The furnace in your home is a crucial component of your heating system. If you’re a homeowner, you may be wondering how long your furnace will last. Well, the answer is a bit complicated. Factors such as when it was installed and what type of furnace it is can impact its lifespan. A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs will extend its life even longer. Here are some things to consider from Carrier.
FURNACE SIZE
It’s important to have an appropriately sized system for your home.
- Shorter cycles create more wear and tear on the parts of a furnace, so if the system is larger than necessary, it will turn on and off too quickly.
- Furnaces that are too small for the space may stay on too long and struggle to heat your home, adding wear and tear on parts.
POOR FURNACE INSTALLATION
- Poor installation can affect the lifespan of your furnace for several reasons. This is why it’s so important to select a qualified HVAC professional, like your local Carrier expert, to install your system.
- Poorly designed, sized, or sealed ductwork impacting airflow can affect your comfort and system efficiency.
- Poor drainage system for high-efficiency furnaces,
- Incorrectly installed fuel lines.
LACK OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
When you ignore recommended maintenance, dirty buildup on heat exchangers, burners, fan blades can reduce you’re the life of your furnace in several ways:
- Restricted airflow from dirty filters can make the system work harder.
- Imbalanced fans can affect the life of motors.
- Less efficient heat transfer from heat exchangers can make the system work harder.
THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
Your personal comfort preferences can affect the life expectancy of your gas furnace. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your heating system thermostat at 68° Fahrenheit during the winter for both energy efficiency and adequate comfort. Keep in mind that a thermostat set too high or too low can make the system run more frequently, reducing its lifespan.
It’s important to have your HVAC system checked regularly to extend the lifespan of your unit. The VIP Plan from Air Rescue is designed with these needs in mind. Whether you have one unit or many units at your residence, this plan will ensure that all equipment is well-maintained by our expert technicians, who know how to get the job done right!
Sources:
https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/furnaces/how-long-does-a-furnaces-last/