There may come a time, when you are faced with the dilemma of a red tagged furnace. The most common call for a red tag is a cracked heat exchanger, which may leak carbon monoxide into the air in your home. A technician likely will do the following if a cracked heat exchanger is found: unplug the unit at the source and turn off the connection to the gas. You will be required to sign off on the procedure, and will then need to make the decision between furnace repair or replacement. Here are some things to consider before deciding.
- The age of your furnace. If your furnace is over 10 years old, a newer, high-efficiency model may save you more in the long term than an expensive repair. Newer furnaces are up to 97 percent efficient, whereas older models may only have an efficiency rating of 55-75 percent. In our Midwestern climate, where the heating season last several months a year, it may make more sense to upgrade rather than spend money on repairs. The good news here is that now, at the end of the heating season, you’ll likely find some good deals on furnace replacement.
- The status of your warranty. If your furnace is still covered under warranty, with both parts and labor, it may be most cost effective to repair. With spring’s arrival in Indianapolis, you should be able to get by with an alternate heat source for a few days while repairs are underway.
- The cost of repair. If your warranty coverage has expired, but your furnace is relatively new, it may be hard to choose between furnace repair or replacement. Sit down with pen in hand and work out the cost over time. The repair job itself is very labor intensive and expensive, as the entire unit must be taken apart to get at the heat exchanger.
If you have a furnace repair or replacement decision to make, give us a call at Mowery Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing for expert advice. We have over 40 years of experience in the HVAC industry, and you can count on us to help you make the right decision.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Mowery services the Brownsburg, Indiana and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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