What is the average lifespan of a furnace?
It’s a saying that we’ve all heard before: “Nothing lasts forever.” It’s true of your car, your appliances, and—yes—your home’s HVAC systems. In this article, we’ll discuss the average lifespan of a furnace and what factors play into your heating system’s overall longevity.
- The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 – 20 years.
- A lack of maintenance will shorten the life of a furnace.
- Improper installation will cause premature wear.
- You can increase the lifespan of your furnace by improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Why does my furnace’s lifespan matter?
A new furnace is a major investment. In fact, HVAC systems can be some of the most expensive appliances to replace in the home. Every “extra” year you can get out of your furnace is another year where you don’t have to purchase a new one. With not too much work, you can take steps to extend your furnace’s lifespan out to 20 or 25 years. That could amount to an entire decade you don’t need to purchase a new system!
What factors into a furnace’s lifespan?
If you’re interested in extending your furnace’s lifespan, make sure you take care of the following:
Annual maintenance
Like all the equipment in and around your home, your furnace requires regular upkeep and care to ensure it keeps running right. By scheduling an annual furnace tune-up with a certified HVAC professional, you can make sure your furnace is ready for the winter ahead and many winters after.
The best time to schedule preventative furnace maintenance is in the fall, before you turn your furnace on for the year. However, if you’re already past that point, you should still make an appointment. There’s no bad time to have an expert take a closer look at your system and ensure everything is running right. By doing so, you’ll be far more likely to avoid major problems and faults that—ultimately—may spell an early end for your system.
Chicagoland heating, Cooling & Plumbing is your go-to team for efficient and effective system maintenance. Give us a call today to book an appointment with our technicians.
Proper installation
You’re probably reading this article because you already have a furnace. In this case, this advice—short of you having access to a time machine—is probably a little too late for you to act on. However, it’s helpful to understand the impact that proper installation has on your furnace’s lifespan. From the very beginning, how your furnace is sized and installed can impact just how long it’ll be able to serve you and your home.
The “original sin” of many furnace installs occurs when a technician improperly estimates the needed size of the system. A furnace that’s either too small or too big for your home is going to have performance, efficiency, and—you guessed it—longevity issues. If the furnace is too small, it’ll have to run constantly to even have a hope of keeping up with your home’s heating needs, putting a lot of extra mileage on its components. On the other hand, if your furnace is too large, it will constantly be starting and stopping, which is also bad for the system.
When getting a new furnace installed in your home, it’s important to have a qualified HVAC pro—like those here at Chicagoland—help you determine which system is right for you. If you already have a furnace that you suspect is having problems because of inadequate installation, you should give us a call so that we can take a closer look and see what we can do in the present-day to help you out.
Home energy-efficiency
As we’ve already established, the longer your furnace has to run, the more long-term stress is put on the system. The good news is that you can take proactive steps to reduce the load your furnace has to carry. One of the simplest ways of doing this is by turning the thermostat. By keeping your home just a degree or two cooler—something barely noticeable—you’ll not only reduce your winter utility bills, but you’ll also keep your furnace in better long-term shape.
Make sure you’re regularly changing or washing your HVAC air filter. As this clogs with dust, it can limit the efficiency and effectiveness of your heating system. Generally speaking, this filter should be replaced every three months or so, but you may need to replace yours more often if you have pets or children in the home.
Beyond these simple steps, there’s a whole world of energy-efficiency upgrades you can get into, from adding attic insulation to replacing drafty windows. While you’ll probably be making these changes with an eye on lowering your monthly bills, it’s worth noting that investing in this part of your home can help extend the lifespan of your furnace, as well.
Call Chicagoland Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Whether you’re in need of an annual system tune-up or you need us to provide you with a free in-home estimate on a new furnace, call us. We’re Chicago’s furnace service experts. From installation to maintenance and repairs, our trusted and experienced technicians will do everything they can to extend your system’s lifespan and ensure that your home experiences reliable heating for many, many winters to come.