If your furnace is deemed unsafe for continued operation, it can be slapped with a red tag by an HVAC technician or utility company representative. If your furnace gets a red tag, it will be disconnected from its power source or fuel supply and shut down until you address the underlying problem. The most common reason that furnaces are red tagged are cracked or damaged heat exchangers, which can cost an arm and a leg to fix. If you’re in this situation, chances are you’re weighing the relative merits of fixing your current furnace or replacing it altogether.
There are advantages to both strategies. Repairing your current furnace will almost always cost less than purchasing a new one, despite the fact that replacing a damaged heat exchanger can cost thousands of dollars. If your heating equipment is newer and in otherwise good condition, then fixing it might be the most cost-effective option. If your heating equipment is still under warranty, then you should certainly give strong consideration to replacing the heat exchanger, even if you have to absorb some of the cost out of pocket.
On the other hand, it might not make sense to pay thousands of dollars to fix an aging furnace that’s already on its last legs. If your furnace is 10 or more years old, then replacing it will almost always be the best option. You should also consider the beneficial effect that a newer, more efficient furnace will have on your utility bills. Do some calculations to see how much you would stand to save in energy costs over the lifespan of a new furnace. If the savings neutralize or exceed the initial investment, then buying a new furnace instead of fixing your red-tagged model makes more sense.
At C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning, we understand that dealing with a red-tagged furnace is inconvenient and stressful. Our professionals will be happy to help you work your way through this and any other home comfort issue you may be facing. Please contact us if we can help. We’ve been serving the Middletown area since 1945.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
CR Wolfe Heating services Middletown, NY. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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