Ask the Expert: Time to Turn Up the Heat

You can’t hold onto summer much longer. Fall has hit the East End, and winter isn’t too far behind. That chill in the air means we’re all starting to think about heating our homes, and fortunately our friends at Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning are one step ahead of us.

The Question: How do you know when it is time to replace your heating system or repair it?

The Answer from Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning: Now that the heating season is approaching, this a common question that is asked to us. Just like a car you own, your heating system has value, a life expectancy and ongoing maintenance and operating cost to it.

It is very important to maintain your heating system each season just as it is important to get oil changes and tune ups on your car. By maintaining your system it increases the life expectancy of your system, maintains efficiency and keeps the cost of repair down.  Without  regular maintenance some pretty serious problems can develop in your equipment. When problems do start to occur, this is the time that you have to start contemplating if it is better to repair or replace.

The Question: What are deciding factors in repair vs. replace?

The Answer from Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning: One of the deciding factors in replace vs. repair is the cost of repair. There should be a set budget in your mind of what you would spend on repairing a system for the season. You should not be spending more to repair your system then the actual value of the system. Some might think that paying for the repair of the system is more cost efficient, but the truth is that it will cost more in the long run. If you had several small repairs over the season, those small repair costs can add up—and before you know it you’ve spent more money keeping your system running for one more season then that actual cost of the system. Plus, all these little repairs does not guarantee that your system will last all season either.

Another deciding factor is the cost of your heating bills. Many new heating systems today are very efficient in oil and gas consumption compared to older systems. Most people do not realize that by keeping an inefficient system it is costing them a lot more in their heating bills to that point that the money they are spending could be paying for a new high-efficient system. It is like you are paying for a new system that you do not even have.

Still debating weather to repair or replace? Have other home-heating questions? You can contact Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning at 631-727-2760 or by email at tinatorkington@Flandershvac.com.