With winter on the way, now is the time to give your furnace a thorough look. The fall weather is still relatively mild, but in a few weeks, you’ll have need of your heating system on a daily basis, and if there are any problems with it, you need to spot them before the winter begins in earnest. This is especially true with older systems that may have an expired warranty, and if you’re having trouble with such a device, you should be prepared to consider replacing it instead of repairing it. Sometimes, the money you intend to spend on repairs would be better served going into a replacement system instead.
But how can you tell when a furnace needs replacing and when repairs are enough? Frankly, only the homeowner can answer that question. Every furnace is unique, and you are probably more qualified than anyone to determine if it has another winter left in it, or if you should replace it now. There are a few guidelines that can help you make that decision, however.