Repair or Replace Your Furnace? How to Decide Before the Next Cold Snap in Peru and Logansport
Most advice on this starts with the age of your furnace. Age matters. But the first thing we want to know is simpler: what broke?
A $20 part failing on an old furnace is not the same decision as a motor failing on an old furnace. That’s why we start with the part, not just the age.
Find out exactly what failed
Ask the tech for the name of the part, write it down, and then find it in this chart.
| What failed | Furnace under 10 years | 10 to 15 years | Over 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Igniter, flame sensor, capacitor, pressure switch, clogged drain | Repair | Repair | Repair, and start planning |
| Blower motor, inducer motor, control board, gas valve | Repair. Check the warranty first | Compare both prices | Lean toward replacing |
| Cracked heat exchanger | Check the warranty | Replace in most cases | Replace |
Most furnace problems we see fit one of those rows.
Why the heat exchanger gets its own row
The heat exchanger keeps the flame and exhaust separate from the air blowing into your rooms. When it cracks, carbon monoxide can get into that air.
If a tech tells you it’s cracked, ask to see it. A good tech will show you a photo or the crack itself. Once you’ve seen it, don’t run the furnace. On anything but a newer unit under warranty, replace the furnace.
Two checks for the middle of the chart
The “compare both prices” box is where people get stuck. These two checks can help you move off that square.
- The 50% rule: if the repair bill is more than half of what you’d pay for a new furnace, replacement is the better path.
- The $5,000 rule: multiply the furnace’s age by the repair cost, and if you come out over 5,000, lean toward replacing. A $500 repair on a 12-year-old furnace is 6,000, which is close enough to get a replacement price before you say yes.
Listen to it
A furnace usually gives you notice. Banging when it kicks on, a squeal from the blower, rattling that wasn’t there last year. We covered those in strange furnace noises and what they mean.
A new noise on a young furnace is usually a repair. New noises on an old furnace, especially if the gas bill is up too, often mean the system is getting close to the end.
Don’t let January decide
Most gas furnaces last 15 to 20 years. ENERGY STAR’s cutoff for starting to consider a replacement is 15 years, so if yours is in that range and already needing work, the worst plan is no plan.
A furnace that fails during a cold snap leaves you with a cold house, a worry about frozen pipes and whatever equipment is in stock. If you replace it ahead of time, you can pick the equipment, see the price and schedule the work on your terms.
If you do replace, the efficiency jump is real. Plenty of older furnaces only convert about 80% of the gas they burn, or even less. New high-efficiency models reach 95% or better.
Common questions
Is it worth fixing a furnace that’s 15 years old?
For a small part, yes. For a motor, board or gas valve, get a replacement price first and compare.
How do I know if my heat exchanger is really cracked?
Ask to see it. A tech should be able to show you the crack or a photo of it.
Can you replace a furnace in the middle of winter?
Yes. It’s just harder to schedule and you have fewer choices. That’s the reason to plan ahead if your furnace is getting old.
We’ll give you a straight answer
Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling is a family-owned company and has been at this since 1969. If your furnace can be fixed, our furnace repair techs in Peru will do that work. If you’d like to see what a new one costs, ask for a furnace replacement estimate.
Call 765-460-2660. We serve Peru, Logansport, Bunker Hill, Mexico, Galveston, Walton, Denver and the rest of Miami and Cass counties.
