If you’re a new homeowner, you are probably already familiar with some of the unexpected costs of home ownership. From failing appliances, to roof repairs, electrical issues and more – many things can go wrong with your home, and you’ve got to pay out-of-pocket to fix them.
* Regular Furnace Maintenance:
This is just a fact of life. Homes cost money – often up to 1-2% of their value per year – to repair and maintain. And, in the long run, making these repairs and scheduling furnace maintenance for your home regularly will help you save money.
What do we mean? Let’s take your furnace as an example, and examine just a few of the costs you can avoid if you schedule regular, yearly maintenance checks.
1. Emergency Furnace Repairs:
The first and most obvious cost that you can avoid by scheduling an annual maintenance check for your furnace is the cost of an emergency furnace repair. If your furnace fails when the weather is cold, you’ll need to get it repaired immediately – or your health and comfort could be at risk.
If you need immediate help and repairs, you’ll usually pay more for service. Most homeowners pay around $300 for an emergency furnace repair, though this can vary based on the particulars of why your furnace failed, and what must be done to replace it.
Furnaces will always require repairs eventually. But by getting any necessary repairs done as part of a regular service schedule, you can avoid extra costs for night/weekend emergency calls, and ensure that you don’t suffer from an unexpected furnace issue.
2. Being Forced To Replace A Furnace That Could Have Been Repaired:
There are some furnace issues that, when caught early, can easily be fixed, saving you quite a bit of money. Let’s take one of the most serious issues, a cracked heat exchanger, for example.
Cracked heat exchangers are usually caused by poor airflow and gas combustion from an improperly-maintained furnace. Proper maintenance will help ensure that your heat exchanger remains functional for years – while failing to maintain your unit will lead to rust and other issues that can weaken the exchanger.
Failing to maintain your furnace properly could lead to a cracked or damaged heat exchanger – which must be replaced, costing $2,000 or more, in many cases. This is completely avoidable, in most cases, if you simply maintain your furnace properly.
And, in addition, some of the most common furnace issues – like cracked heat exchangers – are covered by your furnace warranty. If you don’t check your furnace yearly, you could miss out on the opportunity to have your furnace repaired or replaced – free of charge!
3. Paying To Repair A Furnace That Should Be Replaced:
In the same vein as the above point, there are some cases when your furnace should really be replaced completely – but you won’t have the money, and will have to make do with a temporary repair.
For example, if your furnace fails in the winter and it’s 10+ years old, it’s usually better to replace it. In the long run, you’ll pay less for maintenance, and your new unit will likely be more fuel efficient – saving you plenty of money in the future.
But if you don’t have the $4,000-$6,000 or more that is required to pay for a new furnace, you may have no choice but to repair your current unit – even if it’s failing, inefficient, and doesn’t keep your home warm enough. You need heat, so you make do with that furnace and keep repairing it, even though it’s a poor financial choice in the long run.
* Consultation:
By helping you avoid the costs of unexpected, emergency repairs, and ensuring that any major issues with your furnace are caught before they become serious, Winnipeg furnace maintenance can save you a lot of money, in the long run. So make sure to have your unit inspected and serviced regularly – to make sure that it’s in good condition, and ready to keep you warm and comfortable throughout the colder months.
