Your home’s furnace is responsible for making sure that your house stays at a comfortable temperature whenever it gets cold outside. If the unit fails, the temperature in your home could fall to a dangerously low level. Therefore, it is important to replace your nonfunctional furnace as quickly as possible. If you do not have a lot of money to dedicate to HVAC replacement projects, it may be tempting to acquire a used furnace as opposed to a new one. Let us take a look at whether doing so is a good idea.
Is It Safe to Buy a Used Furnace?
As a general rule, it is not a good idea to buy a used furnace from a private citizen. This is because you have no idea how old the unit is, how well it has been maintained, or if it has failed to work properly in the past. It is also worth noting that you are unlikely to receive a warranty or any other type of guarantee from the person who sold you the used furnace.
Even if the furnace is still covered by its original warranty, there is no guarantee that this agreement is transferable. In addition, the warranty may also be nullified if you attempt to install the unit on your own after acquiring it.
You should also be aware that buying a used furnace from an online seller could put your personal information at risk. In addition, there is a chance that the product that the seller gives you is not the same product that was advertised online. Although you may be able to take a seller to court if they engage in fraud, you may spend a lot of time and money doing so.
Buy a Refurbished Unit If Possible
If you are going to buy a used furnace from an HVAC company, it is important to look for a unit that has been refurbished. Generally speaking, refurbished simply means that the manufacturer did not want to sell it at full price because it was dinged or scratched during production.
It may also mean that the heater was returned by a customer for reasons that had nothing to do with the unit’s ability to safely create and distribute warm air. For instance, the customer may have decided that the unit was too big for their home or that it was not efficient enough for their house.
In most cases, refurbished units will work exactly like new units and have roughly the same useful life as a new appliance. However, a refurbished furnace will likely cost a fraction of its original retail price.
What Should You Know Before Buying a Refurbished Furnace?
Buying a refurbished furnace may be an ideal way to save money on an important HVAC component without putting your family in danger. However, it is still in your best interest to do an adequate amount of research before you determine which unit you are going to buy.
It is also important to ask a number of questions about the furnace before you agree to spend any money on it. For instance, you will need to know why the product was returned or otherwise deemed unsuitable for sale to the general public. You will want to ask how old the unit is, if it has had any mechanical problems in the past, and if there are any issues specific to the product that you buy that you should know about.
You will want to inquire about whether you will receive a warranty or any other type of guarantee for the refurbished furnace. You should also ask if it can be installed by a professional and if it can be serviced by the company that you have purchased it from.
Furnace Maintenance Is Important Regardless of What You Buy
When properly maintained, a furnace should last for at least a decade, and, in some cases, up to 20 years. Fortunately, the folks at Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling in Grand Rapids, MI can help you take care of your home’s heating system.
We offer furnace repair, service packages, and more to ensure that any issues you notice with your equipment are taken care of in a timely manner. If you prefer, we can work with you to install a geothermal heating unit in your house. Geothermal units use the natural heat in the ground to keep your home warm during the winter months. In some cases, it can also be used to keep your residence cool during the summer season.
One of the key benefits of regular furnace maintenance is that it may allow your heating system to work at peak efficiency. This means that you will be able to keep your house at a consistent temperature while maintaining consistent home heating bills.
Another key benefit is that you will likely experience improved air quality throughout your property. By keeping parts properly cleaned and lubricated, you can minimize the risk of dust, dirt, or other debris being transported around your house whenever the furnace runs.
Buying Used May Be More Expensive in the Long Run
Even if you buy a quality refurbished product, it may not last as long as a new furnace. This is because it may have already gone through a portion of its useful life. Furthermore, if the item wasn’t properly maintained while in storage, it may have a reduced useful lifespan.
Therefore, you may find yourself having to buy another furnace just a few years after acquiring your current one. Although you could opt to buy a used heater again, it may also fail long before a new unit would. Ultimately, saving money today on a used unit may result in spending more money over a period of 10 to 20 years.
You should also consider the possibility that a used item is likely going to cost more to maintain than a new unit. Therefore, you could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars extra on repair costs that could have been avoided had you simply paid for a new product that was properly built. Although a new unit may fail unexpectedly, at least it comes with a warranty that covers the cost of repairing or replacing it.
A Used Furnace May Reduce the Value of Your Home
Typically, you will need to disclose the condition of your home’s heating system if you attempt to sell it. This means that a buyer is going to know that you have a furnace that may have a reduced useful lifespan and that may not be under warranty. Therefore, you may get less money for your house than you would if it had a quality heating system.
If you are in need of furnace repair or service in west Michigan, give the team at Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling a call today! In addition to furnace repair and planned service, we can also provide energy audits, perform indoor air quality tests, and help maintain your home’s cooling components.
