{"id":434,"date":"2017-02-27T12:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T17:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/?p=434"},"modified":"2026-06-17T07:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T11:56:25","slug":"broken-furnace-repair-replace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/heating-service\/broken-furnace-repair-replace\/","title":{"rendered":"Broken Furnace: When to Repair or Replace"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Furnaces-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"furnace-burner-lit\" class=\"wp-image-435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Furnaces-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Furnaces-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Furnaces.jpg 792w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Having trouble with your furnace? Don&#8217;t jump to conclusions just yet. The best thing you can do is call in a technician to have a look. You might find out a small repair is the solution. However, it may end up a new furnace is in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This doesn&#8217;t have to be a bad thing. A new furnace will likely run much more efficiently and effectively than your older worn-down model, which (if it&#8217;s decades old) simply wasn&#8217;t manufactured using the high-performance technology manufacturers have today. Read on to learn more about when you may need <a href=\"\/heating\/furnaces\">furnace replacement<\/a> and <a href=\"\/contact\/send-message\">contact our technicians<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Any Potential Safety Issue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although furnaces today are safer than they have ever been, there is the chance of a potential hazard. A cracked heat exchanger may allow carbon monoxide, a toxic gas, to leak into your home.&nbsp;If you find that you have a cracked heat exchanger or a similar safety issue, you should have the furnace replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Catch potential heating safety issues early by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scheduling inspections for your furnace each year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Calling technicians for heating repair as soon as a problem arises.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installation Troubles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, you can run into problems with your furnace shortly after installation. Sometimes, this is due to a manufacturing problem. Or, an electrical fix may be in order. However, it could be because the furnace is not the proper size for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a heating system is too small, it is not the correct size to fully heat the home. This can cause it to overheat from all of the extra work, and you may never feel comfortable enough. And many people are surprised to hear that a large heater can cause issues too, short cycling so that it wears down the blower motor. When a system isn&#8217;t the proper size, the best solution is typically a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Costly Repairs and Old Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, every furnace has an end to its lifespan. Depending on the model of furnace, it may work for anywhere from 10-15 years. After this point, however, it may be better to replace the furnace and prevent sudden system breakdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When an older system needs lots of expensive repairs, it&#8217;s a sure sign you should replace the heating system. You should not have to pay half the cost of a new heating system to repair it. At this point, heating replacement is more cost effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can Be Repaired<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, any problem that comes up with a heating system does not mean you have to throw in the towel. Often, your furnace can be repaired. It&#8217;s all a matter of making sure you call a technician in a timely manner, so that the&nbsp;issue cannot get any worse. Check out some of the common repairs we commonly make:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Cleaning a dirty flame sensor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repairing wiring problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replacing safety switches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fixing components of the blower motor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Should I repair or replace my broken furnace?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The best first step is to have a technician inspect the furnace. A small issue may only need a repair, especially if the system is otherwise working well. Replacement is usually the better choice when the furnace has safety problems, is the wrong size, or needs costly repairs near the end of its lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: What furnace problems usually mean replacement is needed?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Replacement is often recommended if there is a serious safety issue, such as a cracked heat exchanger that could leak carbon monoxide. A furnace that was incorrectly sized for the home may also need replacement because it can overwork, short cycle, fail to heat properly, and wear out key parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: When is furnace repair usually enough?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Furnace repair may be enough when the issue is limited to a specific part or maintenance problem. Common repairable problems include a dirty flame sensor, wiring trouble, a faulty safety switch, or blower motor components that need attention. Calling promptly can help prevent a minor issue from becoming more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: How old is too old for a furnace?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Many furnaces last around 10 to 15 years, depending on the model and maintenance history. Once a furnace reaches that age and starts needing frequent or expensive repairs, replacement can be more cost effective. A newer system may also heat more efficiently and perform better than an older worn-down unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Question: Can an oversized or undersized furnace cause problems?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes, furnace size matters. A unit that is too small may run too hard and still leave the home uncomfortable. A unit that is too large can short cycle, which may wear down the blower motor and other parts. In these cases, replacement is often the best solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><span class=\"block full\">Max Sr &amp; Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. installs and services <a href=\"\/service-areas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">furnaces in Westfield, NJ<\/a>. Call us today&#8211;established 1912!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your furnace has been reliable for years but recent troubles have you wondering: Is it time for a furnace replacement?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[76],"tags":[106,107,108,105,95],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=434"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2068,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions\/2068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.schoenwaldercorp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}