The normal lifespan of a furnace is 15 to 20 years. And any furnace that has endured 20 of our extended New England winters is a good one. It has paid for itself and then some. Unfortunately, after that long a period, it is probably living on borrowed time. When it goes, it will most likely be when it's working its hardest. And, it will also be either too expensive or impractical to repair.
A 20-year-old furnace can have an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating as low as 65 percent. Converting to one of the new, high efficiency furnaces can save some serious money. The newer furnaces are rated at 80 to 95 percent efficient. For every $100 spent in fuel, there is a savings of $23 by going from the old 65-percent-rated furnace to one of the high efficiency furnaces with an 85-percent AFUE. The change from a 65-percent AFUE to a 90-percent rated furnace saves $27 per $100 spent on fuel.
High efficiency furnaces are not just the latest and prettiest thing on the market. They have serious scientific and technological advantages built in to them. The rising costs for fuel and the trend of more severe winters have pushed manufacturers into getting more heat from each unit of fuel. Fuel efficiency has never been this high. And the days of cheap natural gas, propane and oil are long behind us.
With better efficiency, replacing an old furnace is not just an expense--it's a solid investment with a sure return.
If your furnace is getting on in years, contact us at Rodenhiser. Our certified staff members can explain all the advantages of having a high efficiency furnaces installed at your home before next winter hits. Not only can you save money on fuel, you will also have peace of mind knowing that a new, properly installed furnace will give worry-free performance year after year.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about saving money with high efficiency furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.