What Is the Life Span of a Furnace?

The furnace in your Harrisburg home works 24/7 during the winter to keep you comfortable. How long your furnace will last depends mostly on how well you maintain it.

What Is the Life Span of a Furnace?

A typical furnace will last about 15 years. With regular maintenance and filter changes, you can expect your system to last 20 years or more. However, a poorly maintained system will only last about 13 years and will operate inefficiently for many of those.

Extending the Life of the System

There are several things you can do to ensure your system has a long, efficient life:

• Schedule annual maintenance every fall. Before you turn your system on at the beginning of the heating season, have it tuned up by a qualified HVAC professional to ensure top efficiency, extend the life of your system, ensure safe operation and lower your heating bills.
• Replace the air filter. A dirty air filter reduces the airflow to your system, making it work overtime to keep you comfortable, as well as reducing its efficiency and increasing the chances of premature failure. Check your filter every month. When it’s clogged with dust, replace it with a quality, pleated filter.
• Install a programmable thermostat. Taking a load off of your furnace will help it maintain efficiency and prevent undue wear and tear. A programmable thermostat allows you to program the furnace at lower settings while you’re away or sleeping, reducing the heating load on your system.
• Seal air leaks. Leaky windows, doors and service entrances allow cold air to infiltrate your home while letting conditioned air escape. Your furnace has to work extra hard to compensate for the lost air.
• Seal and insulate ducts. Leaky ducts make your furnace work hard to replace air lost through loose joints and gaps where the ducts meet the registers. Seal loose joints and insulate ducts that run through unconditioned spaces.

For more expert advice about the life span of a furnace and how you can extend yours, please feel free to contact us at All Temp Co., Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating.