Guide
Repair or replace a furnace
There is no single age at which a furnace must go. The decision turns on a few honest questions.
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Start with safety
If a technician finds a cracked heat exchanger or a venting fault that cannot be corrected, the conversation changes. A safe repair may not exist, or may cost close to what a new furnace would. Ask to see the evidence: a photo, a camera image, or a reading. A good technician will show it.
Then ask these questions
- How often has it failed? One repair in ten years is normal. A major part every winter is a pattern.
- Are parts still made? Older control boards and motors can be hard to find.
- Is the house comfortable? Cold bedrooms and hot hallways may point to sizing or ducts, not just age.
- What about the AC? If the coil and condenser are also old, a matched replacement may make sense.
- How long will you stay? A furnace is a long-term purchase. A short stay favors a sensible repair.
- What does the gas bill say? An old mid-efficiency furnace burns more gas for the same heat.
What moves each side of the scale
On the repair side: the part, the time to find the fault, and access. On the replacement side: furnace size and efficiency, venting changes, ductwork, any AC work done at the same time, and local permit fees.
Ask for both options in writing on the same visit. Seeing them side by side makes the trade-off clearer than any rule of thumb.
If you decide to replace
Read the furnace replacement page for sizing, venting, permits and the questions to put to a contractor before you sign.
Cold house in Spokane? Talk to a contractor now.
Dial the number and explain what the heat or cooling is doing. The person who picks up runs an independent HVAC business working in Spokane and the towns nearby.