{"id":1014,"date":"2023-02-13T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/?p=1014"},"modified":"2025-09-11T07:08:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T11:08:28","slug":"when-to-replace-or-repair-your-furnace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/when-to-replace-or-repair-your-furnace\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Replace or Repair Your Furnace"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1188343747_800x533.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1188343747_800x533-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Couple bundled up in coats indoors, indicating need for heating system replacement.\" class=\"wp-image-1015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1188343747_800x533-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1188343747_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1188343747_800x533.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When deciding whether to call for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/heating\/furnaces\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">furnace service in Shippensburg, PA, <\/a>there are a lot of reasons why people might hesitate to do so. They might not be sure that the issue is one that warrants immediate repairs. Or they might be worried that their furnace is beyond repair and believe it\u2019s overdue for replacement. If you&#8217;re asking yourself this question, take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/how-old-is-too-old-for-a-furnace\/\"><strong>how old is too old for a furnace<\/strong><\/a> to get clarity on what age range typically signals it\u2019s time to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For non-emergency repairs, it can be easy to ignore small signs that your furnace needs some help, especially when those signs are subtle. Let\u2019s go over the factors that heating technicians take into account when determining if a furnace needs to be repaired or<a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/this-year-may-just-be-the-year-for-a-new-furnace\"> time to consider furnace replacement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When should you repair vs. replace your furnace?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use the \u201c$5,000 rule\u201d<\/strong>: Multiply repair cost by system age, if it\u2019s more than $5,000, replacement is the smarter choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check its age<\/strong>: Most furnaces last 10-15 years. If yours is near or past that, consider replacing for better efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watch performance and energy use<\/strong>: Rising heating costs and uneven warmth are clear signals a new furnace could save you more in the long run.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Factor in life changes<\/strong>: Home additions, a growing family, or long-term stay? These often justify upgrading to a more suitable system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to Repair vs. Replace Your Furnace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A homeowner should never feel that they\u2019re being pressured into replacing their furnace. It\u2019s always up to the homeowner to make that decision. But HVAC technicians don\u2019t want you to keep throwing money away on fixes that are essentially a band-aid covering up a bigger problem. There are some repairs that are costly and depending on other factors, a repair isn\u2019t always the best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, there\u2019s a rule of thumb you can follow to determine if a repair is worth it. This rule is called the 5,000 rule and it\u2019s easy to calculate. Multiply the cost of a repair by the age of the furnace. If the total exceeds 5,000, it\u2019s better to replace it. If it\u2019s less, you should repair it. For example, if the estimated repair is $700 and your furnace is 6 years old, $700 x 6 is 4200 which means you should have it repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">System Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The estimated lifespan of furnaces is between 10-15 years with electric furnaces typically lasting longer than gas furnaces. It\u2019s during the last 2-3 years of its lifespan that homeowners generally see their furnace decline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your furnace is at the end of its estimated lifespan or has exceeded it, we recommend replacement. Furnaces have advanced so much technologically in the last decade that you\u2019ll reap the rewards of higher efficiency while lowering the amount you pay for utilities. This year could be the perfect time\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/this-year-may-just-be-the-year-for-a-new-furnace\/\"><strong>here\u2019s why now might be right for a new furnace<\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019ve been putting it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">System Performance and Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How happy are you with your furnace\u2019s ability to heat your home sufficiently? If its performance is lackluster and your energy bills keep going up, these are good indicators that you\u2019d be better off replacing it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/no-your-furnace-should-not-be-making-weird-noises\">Furnace making weird noises<\/a> could also be a sign of deeper issues. There\u2019s no use in throwing money away on a furnace that isn\u2019t heating your home well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Household Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your family has expanded over the years, you might need to upgrade your system to accommodate the changes in your household. Or perhaps some family members have moved out and a different type of system might suit your current arrangement better. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/does-your-electric-furnace-need-maintenance\">Electric furnace maintenance tips here<\/a> may help extend its performance. If you\u2019re planning to add on to your home and increase your square footage, a new system\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Home Investment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be helpful to evaluate your long-term goals for your home. Do you plan to keep it for life or do you plan on selling it in the near future? If it\u2019s the former, a new furnace is a great investment. If it\u2019s the latter, getting it repaired is the better option. That way, the next owner can decide what type of furnace will work best for their family. If you\u2019re ready to move forward, here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/learn-about-the-process-of-installing-a-new-furnace\/\"><strong>what to expect during the furnace installation process<\/strong><\/a> so you can be fully prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can rely on our professional, honest opinion when it comes to making the decision between furnace repair or replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>For reliable <\/strong><a href=\"\/service-areas\/shippensburg-pa-hvac\"><strong>furnace service in Shippensburg, PA<\/strong><\/a><strong> contact <\/strong><a href=\"\/contact\/send-a-message\"><strong>Premier HVAC Services<\/strong><\/a><strong> today!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s go over the factors that heating technicians take into account when determining if a furnace needs to be repaired or needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[139,104],"class_list":["post-1014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-heating-service","tag-furnace-service","tag-shippensburg"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1014"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1512,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014\/revisions\/1512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premierhvacpa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}