Your furnace is making a strange new noise, or it quit on the first cold night. Now you’re stuck with a big question: should you repair or replace your furnace?
There’s no single answer for every home. But there are clear signs that point one way or the other. Here’s how our Super Techs help Southern Maryland homeowners make the call, with no pressure and no surprises.
Furnace Repair or Replace: How to Decide
Before you repair or replace your furnace, ask four simple questions:
- How old is it?
- What will the repair cost?
- How much is it costing you to run?
- Is it safe?
Signs a Repair Makes Sense
- Your furnace is under about 15 years old and has been reliable.
- One part failed, like an ignitor, flame sensor, or thermostat.
- The repair costs a small fraction of a new system.
- Your heating bills have stayed steady.
Many common furnace repairs are quick fixes. A hot surface ignitor typically runs $150 to $500, and a flame sensor $150 to $400. You can see more typical ranges on our transparent HVAC pricing page.
Signs It’s Time to Replace
- Your furnace is 15 to 20 years old or older.
- The repair would cost about a third of a new system, or more.
- It has needed major repairs twice in two seasons.
- Your heating bills keep climbing, even though nothing else changed.
- Some rooms never warm up.
- A technician finds a cracked heat exchanger.
When those signs start to stack up, furnace replacement is usually the smarter use of your money.
Safety Comes First: Carbon Monoxide
A cracked heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide (CO) into your home. CO has no color and no smell, so you can’t tell it’s there without a detector. Early symptoms can feel like the flu: headache, dizziness, and nausea.
If your CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside right away and call 911 or your gas company. Then call us.
For peace of mind, ask about our free carbon monoxide testing with a tune-up.
Oil, Propane, Gas, and Electric: Southern Maryland Notes
The type of fuel your home uses plays a big part when you repair or replace your furnace.
- Natural gas: Gas furnaces often last 15 to 20 years with yearly care. Newer high-efficiency models can lower your monthly bills.
- Propane: Plenty of homes in Charles, St. Mary’s, and rural Calvert counties heat with propane. Repairs draw from a different parts pool, so a quick diagnosis matters.
- Oil: Oil heat is still common here. Older oil systems are often good candidates for replacement, and we also service boilers.
- Electric: Electric furnaces are simple, but they can be costly to run. Many homeowners switch to a heat pump for lower bills.
Switching fuel types changes the size of the job, but it’s also where the biggest utility rebates tend to be. SMECO serves Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties, while BGE serves most of Anne Arundel. We’re an authorized SMECO rebate contractor, so qualifying rebates come right off the contract price.
What Will It Cost?
For repairs, we diagnose, we quote, and you decide. Nothing gets fixed or replaced until you agree to the price.
Thinking about a new system? Get a ballpark number in minutes with our instant HVAC estimate tool. It’s an easy way to compare costs when you’re deciding whether to repair or replace your furnace.
Financing Options
A new furnace is a big purchase. Our HVAC financing options through Service Finance Company offer qualified homeowners low fixed rates, no home equity required, and a decision in minutes.
How to Prevent Breakdowns
The best way to avoid a midwinter breakdown is yearly maintenance. Our Super Tune-Up is a 60-plus item evaluation, with every item ranked green, yellow, or red so you can see your system’s condition for yourself.
It’s backed by our No Breakdown Guarantee: if your system breaks down within six months of a Super Tune-Up, we waive the diagnostic fee. Terms and conditions apply.
Want to save even more? Loyalty Club members get priority scheduling, no overtime rates, and 20% off repairs and diagnostic fees.
Getting your whole system ready for cooler weather? Check out our guide on how to get your HVAC system ready for fall.
Still Not Sure? Ask a Super Tech
Fixed Right & Guaranteed has served Southern Maryland since 2009. If a repair makes sense, we’ll tell you. If replacement is the smarter move, we’ll explain why. Either way, you get an honest answer before any work starts.
Not sure whether to repair or replace your furnace? Call 410-414-3278 or contact us online. No heat in the middle of the night? Our 24/7 emergency service has you covered.
