It can be a little scary when your furnace starts acting up and you’re not sure if you will need to replace the whole unit, or if the issue is something that can easily be repaired. But don’t worry, here at Blue-Ray, we are well equipped with the knowledge and skill needed to help you with this decision! There are a few things you should consider when faced with this decision, but we’ll walk you through every step of the way.
Efficiency and Long-Term Savings
As difficult as it may be, you will want to make sure to focus on the long term cost of the system throughout its life in your home, not the upfront cost. While it may seem more expensive initially, purchasing a more energy efficient unit will save money for your monthly bills.
When you’re looking at the heating efficiency of a furnace, you will see everything measured by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). This calculates the percentage of energy that will be used to heat your home. If your current AFUE is less than 80%, you could save a lot of money with an upgrade. Most newer models have percentages over 80, and Bryant offers models with AFUE up to 98.3%!
Looking at your air conditioner or heat pump, those systems are measured in Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER). Basically, the higher the SEER the more energy savings you will receive. Currently a SEER rating of 14 is the minimum requirement. Upgrading to a higher rating means more energy savings throughout the life of your unit. Bryant offers SEER ratings up to 20.5. Heat pumps are measured with Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPF). 10 or better is more efficient and Bryant offers heat pumps with HSPF of up to 13.
Indoor Air Quality
Did you know that your indoor environment is often more polluted than the outdoor environment? The EPA even states that unsatisfactory indoor air quality is a top environmental health concern. The good news is that your HVAC system can help to maintain good air quality in your home.
We can provide an analysis in your home to discover any air quality issues and provide solutions and systems to increase the air quality. Once you understand the status of the air in your home, we can work together to replace or upgrade your current system to establish an even higher quality of air for you and your family. We can even utilize Factory Authorized Parts for your current system in order to preserve the original manufacturer’s warranty, the original efficiency of the system, engineered sound requirements and meet rigorous factory run life design specifications.
Cost and Convenience
Now of course, you’re wondering what this will cost you, and that’s a fair thing to be concerned about. Normally, up-front repairs will be less costly than replacing your entire unit. However, you will want to consider the age of your unit and the cost of repairing it. A rule of thumb is that if the cost of repairing your current system is more than a third of what a new system would cost, it would make more sense to replace your current system with a newer model. Additionally, if the cost of the repair would be half of the cost of a replacement, we recommend an upgrade.
Whether you decide to repair or replace your unit, we will be here for you every step of the way! We understand what an undertaking it is to go through this situation and want to make it as easy and painfree for you as possible. Don’t hesitate to call us today to discuss any questions you may have!