furnace question

[jazz]

i All,

I have a furnace that is now 14 years old and maintained regularly.

I am on Heating protection plan. How long does an average furnace last -? Should I drop my Protection plan and just keep the annual cleaning. I was thinking if I drop the Protection Plan and just keep the annual cleaning I am saving about $125 bucks. I can put that towards a new furnace when this one konks out. I have not read all the exclusions but my feeling is they will not cover major parts and my money might be better put towards a new furnace.

Any opinions -?

Thanks

[Reggie Dunlop]

The time to have been saving the maintenance plan money was when it was new-- 10-12 years or so. Now, keep the plan because components are more likely to fail. If you get 15-20 years out of it, that's not bad.

[Claude Hopper]

I had a hot air furnace that was 30 years and running fine. A new burner is not much money. Not much else can go wrong other than a cracked firebox. Skip the service plan, they are a waste of money.

[aemeijers]

I just replaced the 1960 furnace in this place in 2006. Still ran fine, just inefficient as hell. I sold my grandmother's 1961 house to a family friend, and visit down there once a year or so- it still has the original furnace, but the blower motor has been replaced at least once (because I did it 20 years ago.)

-- aem sends...

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Most furnaces can last 20+ years, but, anything mechanical will eventually wear out and break. Most likely problems are blower motor, gas valve, controls. If you had put away the cost of a service plan for the past 14 years, you'd have enough savings to pay for any repair and by the time it needs replacing, for a new furnace.

I don't advocate extended warranty or service plans. They are a source of profit for the seller, not something they do to help you in the long run. Some people find it easier to pay $125 a year for ten years rather than $300 one time for a repair.

[Bubba]

I'll disagree with you 100%. Service plans are very effective in preventing breakdowns. Like anything, it depends on the servicing company. If they are sending out 1st year techs on your new high efficiency, you might not be getting your moneys worth. Service agreements are NOT money makers. Believe me, Id much rather take $300, $400 or $500 from you on a repair than $125 a year to do a "tune-up". Its about committment to my customers. I pride myself in the fact that my customers are not inconveinced with a breakdown on a cold holiday weekend because I have properly and thoroughly serviced their system. This gives me "weight" when they make their new equipment purchase over another company. Just read the manual that came with the furnace. All newer furnaces require annual maintenance. Bubba

[Edwin Pawlowski]

No, you don't disagree. I'm talking about extended warranty. I never said don't do any service. You still should have that annual checkup and pay for it. It is the portion that covers parts that rarely break that is the money taker.