With winter fast approaching, it’s important that your furnace is operating reliably and efficiently.  If your furnace is relatively new, it’s not a concern. However, for those homes with older furnaces, you may want to consider whether it’s a good idea to start looking into furnace retrofits.  How can you tell if furnace retrofits is what you need, versus a new brand-new furnace?  A few simple facts can easily help you decide between retrofitting your current furnace or replacing it altogether.

Replace or Retrofit

The typical furnace has an average lifespan of between 15 to 20 years. However, according to Energy Savers, older models could have efficiencies as low as 56 percent.  If you know your furnace is 15 years old or older, then upgrading to a new, high efficiency model can save you as much as 20 percent on your heating bills.

A surefire way to tell if your furnace is an old, low-efficiency model is if it has a pilot-light that is on continuously.  Newer models with medium-to-high efficiency ratings use an electric ignition system, and are generally smaller and more compact than old pilot light models. Cooper Climate Control Air Conditioning & Heating can provide free estimates on how much it would cost to replace your current HVAC system.

Furnace retrofits are probably in order if your furnace isn’t old enough to warrant the purchase of a completely new system, but isn’t a brand-new model.  Retrofitting your current furnace can improve not only its efficiency, but its safety, as well.

For more information on retrofits for your furnace, or for a completely new HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit, contact the professionals at Cooper Climate Control Air Conditioning & Heating. We offer a yearly maintenance service, which can extend your unit’s lifespan and improve its overall efficiency, and we proudly serve residential and commercial customers in the Valley-Metro area.

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