Repair My Furnace vs Replace It?: Which is Cheaper?

As a homeowner, it’s never fun when you wake up to a freezing cold house, especially more  than once. If you have been finding yourself having to call a heating and cooling repairman  more and more frequently, you might be asking yourself, “Should I repair my furnace? Or  replace it? Which is cheaper?” We’re here to guide you and give you the ultimate price  breakdown. 

Repair My Furnace vs. Replace?: The Ultimate Cost Breakdown 

1. Repair My Furnace, or Replace? Age isn’t just a number when it comes  to your furnace, unfortunately. 

The first thing you want to consider is the age of your furnace. If you just replaced it 5 years  ago, you likely have a warranty that covers most parts. So you’re likely just paying for the tech’s  service. If that’s the case, it’s likely cheaper to just repair it. The Triangle Heating & Cooling  team would be more than happy to help guide you through a warranty claim. Now, if your  furnace is over 10 years old, that’s when parts typically start to come out of your pocket, in addition to service.

2. Repair My Furnace, or Replace? The 20-30% Rule.

If you’ve had to call an HVAC service technician out to repair your furnace multiple times on a  15-year-old system, pay attention to price. If they are just minor repairs like replacing an ignitor,  fuse, breaker, thermostat, or capacitor, those are relatively low-cost. So it may not be time to  replace just yet. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need a major repair like a 

heat exchanger, blower motor, or compressor, it might be time to consider replacing. The  general rule across the heating & air industry is that if a repair costs around 20-30% of the replacement cost, it’s time to replace.

3. Repair My Furnace vs Replace? The Hidden Cost. 

Remember when we said age wasn’t just a number? It doesn’t just include warranties. Older  units could be driving up your energy use and your utility bill. As your unit ages, it becomes less  efficient. And while we are on the subject of energy efficiency, brand-new units 15 years ago  weren’t nearly as efficient as they are today. Customers are shocked and overjoyed when they  see their energy bills drop after replacing their old model with a higher-efficiency model.

4. Repair My Furnace vs Replace? Safety First. 

Cracked heat exchangers are a major safety risk. If your heat exchanger fails, it can leak carbon  monoxide. Carbon Monoxide is undetectable; that’s why it’s important to have a CO sensor in  your home. It can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and flu-like symptoms, often  mistaken for other illnesses. Infants, children, the elderly, and pets are at greater risk. CO  poisoning can lead to unconsciousness, long-term health issues, or even fatalities. So if you find  yourself facing a cracked or compromised heat exchanger, it’s best just to replace the whole unit.

5. Repair My Furnace vs Replace? Warranties and Savings. 

If you decide to replace, not only can you expect lower gas and electric bills, but you can also  qualify for warranties, rebates, and government incentives for installing a higher-efficiency model. 

At Triangle Heating & Cooling, we offer a 1-year labor warranty, so if you have any issues in the  first year, we will send a tech out at no cost to you. All new equipment also comes with a  manufacturer’s warranty. We also include 1 year of your Service Plus Program with every new  installation, which includes a fall and a spring maintenance visit. You can learn more about our  Service Plus Program here.