The Average Furnace Lifespan A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend its life even longer.
Average Furnace Lifespan
Although some furnaces can last more than 40 years (extremely rare), the average life of a furnace is around 15 to 30 years. As long as you have scheduled annual furnace maintenance, it should easily last over 15 years. Just like your car, your older furnace may need some basic repairs.
The average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today is between 16 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age or older, you should begin shopping.
While furnaces can last longer with proper maintenance, they often become less efficient and more prone to breakdowns as they age. Repairing a 15-year-old furnace can provide a temporary solution, but it may be a better long-term investment to consider replacing it.
Are old furnaces dangerous? Unfortunately, yes. Since many old models run on oil or gas, there's always the risk of their fuel catching fire or leaking into your home. If left unaddressed, such malfunctions can be life-threatening.
You'll be looking at a different cost depending on the location of the furnace, the size of your home, and the type of furnace. But the average cost per unit can range anywhere from $2,672 - $6,575. The national average is $4,820 - $9,350 for a full furnace installation.
If the flame sensor fails, your furnace may not be able to start or may shut down shortly after starting. Common causes of flame sensor failure include corrosion, dirt buildup, or a broken wire. The gas valve controls the flow of gas to the furnace. If the gas valve fails, your furnace won't be able to produce heat.
Replacing a furnace is a labour-intensive undertaking and is pretty difficult. There are a large variety of factors that need to be considered and accounted for. It is never recommended to replace a furnace yourself as the appliance is a major investment and should be handled by professionals.
How long does a traditional furnace last? An average furnace is designed to operate for 15 to 30 years in a home. The easiest way to increase the life cycle of your furnace is to hire a certified technician to perform maintenance and repairs once a year.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the average lifespan of standard heating systems is as follows: Furnaces: 15-30 years. Boilers: 15-30 years.
A heat exchanger replacement is often one of the most costly repairs in a furnace, and the expense can sometimes rival that of installing a new furnace. Typical replacement costs vary widely but can easily reach several thousand dollars, especially if labor costs are factored in.
Boilers can last for 25 years, but they'll likely need to be repaired a couple of times within that period. Many old boilers last for longer than 25 years, but servicing becomes increasingly important as the years go by. If your boiler is 25 years old, ask a Gas Safe engineer how efficient it is.
Proper installation is paramount. Poor installation can lead to inefficiencies, uneven heating, and increased strain on the system, shortening its lifespan. Professional installation, whether for electric or gas furnaces, can mitigate these issues.
A furnace will typically last for anywhere between 15 and 20 years. Therefore, a 25-year-old furnace has likely exceeded its useful life. It may be a good idea to consider replacing it even if you think that it's still working properly.
A furnace that isn't working properly will likely affect the air quality in your home. If you notice an increase in breathing problems among your family members, such as asthma or other chest related illnesses, your furnace may be to blame.
Installation Entails More than Just the Furnace
For a gas-powered furnace, a contractor must set up a gas connection and vent. Installing an electric furnace requires running wiring, adding a circuit breaker, or perhaps updating an electrical panel. Holes are often drilled for pipes and wires.
The average gas furnace lifespan is 15 to 20 years. They can last longer, and they can fail earlier, depending on the quality of the unit to begin with, proper installation, and how well they've been maintained.
Because of the nature of their design, gas furnaces can pose some pretty nasty risks to your wellbeing: fires, explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ask twenty professional HVAC contractors the question, “How Much Does A New Furnace Cost?” and you'll probably get the same answer... “It depends.” On average, the cost of a new furnace can range from $2,000 - $14,2001. However, factors like furnace efficiency, type, size, and much more can impact this range.
Check and Change Your Clogged Filter
This is a simple but essential part of furnace maintenance. One of the most common reasons to have a furnace not working is a clogged filter. It also happens to be the easiest maintenance chore.
As stated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating systems like furnaces are a major cause of home fires, contributing to almost 50,000 blazes, 500 civilian deaths and more than $1 billion in significant property damage every year.
If you're worried about not having heat while the installation is in progress, the good news is that most replacements won't take more than a day. On average, home heating companies can complete the installation in about four to eight hours, depending on the size of your house.
Your base homeowners policy will cover many types of damage to your furnace. An extra endorsement known as Equipment Breakdown Coverage (EBC) will give you additional coverage for certain types of mechanical or electrical failure.