In the heart of winter, a heater breakdown can be a real emergency. Homes with malfunctioning heaters need to get them taken care of quickly, before the indoor temperature drops too low, and any heating contractor worth its salt will do so with all deliberate speed. But older heaters that run into trouble raise a difficult question: is it better to spend the money on repairs? Or would that money be better spent on a new heater instead of wasted on the old one?
At the end of the day, only the homeowner can make the decision to repair a faulty heater or replace it. There are, however, several key factors that can make that decision a lot easier.