Welcome to spring! The day of publishing this post is also the first day of spring. That doesn’t mean the weather is warm—as we’re writing this, it’s 29°F outdoors—but it does make you start thinking about the imminent change in outdoor temperatures and the future time when you’ll turn on your air conditioning system. 

Before you pay attention to your AC needs and schedule maintenance for it (which we recommend all homeowners do during spring), take a look at your heating system and consider how well it performed through the winter. This can help you focus on whether you need to have service to repair it, or if you need to begin thinking about having the unit replaced.

We can’t tell you this in a blog post because we don’t know the condition of your specific heater. We don’t recommend jumping to the conclusion that just because a heater has run into difficulties doing its job that it needs to go to the scrapheap. It requires a significant investment to have a central furnace or other heater replaced, and you want to feel certain it’s the right choice before committing. Our technicians can help you make the best decision when you’re unsure about having a new heating installation in Indianapolis, IN.

The older your heating system, the more appealing a replacement becomes. We don’t recommend keeping a gas furnace for much longer than 15 years, or an electric furnace much longer than 20 years. (Heat pumps range between 10 to 15, and we think going over 15 isn’t a good idea.) If you have a heating system that has recently encountered repair issues, has lost some of its heating capacity, or has started to run up the bills, you’re more likely to want it replaced if it has reached its upper age range.

Did you notice you paid more for your energy bills this winter than usual? Check to see if a rise in energy costs may have contributed to this, and also consider if you had more people in your home or generally used the heater more often. If you still can’t account for the increase, we advise you call us to schedule a heating repair. In the case of an older heater, ask us whether a heater replacement is the better option.

If repairs for your heater have turned into an annual tradition, that’s a tradition you want to break—with a new heating system. Also, consider how much repairs cost. If the quote for a repair is more than 50% of the cost of replacing the heater, we recommend you choose the replacement.

Don’t accept subpar heating! If professionals correctly installed your central heating system, it shouldn’t struggle to provide you with comfort. So if you spent the last winter fiddling with the thermostat to find a comfortable temperature or you found cold spots around the house, the heater either needs a targeted repair or a trip to the recycling yard.

Call Vital Heating & Air because “Your Comfort Is Vital!” We are your Indianapolis licensed HVAC contractor.