When it is time for a new installation most people are not prepared for it. In most cases your furnace sits in an area of your home tucked away, keeping you warm during the winter and cool in the summer. It’s not until the system stops working properly that most homeowners give their furnace any consideration.

The average household spends more than $2200 a year on energy bills with nearly half going toward your heating and cooling costs. But by making a few smart decisions, you can save on those energy costs and improve the comfort in your home. If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, it may not be performing efficiently or perhaps needs upgrading.

How long do furnaces last?

The average furnace probably works for about 14-20 years, assuming it is properly maintained. So by the time your furnace dies and you need to buy a new one, you are looking at replacing a mechanical and electronic appliance that is almost two decades old, which is an eternity in these modern times.

Let’s say you came home from work, your house is freezing and your furnace is not operating. Chances are, it was designed and installed back in the early 90s or late 80s. In those days, a good gas furnace had an efficiency rating of about 70% to 80%, meaning that 80% of the gas burned was heating your house, and the rest went straight up the chimney or exhaust vent. When you are looking for a new furnace Installation today, the average efficiency is 95% to 98% on these new furnaces. This means only 3% to 5% of the heat is lost through the exhaust vent.