If your furnace repair technician has told you that you have a red-tagged furnace, you may be confused about your options. You may even be wondering what “red-tagged” means. While having a red-tagged furnace is a serious matter, you can make sure you make the right decisions by understanding exactly what’s going on.
When your furnace is red-tagged, one likely explanation is that its heat exchanger had cracked. When this happens, carbon monoxide gas is able to escape. Your repair technician or utility representative likely will shut off your furnace and red-tag it until the problem has been solved.
If you have a red-tagged furnace, turning it back on before it has been repaired and cleared to operate may be a violation of the law. It can also lead to a dangerous situation for your family. If your furnace is red-tagged, you should get it repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.
Deciding whether you should repair the heat exchanger or replace the entire furnace depends on several factors. A heat exchanger, while expensive, will usually cost much less than a replacement furnace. However, the furnace must be taken apart to get the new heat exchanger in place, so labor costs will usually be high. Replacing the heat exchanger is generally a good idea if you have a newer, high-efficiency furnace already, if the heat exchanger is still under warranty, and if the repair costs are significantly less than the cost of a new furnace.
It might be more cost-effective to replace the furnace entirely if it’s older than a decade, if it has a low efficiency rating, or if the overall cost of the new furnace and installation isn’t too much higher than the cost of parts and labor for the repair. A new furnace comes with a warranty, which may be a factor in your decision. It’s always wise to get a few different estimates on the repair and replacement costs so that you can make an informed decision.
For help with your HVAC problems and questions in the Yuma area, contact Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about tagged furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in C. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
