Should You Replace a Furnace and AC at the Same Time?

Furnace and AC Replacement

You may have heard that it’s best to replace both your furnace and AC at the same time, but is that always true? And what are the benefits of doing so?

In general, it is a good idea to replace them at the same time, both in terms of overall long-term cost savings and for the efficiency and effectiveness of your HVAC system. Read on to learn how, and to sort through the pros and cons of replacing your furnace and AC at the same time.

3 Reasons to Replace a Furnace and AC Together

The benefits of replacing both your furnace and air conditioner at the same time boil down to three advantages:

1. Cost savings. If you replace both units at the same time, you’ll save on labor costs. Keep in mind that labor doesn’t just mean the time spent at your home installing the equipment. It also includes time spent ordering the equipment and other hardware, traveling to your home, and other tasks related to the work itself. By having a new furnace and AC installed at the same time, you’ll reduce the time spent on these additional tasks, which can be a significant cost savings.
2. Ensure that your furnace and AC are compatible. Pairing one new system with an old one reduces the performance of both. By replacing both pieces of equipment at once, you can be assured that they work well together and will maximize efficiency, which will save money on your energy bills.
3. One and done. Having any major home system replaced is disruptive and a bit stressful. By replacing both your furnace and AC at the same time, you’ll only have to worry about it once, and then you’ll be finished dealing with it for the next 15 to 20 years or so (other than doing routine maintenance, of course!)

Do You Need to Replace a Furnace with an AC?

While there are plenty of good reasons to replace your furnace and AC at the same time, as outlined above, there are also some valid reasons not to:

• One of the two systems has been replaced recently. If you replaced either of the components in the last few years, it doesn’t make sense to buy a brand-new one. In this case, you’ll just want to work with your HVAC technician to be sure that whichever piece of equipment you’re installing will be compatible with the existing furnace or AC.
• Budgetary concerns. Sometimes, it’s just not in the budget to replace everything, as much as you wish you could. Your A+ HVAC technician can work with you to find the best options for your budget and situation.
• Future plans. Perhaps you’re planning to add on to your home, or switch from gas to electric appliances. In this case, it might not make sense to replace both pieces of equipment until you have a long-term plan in place for the rest of the system.