Written on: November 2, 2020
That nip in the air is getting a little more sharp here in the Hudson Valley.
Soon, you’ll be relying on your home’s furnace or boiler to keep your home warm, safe, and comfortable.
Are you sure it’s ready for what is forecast to be a cold, snowy winter? If not, now is the time to do some serious thinking. Because the last think you want is for your furnace or boiler to conk out in the middle of a cold snap. Not only is it uncomfortable, but you risk damaging your home with frozen and burst pipes.
The equipment experts at Kimlin Energy can help you through this process, from choosing the right replacement to installing, maintaining, and repairing it.
Here are some key things to consider before Old Man Winter arrives.
If your furnace or boiler is more than 10 to 12 years old, it’s time to start planning for replacing it. In many situations, this is the smarter and safer choice. This is especially true if it has not been maintained properly with annual tune-ups. An unmaintained or infrequently maintained furnace or boiler is more vulnerable to breaking down.
Are all the rooms in your house properly, evenly heated and comfortable no matter how cold it gets? Or are there rooms that never get warm? Are you finding that your furnace or boiler has to run more frequently to keep your home at your desired temperature? If your furnace or boiler isn’t doing the job, it’s time to think replacement.
As your home’s heating system gets older, you are likely facing more repairs, and more expensive repairs. That’s especially true if you haven’t been getting regular tune-ups. There comes a point when you are just throwing money away on repairs. A good rule is that if repairs are costing half (or more) of what it would cost to replace your furnace or boiler, replacing is the right choice in terms of cost-effectiveness, increased efficiency, and increased comfort.
Older heating systems become less efficient over the years, even with regular professional maintenance (although not maintaining it makes the efficiency even worse). Your furnace or boiler could be running at as low as 60% efficiency. What does that mean? It means that for every dollar you spend on propane or heating oil, 40 cents of that is not going towards heating your home but is wasted. If you’ve noticed your propane or heating oil costs going up, it’s a sign that replacing your furnace or boiler is a good idea.
When you’re ready to replace your furnace or boiler, Kimlin Energy is ready to help! Contact us to learn more.