If you’re thinking about investing in a new furnace or heat pump, you may already have some good reasons to do so. While heating components tend to have long life spans, there comes a time when the best course of action is often to upgrade to a new unit instead of hanging on to an outmoded, older system. Here are some of the scenarios that may inspire you to upgrade now as opposed to later.

• The existing furnace requires significant repair. For gas furnaces, the manufacturer’s warranty for most parts typically expires at 10 years, at which point almost all repair costs will fall on the homeowner. Taking on major repair bills may not be worth it when that expense might better be put toward the purchase of a new unit.
• Warranty protection on a critical furnace component has improved. Today, most manufacturers provide a 20-year warranty on the heat exchanger in a new furnace. In older units, a cracked heat exchanger means replacing that part at a cost that is often prohibitive.
• Today’s new units are more energy efficient and eco-friendly, providing more reliable heat at lower costs, as well as more access to new options, such as smarter thermostats.

Should Your New Furnace Be a Heat Pump?

• Opting for a heat pump upgrades both heating and cooling into a single new unit.
• Heat pumps move heat instead of generating it from a fuel source. In heating mode, a heat pump is approximately three times more energy efficient than a gas furnace.
• Heat pump technology in today’s efficient models can provide reliable heat when outdoor temperatures drop as low as 0 degrees.
• Heat pump upkeep, as well as any needed repair, is consolidated into a single unit for easier service.
• Safety is enhanced: No combustion means no carbon monoxide risk, nor a high-temperature open flame in a heat pump.

To make a fully informed decision about a new furnace — or upgrading to a heat pump, which is something you should definitely consider — talk to the pros at Jackson & Sons.