Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Furnace Now: Understanding the New Federal Regulations

Replacing the furnace in your home is a costly decision that many homeowners may put off until it becomes absolutely necessary. If you have a furnace (oil or gas) installed inside your home, new legislation that takes effect May 1, 2013 may make it even more costly to replace your heater after that date.

After May 1, 2013, only heaters with an efficiency rating of 90 percent or more can be installed in all Northern states, including Pennsylvania. These standards are for “non-weatherized” heaters – those that are installed indoors and do not include heat pumps that are located outside your home. While these new energy efficient standards will probably save you money on your monthly bills, the initial outlay may outweigh any savings you will see in the coming years.

The heaters themselves probably won’t be that much more, but some complications with installations may arise. For example, new requirements for venting might require you to add costly venting changes.  Other situations, such as adding a condensing tank or making sure the heater is in a conditioned area where there is no danger of freezing might require moving the location of your heater. If this is the case, you may need to add in remodeling costs, possibly adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the new heater.

Most heaters have an average lifespan of about 15 years, but if your heater is more than 10 years old, this might be the best time to look into having it replaced. The best way to know is to have an experienced heating contractor look at your current heating system and installation and determine what would need to be done to install a new system under the new regulations. With this information, you can make the best decision on whether you should replace your heater before the May 1, 2013 deadline.

Platinum Plumbing & Heating, Inc. provides free heating system inspections and will be glad to advise you on your options and how the new regulations may impact you. Call 610-409-6500 to schedule an appointment for our heating technician to come to your home to talk about your heating needs.

For more information: Seven Signs You May Need a New Heating System

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