In Calgary, we all know that winter is not just a season. In fact, we call it a personality test for your furnace. Between chinooks that tease us with warmth and those bone-deep cold snaps that make you question all your life choices, your furnace works harder here than in most Canadian cities.
At some point, though, when the wear and tear has taken its toll on the furnace, a question sneaks up on every homeowner. That is, is it time to keep repairing this thing, or finally replace the furnace?
It’s not always obvious. Repairs can seem cheaper in the moment, but the costs can quickly add up. Replacement is a bigger hit to the wallet, but it can sometimes be the smarter long-term play. Let’s break it down.
Need a New Furnace?
With Flexible Financing Options
What Factors Should You Consider Before Repairing or Replacing Your Furnace?
Calgary puts a lot of furnaces to the test because of the varying weather conditions. Because of this, furnaces are bound to experience hiccups and breakdowns one way or another. This leaves you with a little bit of a dilemma to either replace or repair it.
For you to make the right decision, you need to consider the following:
Age of the Furnace
According to Energy Star Canada, most furnaces last from 15 to 20 years. In Calgary specifically, where furnaces can run for 7-8 months a year, that 15-20 years can even be shorter. So if your furnaces is pushing 15 years already, it’s a wise decision to start planning for an emergency repair or replacement already, even if it’s still running good.
Repair Frequency
Frequent breakdowns, even minor ones, are your furnace’s way of waving a white flag. And in Calgary, these white flags can be waving high and mighty more often than usual.
Smaller issues, such as clogged filters, worn ignitors, or faulty limit switches, may seem minor, but repeated repairs can signal deeper problems within your unit. Not to get philosophical about it, but if you constantly change the parts of your furnace, is it still your furnace? More so, could it have been cheaper if you had just bought a new one?
Repair vs. Replacement Cost
Here’s a little hack: use the “50% rule” to guide you through the costing.
If repair costs approach half the cost of a new furnace, replacement is usually smarter. For example, if a new furnace costs $6,000 in Calgary, and your repair is $3,000, upgrading is the better long-term investment. In fact, most homeowners spend $5,000–$7,500 on a new furnace installation.
Energy Efficiency & Rising Bills
Older furnaces typically run at 60–80% efficiency. That means roughly 20–40 cents of every heating dollar is wasted.
- New high-efficiency furnaces reach up to 98% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).
- For Calgary homeowners, that can shave hundreds of dollars off annual heating bills (Natural Resources Canada).
If you’ve noticed rising Enmax or ATCO bills without touching your thermostat and despite the Furnace rebates, your furnace may be losing efficiency.
More than that, an inefficient furnace may be costing you more than it should be. You can be spending $4000 on wasted fuel, $1000 to $3000 in furnace repairs, factor in inflation, and you’re looking at a total loss of $6000 to $8000 over 10 years. You can check our furnace cost calculator to check in real-time how much your old furnace is costing you.
Safety Concerns
This one isn’t up for debate: when it comes to your furnace, safety trumps everything else. A failing furnace can put more than your comfort at risk — it can put your life at risk.
Here’s what Calgary homeowners should be watching for:
- Yellow flames instead of blue signals incomplete combustion and a possible carbon monoxide leak.
- Rust, soot, or cracks in the heat exchanger can allow dangerous gases to escape.
- Chimney or venting issues happen if they are improperly vented; hot, toxic exhaust gases can actually be pulled back into your home, creating a serious carbon monoxide hazard.
This isn’t just a theory that every year, people in Alberta and across Canada lose their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances. According to the Government of Alberta, even small leaks can be deadly if undetected.
Another important reality: the engineering design life of most furnaces is around 20 years. Beyond that, manufacturers never intended them to run safely or efficiently. Yet many homeowners think replacement recommendations at the 20-year mark are just sales tactics.
The truth? The risk to life and safety is simply not worth the short-term savings.
Home Plans & Inspections
If you’re planning to sell your home soon, furnace condition matters. Let’s be practical: a failing furnace can lower your home’s market value or derail an inspection. Plus, a newer, efficient furnace is often seen as a selling feature in Calgary’s real estate market.
What Are the Signs that Your Furnace Needs Attention?
Your furnace usually won’t quit on you without a little warning first. Instead, it tends to drop hints that something’s off. Maybe you’ve noticed uneven heating, like when the upstairs feels toasty while the basement stays chilly. Perhaps you’ve started hearing strange noises like banging, rattling, or even a squeal or two. Short-cycling, where the furnace turns on and off too quickly, is another red flag. Sometimes the signs show up on your utility bill in the form of unexplained spikes, or in your home’s air quality with drier air, extra dust, or worsening allergies.
Whatever the clue, these warning signs are your furnace’s way of saying, “Hey, I need some attention,” and they shouldn’t be ignored.
What Are the Benefits of Repairing a Broken Furnace?
- Lower upfront cost: If it’s just small repairs, the cost you’ll pay won’t be as high
- Faster turnaround: Compared to installing a new one, repairs can only take a few hours, give or take
- Extends the life of a younger furnace: If your furnace has only been with you for less than 10 years, repairs can extend its lifespan
What Are the Benefits of Replacing a Broken Furnace?
Replacement has its own big advantages, especially in Calgary’s climate:
- Energy savings: High-efficiency models reduce heating costs by up to 30% annually
- Reliability: Less chance of a breakdown at -25°C
- Comfort: Newer systems distribute heat more evenly and work better with humidifiers
- Peace of mind: Most come with 10-year warranties
- Resale value: A new furnace boosts home appeal on the Calgary market
Frequently Asked Questions About Repairing or Replacing a Furnace in Calgary
Should I fix my furnace or replace it?
In most cases, if your furnace is under 10 years old and the problem is minor like a sensor or ignitor issue, a repair is usually all you need. But once a system is 15 years or older, especially if it’s breaking down more than once a season, replacement often makes more sense in the long run. At Comfort Union, we often walk Calgary homeowners through this exact decision by laying out the pros and cons honestly so you can choose what’s right for your home and budget.
How much does it cost to replace a furnace in Calgary?
Most homeowners in Calgary can expect to spend $5,000–$7,500 for a new furnace, depending on home size, efficiency rating, and installation complexity. High-efficiency models or retrofits in older homes may cost more, but they also bring better long-term savings on heating bills.
How long should a furnace last in Calgary?
Furnaces generally last 15–20 years, but Calgary winters put them to the test. This means that many start showing serious wear closer to 15 years. Regular maintenance like filter changes and tune-ups can help extend that lifespan. At Comfort Union, we’ve seen well-maintained furnaces squeeze out a few extra years, but once parts start failing consistently, it’s usually time to start planning for a replacement.
Is it worth it to repair a 20-year-old furnace?
Not exactly. By 20 years, a furnace has passed its design life, is running at much lower efficiency, and could fail again at any time in the middle of a deep freeze. While repairs might buy a little time, replacement almost always pays off with lower bills, safer operation, and peace of mind. When Calgary homeowners call us at Comfort Union, we generally recommend upgrading at this stage so you’re not stuck in an emergency situation when winter hits hardest.
Fast, reliable furnace repair in Calgary. We diagnose and fix all makes and models to restore your home’s warmth quickly and safely.
Keep your system running smoothly with a professional furnace tune-up in Calgary. We clean, inspect, and optimize for peak efficiency and safety.
Breathe easier with professional furnace duct cleaning in Calgary. Remove dust, debris, and allergens for cleaner air and better system performance.
