A furnace is a major household investment, so if you’re planning to purchase a new one, make getting the most for your money a top priority. Among the important factors in the lifetime cost of a furnace is how long it will last, which is an average of 12 to 25 years. Extending the life of your furnace to reach the higher end of that range depends largely on the installation of good quality equipment and ensuring that it’s kept in good shape with regular preventive maintenance.
Equipment Quality and Furnace Lifespan
If extending the life of your furnace is your goal, equipment quality matters. For instance, builder’s models, which are basic, low-grade furnaces, typically last between eight and 12 years. Paying more upfront for well-built equipment – which can last 20 to 25 years – can give you more than twice as many years of use, making the more expensive furnace less costly over the long-run than the cheaper one.
Extending the Life of Your Furnace: Proper Care and Maintenance
Another important factor in the longevity of your furnace is how well it is cared for through the years. This is just as important in Southwest Arizona, where your furnace sits unused (except for the blower) for the greater part of the year, as it is farther north. Even the best equipment will be on the shorter end of that 12- to 25-year range if it doesn’t get the care and maintenance it needs to maintain safe and efficient operation. Important points to remember include:
- Regular professional maintenance, done at least once every year, is essential to extending the life of your furnace, as well as maximizing its performance.
- Dirty air filters restrict airflow and may cause the blower motor to overheat, so check your filter monthly and change it whenever it appears dirty.
- Moisture can corrode vital components, especially the heat exchanger, so keeping moisture levels in your home controlled is important to extending the life of your furnace, as is taking care of leaks or dampness near the furnace.
For more tips on getting the most out of your furnace, please contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We’ve been serving the home comfort needs of customers in and around Yuma since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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