Remodeling a Home

While installing a new furnace can come with all sorts of benefits for your home's comfort and energy efficiency, most people don't undertake this expensive task for its own sake. Instead, homeowners typically choose to install a new furnace when their old one stops working or repair costs begin to exceed the replacement cost.

However, it can be hard to know when it's no longer worth fixing and maintaining your old unit. You may need an upgrade when there are signs of heat exchanger trouble, but why is this such a good time to upgrade, and why shouldn't you consider repairing your faulty heat exchanger instead of installing a new furnace?

How the Heat Exchanger Keeps You Safe

You might think your burners are the most important part of your gas furnace, but the heat exchanger is the true star of the show. Natural gas combustion creates harmful exhaust byproducts, so you can't simply burn it in the open. Instead, your furnace contains the combustion process and channels the exhaust gases through a flue.

Unfortunately, those exhaust gases also contain what you're after: heat. That's where the heat exchanger steps into the picture. As the exhaust gases move through the heat exchanger, it transfers heat into the surrounding air. The harmful combustion chemicals can pass safely outside as you steal their energy to heat your home.

Why You Shouldn't Replace Heat Exchangers

Can you replace a faulty heat exchanger? Of course! Nearly anything on your furnace is replaceable. However, heat exchangers are often the most expensive component in the unit, and labor replacement costs can often be even higher. If you have an older furnace, these costs can exceed the value of the entire unit.

Additionally, heat exchangers are robust parts that tend to last the life of the furnace. Once your heat exchanger fails, it's a sign that your entire unit is probably well beyond its expected lifespan. In other words, you can expect other parts to fail, and maintenance and repair costs will mount. Your heat exchanger may be the tip of the iceberg for future repair costs.

The Benefits of Installing a New Unit

The final nail in the coffin for furnaces with faulty heat exchangers is often the importance of the repair. Operating a furnace with a faulty heat exchanger is unsafe, so you'll be forced to make an immediate decision to repair or replace it. In many cases, that immediate outlay of cash doesn't make sense when there are so many benefits to installing a new furnace instead.

By installing a new furnace, you'll gain a warranty that ensures you won't need to deal with costly repairs for several years into the future. Modern, higher-efficiency furnaces will also reduce your utility costs, further pushing the price balance in favor of installing a new furnace. These advantages mean that installing a new furnace once your heat exchanger goes out is usually the best financial decision.

For more information about furnace installation, contact a local company.