A furnace is one of the most essential pieces of equipment in your home, and it is essential to keep a track of how your air or gas furnace is running. The average life of a furnace can vary widely, ranging from twelve years to twenty years.
Several factors affect the age of a furnace, like:
- Equipment Quality: If the build quality and materials used are not high-grade, the furnace might start deteriorating within eight to twelve years.
- Maintenance: Similar to all mechanical equipment, if the furnace is well-maintained, it can last longer than if not taken care of properly. You can always hire Instant-Air professionals to maintain your HVAC systems.
- Humidity: If there is high humidity in your home, the critical components of the furnace will rust out, which would significantly reduce its workability.
- Load: If you live in colder areas, your furnace has to work more, which leads to wear and tear in the equipment, thereby increasing the chance of early machine failure.
- Heat Exchanger: The heat exchanger in the furnace is subject to frequent heating and cooling, which results in degradation of the machine, thereby reducing its heat transfer capabilities and energy efficiency.
In general, you should replace your furnace every 12-15 years, however, if your furnace is 8-10 years old, you should start checking it regularly for any faults or defects. Although the age of the furnace is the ultimate indicator of replacing it, a few other signs can help you make a quick and accurate decision as well. These factors that indicate the degradation of a furnace include
Increasing Energy Bills:
Rising energy consumption contribute to increasing energy bills; however, it might not be the elevating demand that leads to the bills going up. As furnaces age, they lose their efficiency, and if they are not maintained properly, they can contribute to the increasing energy bills. Contact Instant-Air professionals for maintenance services to reduce your energy bills.
Furnace Repairs:
Furnaces, like any other machinery, require timely servicing and repairs. But during the last two years of its life, it needs frequent maintenance, which is an indicator that your furnace can stop working anytime soon. Moreover, as the furnace ages, its replacement parts are hard to find, making the repair process more tedious.
Thermostat Performance:
Is your thermostat not functioning the way it once used to? Are some rooms in your home too hot while others are too cold? These signs indicate that your furnace is not able to appropriately circulate air throughout your home.
Burner Flame in Natural Gas Furnace:
All furnaces emit carbon monoxide. However, owners of chimney-vented oil-fired furnaces might not face the concerns posed by furnaces based on natural gas and propane. Not getting too much into the functioning, if you witness a yellow or flickering flame instead of blue, the chances are your furnace is emitting too much carbon monoxide emissions, which can be a sign of degrading or defected furnace.
Health Issues:
Is your family has been falling ill? Frequent headaches, nausea, or flu-like symptoms, maybe your furnace is creating troubles.
Here are a few steps to take to extend your battery life:
- Regularly Change Your Filters: Change your furnace filter every month to ensure your furnace lives long. A dirty filter can limit the airflow, which causes air heating and damages the components of the furnace. New filters can help your furnace last longer.
- Schedule Annual Tune-ups: Getting your furnace regularly checked up helps increasing its efficiency, which allows you to save time and money.
- Controlling Humidity Levels: If your furnace encounters excess moisture, it can get badly rusted, which can eventually damage the furnace.
This was a small guide to help you learn about the life expectancy of a furnace, and how can you detect the shortcomings.
No other single system in your home plays a larger role in your comfort or in the amount of your utility bill than your HVAC system. We specialize in state-of-the-art solutions, including furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and ductless or ducted mini-split systems. Contact us today!