Monday, May 20, 2019

Should You Replace Your Furnace When You Replace Your Air Conditioner?

If your air conditioner or furnace has broken down, the broken portion needs to be replaced for the other to function. However, when you do this, should you also replace the other? The furnace and the air conditioner work together to get cool air in your home, but replacing both a furnace and an air conditioner at the same time can be expensive.

However, there are situations where you may want to consider it for the overall best result. At JR Perkins Heating & Cooling, our experience has taught us a few things about how to determine when replacement is necessary.

When to Replace a Furnace and Air Conditioner Together

In truth, furnaces generally have a longer lifespan than an air conditioner, which is great considering they cost more than an air conditioner to replace. However, an older furnace can impede a newer air conditioner from running at peak energy efficiency.

If you have a furnace that is older than 15 years old, you may want to consider replacing it with your air conditioner as well. Although furnaces can often last as long as 30 years, it will limit your air conditioner's ability to cool efficiently. The same should apply if you have an air conditioner with a fairly efficient SEER rating above 16. This is considered high-efficiency, but it may be a waste with an old furnace that cannot accommodate it.

When Not to Replace a Furnace and an Air Conditioner

You may know when you should replace your furnace and your air conditioning unit together, but there are also times in which you really don't need to. Typically, this can be said whenever a furnace is under 10 years old. Your furnace is still practically a young appliance at 10, as it has a maximum lifespan of 30 years. Your air conditioner, with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, may very well go out again before your furnace. In essence, you only need to replace them together every other replacement cycle.

For more questions on what the right choice is for your home system and budget, get in touch with our team of experts at JR Perkins Heating & Cooling today.

JR Perkins Heating & Cooling is the longest family owned and operated heating and air conditioning company in the East Valley, servicing the Phoenix area, specifically Scottsdale. To learn more, please visit our website at www.JRPerkins.com.