A furnace breakdown in the middle of winter is extremely stressful. Without heat, some of your pipes could freeze within a few hours. If this happens, there’s the risk of the pipes breaking and causing major flooding and extensive water damage. It’s also highly uncomfortable and can be unsafe to live in a home without functioning heat.
Mid-winter furnace breakdowns are fairly common in Wisconsin due to how cold it can get. Furnace repair can be costly, and in certain situations, the furnace may not be worth fixing. Knowing whether furnace repair or replacement is the smarter decision isn’t always easy. We’ll look at the factors to consider when your furnace breaks down to help you make a confident, long-term decision between repairing and replacing.
The ‘Rule of 5,000’
The “Rule of 5,000” is the industry standard calculation that HVAC professionals use when advising homeowners whether their furnace is worth fixing. The calculation involves multiplying the estimated repair cost by the age of the furnace. If the total is over 5,000, furnace replacement is generally the smarter investment. Let’s say your furnace is eight years old and will cost $500 to repair. In this case, the calculation is only 4,000, meaning the repair is usually worth it. On the other hand, if your 15-year-old furnace needs a $400 repair, it isn’t worth fixing since the total in this case is 6,000. This calculation provides a good rule of thumb for choosing between repair and replacement.
The Three ‘Unfixables’: Safety and Structure
The biggest concerns are if there’s a crack in the furnace’s heat exchanger or extensive corrosion within the furnace. A cracked heat exchanger is a serious safety risk, as it allows carbon monoxide to escape, mixing with the heated air and blowing into every room of the house. If the heat exchanger is cracked, HVAC professionals are legally required to “red tag” the furnace to show that it’s unsafe to use. They’re also required to contact the gas company to inform them that the furnace has been red-tagged. Internal corrosion also poses a safety hazard, as it can quickly cause the heat exchanger to crack or rust through.
It’s not possible to repair a cracked heat exchanger or tackle corrosion issues. While an HVAC technician can install a replacement heat exchanger, it’s rarely worth it due to the extremely high cost and also because the furnace could still be a safety hazard. The main cracked heat exchanger symptoms to watch for are a loud rattling sound, a chemical smell coming from the furnace, and your carbon monoxide alarms going off.
Corrosion, heat exchanger issues, and a failed blower motor all generally indicate that the furnace is at the end of its life. Replacing a failed blower is less expensive, but it makes sense only if the furnace is fairly new and has at least five to eight years of anticipated life left.
Efficiency and the Wisconsin Heating Bill
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sets the minimum energy efficiency standards for new gas furnaces. Starting in the 1990s, all new furnaces were required to have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of at least 80%. If you have an old furnace that’s only 80% efficient, it’s worth investing in an energy-efficient upgrade. Most modern high-efficiency appliances rate around 96% AFUE, and some are even close to 99% efficient. Replacing an old 80% AFUE furnace with a 96% AFUE unit will save you substantial money on your utility bills, especially during Northern Wisconsin’s long heating seasons. While furnace replacement costs in Wisconsin are a significant investment, you’ll save on your heating bills in the long run.
Frequency of Failure: The ‘Nickel and Diming’ Factor
Aging furnaces often fall into a repair loop, where you fix one component only for the furnace to need a different repair within a month or two. Most furnaces require a few minor repairs over their life, but repeated breakdowns and recurring repair needs are a sign of heating system failure. That means you’ll just keep spending more and more on repairs if you delay furnace replacement.
Modern Comfort Features
Replacing your furnace provides many benefits that you can’t get from your old appliance, such as quieter operation and smart thermostat compatibility. High-efficiency condensing furnaces are also much better at humidity control and don’t dry out the air inside a house nearly as much as older conventional furnaces do.
At Frasier’s Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we have the expert solutions to all your heating needs. We’ve been serving Rhinelander and the surrounding areas for over 100 years, and our experience makes us the name to trust for furnace installation and repair. Our honest, transparent quoting makes it easy for homeowners to decide whether furnace repair is worth it, and we offer financing on approved credit to make the service you need affordable now rather than later.
Furnace repair is often just a Band-Aid. While it will get your furnace working again, replacement is a long-term solution for avoiding safety hazards and saving on your energy bills.
To schedule a heating system evaluation and get professional advice on furnace repair vs. replacement, contact the local experts at Frasier’s.
FAQs
How many years does a furnace typically last?
Furnaces last for 15 to 20 years on average. It’s possible for a furnace to last 25 to 30 years, but most units this age don’t perform well and are extremely inefficient. Scheduling annual maintenance is the best way to ensure you get as much life out of your furnace as possible.
Is it cheaper to replace a furnace in the summer?
You can sometimes pay a bit less to replace a furnace in the summer than in the middle of winter. Some HVAC manufacturers offer discounts for furnaces purchased out of season.
What is the most expensive part to fix on a furnace?
The heat exchanger is by far the most expensive part of a furnace to replace and cannot be repaired. Due to the difficulty involved, you can sometimes pay nearly as much to replace the heat exchanger as you would to install a new furnace. Replacing the blower motor can also be quite costly, especially for an older furnace.
