Boilers, Furnaces and Central Air Conditioning - When To Fix, When To Replace

There comes a time in every homeowner's life when they must wrestle with the decision of whether or not they should repair their existing heating system, or bite the bullet and purchase a new one. Boilers and furnaces are one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your home, so naturally you want to get as many years of service out of them as possible. Yet some times, it just doesn't make sense to make small repairs on a unit well past its prime.

The best way to prolong your system's lifespan is to ensure you have your system professionally serviced annually. This will help ensure the unit is running at maximum efficiency. It will also ensure that small problems are brought to light before they become larger expenses. However, when problems do come up, consider the following:

Is the problem easily fixable?There are many components of a HVAC unit that can easily be replaced; yet when some parts go it is much more difficult to fix. For example, ignition modules, thermocouples, or zone controls are all components that are easily replaced on heating systems. Yet, when a section of your boiler cracks, there is not much you can do except purchase a new unit.

Likewise, on air conditioners and heat pumps - many things can go wrong which are fixable. But when the evaporator coil or the condenser fails they are not easily repaired. And one of these parts needs to be replaced, it is best to replace the other with a compatible unit. Coils and condensers which are not matched can function together, but will not run optimally. Mismatched units will show decreases in performance, increased energy use, and premature system failure. So despite the higher initial cost, it is a smarter move to replace both components at the same time for maximum efficiency and prolonged equipment life.

Is the equipment inefficient?Another point of consideration is whether or not it pays to keep an outdated piece of equipment running in your home. If your boiler or furnace is over 15 years old, the efficiency is probably somewhere between 50-75%. Newer high efficiency models are between 85-95% efficient. Replacing an outdated unit with a new high efficiency model will save you money on your fuel bill.

What can go wrong next? If you have an older piece of equipment, you also must consider what may go wrong next. Making multiple small repairs can add up fast. If your unit is fixable, but the cost of repair is high, you may want to consider replacement. While it will be more expensive up front, you will save money in small repairs down the road, as well as save yourself a few headaches.