As of 5-9-25
As the fall and winter months start to get closer, for most of the country that means turning the furnace back on. But what if it the furnace won’t turn on? The average furnace has a lifespan of around 20 to 30 years; so if yours is getting up there in age, you might need to start thinking about replacement—but do you really need to replace it?
Just because the furnace isn’t working doesn’t mean the whole thing is broken. There are a lot of parts on a furnace that run even when the heat isn’t on. Replacing a furnace can run you upwards of $6,500. But replacing a part that is broken can be a fraction of that: a few hundred at most. Here are some things to think about when it comes to repairing or replacing and the steps to take for each.
Step one before calling a repair person should always be to check the circuit breaker. If that is off, flick it on and see if that solves your problem.
To repair or replace
A general rule for making the decision to repair or replace is to replace if the furnace is beyond three-quarters of its life, about 15 to 20 years old. To figure this out you’ll first need to find the date of manufacture. It will be printed on a sticker along with the serial number. That sticker could be on the inside, in which case you may need to figure out how to access the inside.
If the cost of the repairs is going to be more than three-quarters the cost of replacement, then you’ll also want to choose to replace rather than fix. Price out a replacement and then price out parts/service and do the math.
If you have a cooling unit, you may need to add that to the cost of replacement as it’s not uncommon to need to update that along with the furnace unit.
Repair
If you run the math and you’re below the three-quarter mark on one or both (heater age, and/or repair cost to replacement cost), repair is probably your best option.
A common failure point of most central air is the blower motor. Electric motors are relatively inexpensive. Watch a few videos online and you can do it yourself, if you want.
If you move into a new home and it has been renovated, check the furnace. Chances are good the furnace or AC was running during the remodel and that means the furnace is going to be full of debris. That will ruin your motor in months.
Repairs are going to be cheapest if you do them yourself, but even if you hire someone, it will still be cheaper than a full replacement.
Replace
As mentioned above, if the equation of age and cost of repair crosses that three-quarter mark, replacement is probably the best option. This can get pricey.
Opting to upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace will save you in the long run, but the initial cost will be more. If you go this route, make sure you intend to stay in the home long enough to make it worth it.
Another issue with replacement is it’s nearly impossible to do on your own. Replacing HVAC equipment often requires specialized tools that make it cost-prohibitive to do on your own. Not to mention the difficulty of getting the unit into place and the possibility of needing to modify vents and ductwork to fit the new unit.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your outside air conditioning unit may need to be replaced at the same time.
Takeaways
In the end, there’s no way to really avoid the costs of homeownership. The best option is to plan ahead. Look at the age of your HVAC equipment and start a saving schedule that will allow you to have the cash on hand when they finally go.