When to Replace Roof Furnace Appliances

Maintenance

• Roof furnaces can require a significant amount of upkeep and preventative maintenance compared with other types of heating systems installed to heat residences and businesses. When the cost of yearly maintenance becomes so expensive that you could take that same amount of money and apply it toward the cost of getting a new system without putting yourself in a significant financial bind, you should do so.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

• The energy efficiency and the effectiveness of the furnace in heating the facility or home should also be a consideration when deciding to replace the roof furnace or not. Simply put, a furnace with a low level of efficiency should be replaced when it becomes obvious that the amount of money you could save in energy costs will pay for itself by the time you pay off the new system. For instance, if a newer system will save you $100 per month on your bills and it costs you $4,000 to replace the system, taking out a line of credit for 40 months to pay off the new system will allow you to break even during those 40 months and then put money back in your pocket in the months thereafter.

Roof Replacement

• Roof replacement can also be a significant undertaking. It is a project that you don't do or have done often. If it turns out that your roof needs replacement and you happen to have a roof-mounted furnace, the logical thing to do would be to replace the furnace, so long as it is due to be replaced also. You wouldn't want to replace a furnace that you just replaced a year or two ago, but you would if the furnace were over 15 years old and in poor shape.

Capital Improvements

• If you want to increase the value of your home to sell it or need to replace the system on the roof of a rental property, it might make sense to do so for tax purposes. Generally, you cannot claim a tax deduction for replacing a furnace, because this is considered a capital improvement to the home. Capital improvements substantially improve the value of your property and do not necessarily qualify as a repair cost. The value of your investment can, however, be recaptured through a process known as depreciation and recovery.