How Long Does a Furnace Last?
If you have recently bought a furnace or plan to purchase one soon, you might be wondering ‘how long does a furnace last?’ It’s impossible to figure out the exact lifespan of a furnace since many factors dictate the deterioration of your furnace and everyone has different conditions and furnace models.
However, there are numerous ways to extend the lifespan of your furnace. Let’s check out the average lifespan of a furnace and how you can expand it:
1. Average Lifespan
While some gas furnaces can last as many as 40 years in extremely rare cases, on average, people replace their furnaces within every 15 to 30 years. With regular maintenance, you can easily make your furnace last for at least 15 years. Let’s check out a few factors that dictate the lifespan of your furnace:
- Improper Sizing – If you install a furnace that doesn’t properly fit inside your air-conditioning and heating system then it affects the energy efficiency of your home. Moreover, the inefficient system would also translate to poor comfort levels in your home. An inefficient system also puts more stress on the system and in turn reduces the lifespan of your furnace.
- Poor Installation – Installation also plays a significant role in the lifespan of your furnace. If the furnace is installed poorly, it may have poorly sealed ductwork and other restrictions that obstruct the flow of air. This negatively impacts the performance and also the reliability of your furnace.
- Lack of Maintenance – Without routine maintenance, underlying issues of your furnace pile up until the damage is irreversible. If you neglect your furnace and go without routine maintenance, then you’ll have no option but to buy a new furnace after there is extensive damage to your existing one – that’s why it’s best to get a certified technician to do it for you.
- Wrong Settings – If you set your thermostat too high or too low, the components inside your furnace may get damaged quickly or may reduce the overall lifespan of the furnace. That’s why it’s best to keep it at around 60 to 80 degrees.
2. Signs of a Furnace Reaching the End of its Lifespan
Numerous signs tell you if your furnace is edging closer towards the end of its lifespan.
You may have to shell out expensive service bills, call the technician too often, or even start to think “how long does a furnace last?” since yours clearly is not performing optimally. You may also be having issues with your furnace blowing cold air, having a bad air quality index inside your home, and increased noise. All these signs point towards a potential furnace replacement!
3. How to Extend the Life of your Furnace
To extend the lifespan of your furnace, you need to do the same things that you do for any other appliances and equipment – maintenance, cleaning, and service.
Keep the heat exchanger, motors, and filters free from dust and dirt. Moreover, it’s important to do routine checking and maintenance of your furnace for small manageable issues so that they don’t accumulate into big and expensive repairs in the future!
Furnace lifespan will vary depending on the conditions of your home, model, and many other factors that are beyond your control. So, instead of wondering “how long does a furnace last?”, if you try to keep the furnace in proper condition with regular maintenance and cleaning, it should typically last you well over a decade or longer – with a regular maintenance program by a licensed HVAC company your furnace should last you 15 years or longer.
If you’re interested in a furnace maintenance program or need your furnace repaired in Vancouver then book an appointment with our team today!
