It’s January, it’s winter and that means that inevitably some of you are going to have this experience. You wake up in the middle of the night shivering. You check the thermostat and see that it is set at 68 degrees. So why is the temperature 58? Yikes!

Unfortunately, that that means it’s time to call on Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, your trusted HVAC company, for a furnace repair. After you hang up the phone, it hits you just how many times this scenario has played out the past few years.

At some point, putting band aids on your old heating system just doesn’t make sense any more. If we are talking about a system more than 10 years old, replacing it with a new system will be considerably more efficient and will probably reduce your monthly energy bill. Did you know that heating and cooling typically accounts for 40% of energy usage in the home? You could save a lot of money.

The first step is calling on Kotz to visit your home to perform an energy assessment. This will make sure any problem you’re having isn’t just a minor air leak or some other issue that’s unrelated to your HVAC unit.

The assessment is not free, but remember: some electric utilities subsidize the expense of energy efficiency assessments, and some states offer noteworthy rebates or discounts when you install insulation of make other efficiency improvements.

After the assessment, your heating and cooling system replacement professional will share the results and help you decide whether it’s time to consider replacing your system.

There are many factors that go into determining heating and cooling efficiency and proper system sizing. An improperly sized system can spark higher energy bills and could lead to early system failure. HVAC experts are trained to determine the right system for your home only after measuring the home, analyzing the construction and taking the direction the property is facing into consideration. As you can see, a technician trying to provide an estimate over the phone is not a good idea for anyone.

Your trusty Kotz professional, using proper factors, can help you crunch the numbers and guarantee your 100% satisfaction. The expense of purchasing a new HVAC unit compared to the estimated cost of repairs, as well as projected savings you might see on your monthly utility bill will all be explained to you as you consider this important investment.

Any new system is going to be a major investment, but bottom line: it’s no different than anything else. If your truck is 10 years old and the engine blows up, chances are you’re not going to spend $2,000 to $3,000 for a new engine. Instead you’re probably going to invest that money in a new vehicle.

And the feeling of waking up to your nice, warm house, while Old Man Winter howls outside—PRICELESS!