Furnaces are how we stay toasty and warm inside of our home. A well-maintained furnace could last up to 20 years if cared for properly. Yet if you were to implement timely repairs you may extend its lifespan up to around 30 years (which isn’t entirely unheard of!)
If your furnace is getting on in age, it’s a great time to begin researching whether you should splurge on a new replacement or spend time and money repairing it.
While there isn’t a specific answer to how long a furnace will last, there are several factors that might impact the longevity of your furnace. There are also several steps you can take to prevent yourself from needing to spend extra to replace your furnace or cover the costs of repairs.
If you want to find out a little bit more about furnaces, this article will contain all of the information you could need.
How Does A Furnace Work?
A functioning furnace is important in ensuring comfort for you and your family. If you’re wanting to know more about the process of fixing a furnace or simply want to know a bit more about what makes up a furnace, we’ve got you covered.
A furnace typically consists of four main components:
- The blower motor is used to push heated air through the ducts.
- A heat exchanger is great for absorbing heat from the burner and then heating the air blown through the heating ducts.
- Your ignitor will ignite the fuel source to create heat after receiving a call from the thermostat.
- The thermostat calls heat and then signals your furnace to turn itself on. This also regulates the temperature in your home.
The Average Furnace Lifespan
A well-maintained furnace may last anywhere from 15 to 20 years provided you are careful. Carrying out diligent annual maintenance and repairs might even extend its lifespan far past what is typically acceptable.
The general lifespan of a furnace isn’t set in stone yet when it reaches around 15 years of age it may be a good idea to begin replacing your equipment. This will also help you to understand more about the energy efficiency of your furnace.
Factors That May Shorten A Furnace’s Life Expectancy
Several things may determine whether a furnace will have a long life or need to be replaced quickly. Some of these may include:
Make And Model
Some brands are better than others when it comes to furnaces, otherwise, there would be no competition! If you take the time to carry out research into the furnaces then it will be relatively easy to work out the best make and model for your home.
Appropriate Size
Your furnace must fit in the space that you have. If you opt for one that is too small for the space then it may end up staying on too long and you may struggle to fully heat your home. Not only could this cost you quite a bit but it may even cause wear and tear.
Proper Furnace Maintenance
If you elect to ignore the general maintenance of your furnace or ignore the wear and tear of certain parts, you are setting yourself up for an expensive time. For example, if your heat exchanger is not performing properly then heat transfer will be far less efficient, and you may be leaving your furnace on for longer than is necessary.
Poor Installation
If your furnace is incorrectly installed then your furnace is at an automatic disadvantage. A poor design or improper fit for the room could impact how comfortable you are in your home. It could also have a direct effect on your total system efficiency.
Thermostat Settings
The temperature you best enjoy in your home could directly impact the overall life expectancy of your furnace. A thermostat that is set either too high or low could cause your furnace system to run a lot more frequently which will likely reduce the longevity of the furnace.
Overall Age Of The Furnace
Another thing that could directly affect how long your furnace lasts is its age. If you’ve had the same furnace for a considerable number of years then you will want to replace it. This will contribute to keeping you safe and will also allow you to implement a modern and highly efficient heating system around your home.
Location
Your furnace is likely either in a closet or in your garage. Wherever it is, it must have clear ventilation and clearance. Not enough airflow or too much moisture could damage the heat exchanger, reducing the life of your furnace as a result.
Whether you bought your home with the furnace already installed or chose to install one yourself, ensuring regular maintenance is of extreme importance. This is actually the main way that you can go about increasing your furnace’s overall life expectancy.
How Often Should You Maintain Your Furnace?
If you’re looking to keep costs as low as possible then you must stay on top of furnace maintenance. It’s always easier to do this than have to fork out and completely replace your furnace or call out for an emergency repair.
Doing this also means you’ll know exactly when it is time to replace your old furnace and plan it accordingly. Make sure to get your furnace tuned up at the start of the fall season before you need to use it and keep yourself ahead of issues that may arise.
Signs You Must Repair Your Furnace
If you experience any whining or clunking with your furnace then it may be time for you to consider buying a new one. Other more prominent signs include a natural gas smell which could also hint at a crack in the heat exchanger.
You may also want to look at your energy bill to see if everything is okay. Big spikes in energy use could be a sign that you must need a professional to take a look at the system to see if it’s in working order.
- Uneven temperatures
- The furnace is blowing out cold air
- Lots of unwanted noises
- A lot of service calls
- Expensive bill of repairs
When To Replace Your Furnace
There are some signs that the end of a furnace is near and it needs to be completely replaced. For starters, energy bills will begin to rise and you might find yourself having to adjust your thermostat far more often than before.
You may also notice that repairs are getting more frequent as time goes on. In this case, your furnace will be working harder to ensure your home is kept at an optimum temperature.
The Cost Of Furnace Replacement
Trying to heat your home can be a costly experience and might take up a large percentage of your total monthly bills. Finding a quality furnace that fits your needs and your budget that will last for the next 10 to 15 years can be a difficult task but isn’t completely impossible.
Reliable furnaces may cost as little as $4,500 and anywhere over $8,000, depending on the style of the furnace and your current lifestyle.
Summary
The age-old question of how long a furnace can last is a difficult one to answer. Generally, its lifespan depends on the age of the furnace and how well looked after and maintained it has been within your home. However, other factors must be considered including whether it has been correctly installed, its size, and the personalized thermostat settings.
