Knowing when it's time to upgrade the heating system requires a review of energy bills, comfort, repair history and a professional assessment of the system. Furnaces have a lifetime between 13 and 20 years, and given the amount of use heating systems see in our climate, it could be shorter.
These criteria may help you come closer to a decision:
- Energy bills rise without a change in temperature settings or much colder weather. When HVAC systems near the end of their useful lives, their efficiency drops. Parts wear and lose their original tolerances, driving up energy consumption. Your comfort may also suffer as the heating system struggles to keep up during exceptionally cold weather.
- When a furnace hasn't been professionally maintained on a routine basis, it's more vulnerable to a premature breakdown, particularly if it's been operating with a dirty air filter. Changing filters tops the list of routine maintenance tasks that lengthen the life of forced-air HVAC equipment.
- If an HVAC professional evaluates your home's system, he or she can advise you when it's time to upgrade the heating system, particularly if there's a cracked or suspicious heat exchanger. Problems with this part can disable your system entirely and be cost-prohibitive to fix.
Once you've made the decision to replace the heating system, an HVAC contractor should conduct a load calculation to determine the best size based on the characteristics of your home, including its size, layout, overall energy efficiency and your heating preferences. Skipping this step could result in installing a system that's too large or small, both of which reduce system life, efficiency and comfort.
The load calculation may also show you where you can improve your home's energy efficiency to reduce the heating load, like adding insulation or sealing air leaks. These improves can reduce the size of the system you need, which saves money initially and throughout the life of the system.
If you're wondering if it's time to upgrade the heating system in your Massachusetts home, contact Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide exceptional HVAC services for homeowner along theRoute 495/128 area of Massachusetts.
Image via Shutterstock.com
Nice people.
Great service.
Since 1928
Read From Over 10000 Happy Customers
-
Both Alex and Patrick were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. They made a change that might have solved the recent problem and have structured a more complete solution. We agreed to this...
-
Mike was thorough, thoughtful and considerate. Covered their shoes before entering, surveyed my issue and provided an explanation of the services and costs. Great Job!
-
Alex did a great job providing an explanation of the services provided and went out of his way to offer assistance/advice on other issues outside of our scheduled maintenance visit.
-
Brian did an excellent job inspecting our 18-year old boiler and replacing some of the accessory hardware that needed it, he also adjusted the outgoing hot water settings for our radiators and...
-
Rodenhiser is my one stop shop!!! They take care of my HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues & are always helpful addressing any questions I may have about the systems in my house! Everyone...
-
Chris G. and Nick V. showed up bright and early at 8am to fix my water heater issue. They were on time, polite and were able to fix an issue that has been plaguing my house for a good year. They...
Call Rodenhiser at 1-800-462-9710
When you are looking for plumbing, electrical, heating or air conditioning in the Route 495 / 128 area, you will be delighted that you called Massachusetts' trusted choice since 1928.
With a total dedication to professional workmanship and excellent service, discover why families and businesses continue to trust Rodenhiser after generations of service
