My Furnace Only Lasts HOW LONG?

Replacing your furnace can strike instant fear into the heart of the strongest homeowner. Never knowing when your furnace will need to be replaced is like having a ticking time bomb in your house, just waiting for you to come home on a 1-degree day and discover there’s no heat.

We here at A R Engh believe you shouldn’t live with that stress. You have enough to worry about on a day-to-day basis. Understanding the average life span you can expect from your furnace and what you can do to make it last a little longer is key to that stress-free homeownership you’ve been dreaming of.

How long does the average furnace last?

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average furnace should last at least 15 to 20 years. This can be affected by the type of furnace you have and the maintenance you complete, but 15 to 20 years is a good rule of thumb. 

If you didn’t own your home when the furnace was installed, you can always check its age by looking up the serial number on the unit. The serial number will tell you when the furnace was made, which will give you a good estimate of when it was installed in the house.

Once your furnace starts to climb toward its 15th birthday, you’re going to want to start preparing yourself for more repairs and ultimately replacing the unit. Most maintenance occurs within the last 5 years of a furnace's life span, and you will have to make a decision at which point it makes more sense to replace the unit than to keep trying to fix it up.

Luckily, A R Engh has your back. We can help prepare you for this decision long before an emergency requires immediate action.

How can I get my furnace to last longer?

Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to get your furnace to last longer and be prepared for any surprises down the road. You typically don’t have to worry about replacing your furnace in an emergency when you’ve been having it maintained at regular intervals. Any emergencies that would come up should be caught before they become emergencies because a trained professional is examining and taking care of your unit.

The type of furnace you have also can affect the lifespan of the furnace. An oil-powered furnace typically lasts the longest while a gas-fired furnace typically has the shortest lifespan. Knowing the type of furnace you have - oil, electric, or gas - will help you have a little better idea of when things may need to be replaced.

In addition, having the right-sized furnace for your space will affect the life of your furnace as well. Having a furnace that is too small will make the furnace run more often and have to work harder to heat the space. On the flip side, having a furnace that is too big will cause the furnace to cycle on and off more often, creating unnecessary wear and tear on the mechanisms inside.

Making sure your furnace was installed correctly is another key factor in estimating how long your furnace will last. Using reputable companies (like A R Engh) to complete your installation will guarantee your furnace and ductwork will be installed and sized the way they should be. If things were installed incorrectly, it can cause a multitude of problems that result in years being cut off from your furnace’s life span.

There’s no need to worry if you were not the owner of the home when your furnace was installed. Having companies like A R Engh out to inspect and maintain your furnace will help catch any faulty installation or wear and tear before it becomes a problem.

Finally, setting your thermostat to extreme settings (outside 68 - 80 degrees) can also cause wear and tear on your furnace. While it is your home and you should be able to be comfortable, it is important to keep in mind the temperatures at which your furnace was designed to work. Could it get your house all the way up to 86 because you like to pretend you’re at the beach on cold winter days? Yes, it could. But, it’s really not giving your furnace the parameters it needs to do its job well.

When Do I Know It’s Time To Replace My Furnace?

The best indicator of it being time to take the leap and replace your furnace is when a reputable professional (like A R Engh) tells you it’s time. A reputable service provider is going to be honest with you when it’s time to replace your furnace and when a repair will do.

Other signs you will be able to notice on your own are new noises, increased noisiness, more frequent service calls, a large increase in your monthly energy bills, or performance issues such as the furnace blowing cold air or not being able to stay at a stable temperature.

However, as we stated, including a trained professional in your regular furnace maintenance can mean the difference between a small repair here and there and a several thousand-dollar job in an emergency.

Save yourself the stress of worrying about your furnace by having it checked out by A R Engh. We serve the same community we live in. Our customers are our friends, family, and neighbors. We always give you the honest answer you’re searching for because you deserve it.

A R Engh customers never have to worry about being taken advantage of, especially when it comes to expensive repairs or services. Contact us today to ease your mind and make sure your furnace is strong enough to get you through the winter.