If you’re looking for HVAC service in Wakefield or the surrounding towns, you probably have plenty of questions for the companies you’re considering.
You want to know how long they’ve been around, how big they are, whether they’re stable or not, and what the training and skill level will be for the HVAC techs who will be servicing your system.
If you’re having serious problems, you’re probably also considering the repair vs replace question. At 128 Plumbing, we’ll give you the information you need and follow your directions to the letter. We’ll do the job right the first time, and there’s a good chance we’ll save you a lot of money in the process.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace?
Let’s start with your furnace. If you’re like most homeowners, it’s the largest part of your heatings system, unless you happen to use a boiler to heat your home.
The first thing you need to do is have us assess the condition of your furnace. We’ll start with the older ones—if your furnace is more than 15 years old, you’re inching toward replacement.
How do you know? For starters, your energy bills have been going up, and not just because of rising energy costs.
Also, when you look at the history of your furnace repairs—and we’ll definitely ask about this when you call us in to help you—you start to notice that most of your repairs have happened in the last couple of years.
If you’re working with another company and you’re on a first name basis with a furnace guy who hasn’t mentioned a replacement, it may be time to let us step in and give you a more honest assessment.
Another sign that you’re heading toward replacement is issues with your thermostat. Do you need to keep setting it higher to keep your house warm? Is you home chilly even when you do that?
That combination means you should at least consider some options, and we can give you the best ones to consider.
Now let’s talk about noises. Furnaces can be noisy creatures, and we learn to adjust to the sound of the ignition system or the gentle clanking when the heat cuts off at the end of the cycle.
Those are the noises you want to hear. The ones you don’t want to hear are squealing and whining, which means something may be going on internally with the belts or bearings in your blower motor.
That’s another good sign that you’re ready for a replacement, but you definitely need us to come and confirm that for you.
The replacement process for furnaces over 15 years old is different, too. If you’re doing quarterly or monthly repairs, there’s a good chance you’re going to make a panic decision, and we can slow down the process and give you some excellent options.
Service and Repair for Younger Furnaces
Now let’s drop down a little in age to furnaces that are less than 15 years old. Most furnaces come with a 10-year warranty, which means you’re in the land of uncertainty when it comes to the replace vs replace decision.
It’s a tough call, but this is the part where math comes to the rescue. The general rule of thumb is that if your furnace is under 15, you should compare the cost of repair vs that of replacement. If the cost of repair is less than half of the cost of replacement, you should usually go with the repair.
But not always. A general rule isn’t the same as a hard and fast rule, and there are exceptions both ways. If you could use a furnace upgrade, for instance, replacement may be the right way to go, even if the repairs are relatively cheap.
Cheap repairs aren’t necessarily cheap if you’re paying for them over and over again, and with today’s quality furnaces it’s a great time to make a move if your budget can accommodate the cost.
The 128 Plumbing Repair Benefits
The best part of working with a company like 128 Plumbing is the combination of history and expertise we offer.
We’ve been working with every kind of heating and HVAC system under the sun, and we know which ones are great, which ones are so-so and the ones you should try to avoid.
Moreover, we have the expertise to do the repair right. One advantage to going with 128 Plumbing that many people don’t realize is that HVAC problems or furnace issues sometimes disguise themselves as electrical issues, or maybe you need duct work only an expert plumber can handle.
We have those experts. HVAC techs, electricians, plumbers—we send them out as a team whenever it’s necessary, and having this kind of triple-threat expertise means you never get caught up short on a given job or a replacement project.
128 Plumbing Replacement Benefits
Now let’s talk about the benefits of replacement. Whether you have a furnace or a boiler, today’s models are much more efficient than their predecessors, and they’re more reliable, too.
While it might seem expensive to go with a replacement, that’s not necessarily the case. New HVAC systems help you save a lot of money on an annual basis, which means you’ll likely recoup the cost of the unit while you’re still under warranty.
If you decide to stick with repairs, though, you should still go with us. We stock a full array of HVAC parts, we can diagnose your system and we’ll give you an honest rundown on costs.
Moreover, we guarantee all our work and our track record of reliability speaks for itself. That means you won’t be calling us a few weeks or months later to ask why you’re still having the same problem that was supposedly fixed.
Make Your Decision the 128 Plumbing Way
If you’re having trouble with your HVAC system, making the repair vs replace decision can be tough, so you should call us right away.
The numbers are (888) 419-4233 or (781) 670-3261, and when you contact us, we’ll answer your questions and help you make the best possible decision.
To get more information, you can also go to 128Plumbing.com and start a live chat, and we have some great blogs and articles there to help educate you about repair vs replace issues.
