace or heat pump repair costs also help determine when a replacement is appropriate. Start by considering the costs of any individual repair or set of repairs. If this exceeds 50% of the cost of a replacement, it may make sense to replace it.
Secondly, consider the cost of repairs over the last two years. Multiply the sum of these repairs by the age of the system. When this exceeds the cost of a new system, it’s usually better to replace the system.
Trying to continue using a heating system that needs replacing leaves you cold and spending more. Schedule a furnace or heat pump installation consultation with the award-winning service technicians at Better Than Best A/C and Heating.
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