How to Decide Between Repairing or Replacing Your Furnace

Nothing is worse than coming inside after being out in the cold weather and realizing your furnace is not working or properly heating your Bend, OR, home.

Frustrated and wondering why this keeps happening, you may question if your furnace is even worth another repair. Let’s face it—if you’ve had one repair after another, it may be time to consider a replacement. But how do you decide what’s right for you?

At Diversified Heating & Cooling, we have your best interest in mind. If your furnace is not heating your home effectively, contact our team of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals who can evaluate the problem and provide you with real solutions—whether it be a furnace repair or full replacement.

Furnace Replacement vs. Repairing Your Furnace

So how do you know when it’s time to stop fixing and finally just replace your furnace? You can always reach out to one of our Diversified Heating & Cooling furnace experts in Oregon to discuss it, but you may want to consider the following four factors as well:

1. Age of your furnace. A key indicator of when it could be time to replace your furnace is its age. With routine professional maintenance, you can expect your furnace’s life expectancy to be 15 to 20 years.

Even if you take exceptional care of your furnace, the reality is it loses efficiency with age. Plus, replacing your older furnace could allow your home to reach your preferred temperature without overworking itself to do so.

2. Expenses you are willing to pay. Opting for a replacement could be what is best for you in the long run. The cost of repairing your furnace can tally up—especially if you are having issues with it more frequently than in the past. 

Additionally, if you have a furnace near the end of its life span, the expenses for the repair are likely to be even more. Older parts typically cost more and then there’s the labor on top of it.

3. Cost of utility bills. If your energy bills are suspiciously high, your older furnace and its outdated equipment could be the culprit. Repairing your furnace could get it working again, but it most likely won’t favorably impact your Bend utility bills. 

On the other hand, replacing your current furnace with a newer heating and cooling system could lower your utility bills, particularly if you decide on one of the more energy-efficient options. 

According to the public utility Consumers Energy, about 30 percent of your total home energy budget goes for heating. Given this percentage, it pays to install the most energy-efficient furnace your budget allows.

4. Rebates. Upgrading your furnace with a newer gas furnace or heat pump could be a better decision than choosing to repair your older furnace—replacing it could qualify you for a rebate. If you choose to repair your furnace, you won’t see any return like this because you haven’t really made an investment in your home. You’ve just temporarily prolonged the life of your furnace, which you will still have to, unfortunately, replace one day.

Do You Qualify for Rebates?

Some rebates you may qualify for when you replace your furnace include:

• Energy Trust Heating Rebates 

Energy Trust of Oregon has a number of cash rebates available for replacement of gas furnaces, ductless heat pumps, heat pumps, heat pump controls, and extended capacity heat pumps. You could qualify for a rebate of anywhere from hundreds of dollars to $1,350, depending on the replacement system you choose. 

• MidState Electric Heat Pump Rebates

There are several rebates for heat pumps offered by the MidState Electric Cooperative, ranging from $300 for a ductless heat pump replacement all the way up to $3,000 for a geothermal heat pump upgrade. There are additional rebates for air source heat pumps and ductless heat pumps if you meet specific criteria.

• Electric Heating Equipment Rebate From Central Electric

The Central Electric Cooperative offers an incentive to replace your older furnace with a $600 rebate after installation of an ENERGY STAR^® electric heat pump system and only if the structure uses Central Electric as the electric service provider.

• Manufacturer’s Rebates 

In addition to the above rebates, you can also contact the manufacturer of your new heating system or one of our knowledgeable Diversified Heating & Cooling team members to see if you are eligible for any other rebates that may be available.

Ready for Your Upgrade? Let Our Diversified Heating & Cooling Experts Help

While repairing your furnace in Bend, Oregon, may seem like the best option, there are many benefits that come with replacing it instead. Don’t overlook these great furnace replacement incentives—let our Diversified Heating & Cooling furnace professionals answer any questions you may have and set you up with your new heating system! Call 541-323-1840 or request service online to start the process.