REPAIR VS. REPLACEMENT
Here are some things to consider in deciding whether repair or replacement might be the better option. Furnaces, Boilers, and Air Conditioners are the most costly systems to replace, so naturally you want to get as many years of use out of this equipment as you possibly can. The best way to do this is to make sure you have your system professionally serviced at least once a year. Many heating and cooling contractors offer service agreements that assure routine inspection and cleaning at least. Prices usually are a real bargain considering that a new home heating, ventilating and cooling (HVAC) system will cost many thousands.Many repairs can be made on HVAC systems to keep them running for decades. Yet when a boiler section cracks, there's little that can be done except replace the entire unit. Likewise, central air conditioners have two major components - the indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condensing unit (compressor) - thatwhen they fail, cannot readily be fixed. When one needs to be replaced, it is best to replace the other with a compatible unit. Unmatched evaporator coils and condensers usually will operate together for a time, but with a steep penalty in performance, energy usage and premature system failure. So although it entails higher initial cost, replacing both components at once is the smart thing to do in the long run. Unfortunately, studies have shown that about half the time, people opt for the cheaper but shortsighted single unit replacement.
While HVAC systems ought to last for decades, it's not necessarily a bargain to keep them running that long. "If your furnace is over 15 years of age, it's probably time to boot it out the door... If your furnace's efficiency comes in somewhere in between 50-75%." Water Heater Industry statistics show that theaverage water heater lasts 12 years. With regular maintenance and routine repairs, some keep operating two or three times as long. As with HVAC systems, however, it's not always to your advantage to hang on to older units. Modern high-efficiency water heaters often can pay for themselves in energy savings within 3-5 years. Almost all components on a water heater can be fixed or replaced except for the tank. Once the tank rusts through, there is no way to rescue the water heater. Replacement is the only solution. Water heaters
come with internal sacrificial anode rods to protect against rusting. An anode's sole purpose is to corrode away so the steel of the tank can't. Replacing the anodes every 3-4 years (more frequently if water is softened) will add considerably to the life of a water heater. Another main cause of failure is overheating from sediment buildup inside the tank. Ask your plumber to inspect the anodes and sediment periodically.
