We count on our furnaces to keep our homes warm and to keep it for as long as possible, we try and do all the right things. We sign the maintenance agreement, have it cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, use a programmable thermostat and use tips to ease the workload on it. But you still wonder, “How long it will last?”

How Long Does a Furnace Last? The Short Answer

If you take care of your furnace it will last longer. “Longer” can mean 10 years or 30 years and will depend on things you can control and things you can’t control.
• Making sure you have annual maintenance performed to extend the life of your furnace by years. Trained technicians can take care of small issues before they turn into big ones. It’s much cheaper to replace individual parts rather the expense of a whole new furnace.
• Homes that are energy efficient will add years to the life of your furnace too. The reason here is that the needs for heat will not be as frequent, air will move more easily for re-circulation and there won’t be room temperature fluctuations that make your furnace cycle on and off more than it needs to.
• If you’ve moved into a home with an existing furnace, there is no way for you to know how it was cared for and the neglect of previous owners is out of your control.
The short answer to “how long will my furnace last” is 25 to 40% longer than average if it’s taken care of well.

The Long Answer; Life Expectancy of a Furnace

Newer furnaces versus those 40 to 50 years ago will last anywhere between 13 and 20 years. There are furnaces that are still running today that were installed decades ago but while they’re running, they’re doing a terrible job and eating up your hard-earned cash. Older furnaces are inefficient as they can only convert about 60 % of the fuel going into them into usable heat. These furnaces also had to be much bigger to make up for the inefficiency while providing heat. Today’s furnaces can be up to 98.5 % more efficient and take up a lot less room with great reliability. Think about it—If the old furnace in your home is working, it’s costing you a lot in extra energy costs to keep it running, chances are it’s too big and has outlived its parts and it’s also converting fuel to heat with terrible efficiency ratings. You might have a furnace that will last for many more years but there are benefits to replacing it with a newer, more efficient one. Always look for the federal Energy Star certification to ensure you’ve chosen a furnace that is both energy efficient and will help conserve dwindling natural resources

Furnace Installation, Replacement, Repair & Maintenance in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee & Agawam Massachusetts

Older furnaces are also more likely to have issues with escaping carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, and colorless gas that can enter a home. It can make your family sick and can lead to death. If your home is having issues with carbon monoxide emissions, it’s best to replace it. The experts at Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning can advise you on the best new furnace for your home. Give us a call today!