As the summer turns to fall and winter, what better way to launch our Homeworks blog than with a discussion around heating equipment.
According to Natural Resources Canada, homes account for 20% of all the energy used in Canada. Of this, this about 67% is used for space heating and cooling.
Given this information and the fact we continue to encounter rising energy costs, one of the most frequent questions our heating technicians receive is: “When is it time to replace my furnace?”
Unfortunately, there is no easy “one size fits all” answer to this question. One of the most direct points to consider regarding your furnace is simply its age. Do you have a heating system that is 10 or more years old? If so, even if it runs dependably, you still might consider replacing the equipment with a new energy-efficient furnace.
Why you ask? Well, the physical life of a furnace, similar to personal computers can be longer than its economic life. If your heating system has been well maintained, the furnace may last 20 years or more, but issues of economics, environment, comfort and health still apply. With that being said, when weighing the costs and benefits of repairing or replacing an older furnace with a high efficiency furnace, please keep the following points in mind.
Reasons why you might repair rather than replace an aging heating system?
* Cash or affordable financing for the new heating system is not available.
* You are planning to move from the home relatively soon.
* Your home’s “envelope” is inefficient (I.e. poorly insulated, drafty, etc.). In this case, it makes to address your building envelope before or during your heating system upgrade.
Reasons why you might replace rather than repair an aging heating system?
* A new furnace is more energy-efficient. A typical older furnace runs at 60% efficiency whereas the latest technology is 90 – 97%. Diverting your monthly spending from higher energy and repair costs to new equipment helps save fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions.
* There are lots of grants and incentives available for those making energy efficient upgrades.
* A high-efficiency furnace will run much quieter than your older model..
In closing, there are many variables in any particular home that determine whether its time to repair or replace your heating system. Always remember, it’s important to consult with a professional heating contractor who will review all the options available to you.
Tags: cooling, energy, energy-efficient furnace, furnace, grants, heating system, high efficiency furnace, incentives, Natural Resources Canada, space heating
November 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I have a home that is 14 years old, I have noticed that there are dark areas on my carpets where the carpet meets the base board, is the furnace sucking air from the house rather than the return air ducts? is so is that a problem, and is my furnace too big or too small for my house?
November 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Thanks
I suspected that , We are in Kelowna and we have a 80% efficient gas fired furnace with a programmable thermostat, which is a blessing and a real energy saver, we can program to turn the heat on half an hour before we get up, down half an hour after we go to bed, we can program down during the week days when we go to work and it will come on before we come home
Not that expensive to buy but worth every dime