When does repairing your furnace cost more than replacing it?
Older furnaces become less efficient over time and become more expensive to run than new furnaces. New furnaces generally function at 95% efficiency or higher, whereas an old furnace typically functions at 60%-70% efficiency. So your old furnace may be costing you more money in energy bills. Another fact is that the components in your furnace often wear down over time, which in turn can also lead to heat loss and air leakage in your home.
It is important to consider the age of your furnace and book an inspection before the temperatures begin to fall and our phone lines become busy.
Why should I consider replacing my old furnace before the cold weather starts?
When the components of an old furnace wear down, they leak carbon monoxide into the air. Carbon monoxide is one of the biggest concerns when dealing with an aging furnace. This is due to carbon monoxide poisoning being so dangerous. Some of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are drowsiness and/or feeling sick.
Carbon monoxide can be a silent killer due to the fact that it is odourless and colourless.
It is important to protect your family by having a carbon monoxide detector installed. A typical recommendation is to have them installed directly outside each separate sleeping area. If you already have carbon monoxide monitors installed, please change the batteries annually and test them monthly to see that they are operating properly. The purpose of a carbon monoxide monitor is to detect high levels of gas in your home and set off an alarm.
You need to take it seriously when you hear an alarm and evacuate your home immediately. You need to call 911 once you have evacuated your home and are in a safe place, and follow the directions of the professionals. You need to not enter your home till the professional declares your home is safe. This action plan can save lives.
Red Deer Fire Department Evacuation Plan for Carbon Monoxide
- Evacuate immediately: Get everyone, including pets, out of your home and into fresh air.
- Call emergency services: Report the sounding alarm and also report symptoms that can include headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion. Make the 911 call from a safe location once everyone is out of the home, from outside.
- Do not re-enter: Wait for emergency responders to declare your home safe.
My furnace is getting older. Will it last the winter?
Red Deer is known for its harsh and cold winters. It is often during these cold spells that furnaces break down due to the worn-out components in aging furnaces. Typically, it is during these times that our technicians are the busiest due to the number of calls from owners with broken-down aging furnaces. An aging furnace also has older parts which can be harder to source, and these parts often cost more money.
Our recommendation is to have your furnace serviced annually before the snow arrives.
The Gentlemen Pros technicians offer an analysis of your furnace and can offer recommendations. Whether you need a furnace now or in the next few years, it is beneficial to diagnose an issue before it becomes a big problem. It can also give you peace of mind knowing the condition of your furnace before the cold begins.
How does an older furnace end up costing you more money to run in the long run?
We typically find that homeowners with older furnaces break down due to aging components during cold spells. They also often end up costing homeowners more money in repairs due to these aging parts. We also typically find that homeowners have larger utility bills due to their older furnaces' lower efficiency. Unfortunately, when breakdowns happen, it is when the weather outside is at its coldest.
It might end up saving you money in the future. Our skilled technicians can often guide you through the decision-making process and evaluate the condition of your existing unit. Once you are given the information, customers can generally make an educated decision on whether a new furnace is best for them.
How does choosing The Gentlemen Pros benefit your home?
Our technicians at The Gentlemen Pros are the right choice for you because they are licensed and fully certified. The role of our technicians is to promptly, professionally and skillfully assist you to the best option for your home. Technicians evaluate the current state of your old furnace through a diagnostic inspection. Hidden costs are taken care of because we offer upfront pricing. Typically, this means there will not be any hidden surprises. If your best option is to purchase a new furnace, information is gathered from the inspection, which will most often give you the information you need to make the best decision.
If you purchase a new furnace, you will receive a complimentary one-year “The Gentlemen’s Promise”. This “The Gentlemen’s Promise” gives you many benefits, including preferred service rates on repairs, a lower trip charge, as well as an annual system inspection after a full year of having the membership, an inspection of plumbing in your home, and a camera inspection of your sewer line.
Typically, these inspections give our customers peace of mind.