How Long Does A Furnace Last With Proper Maintenance?

Furnace maintenance should be seen as a fundamental aspect of your home maintenance and treated as such! As you perform a robust inspection of your house, furnace inspection should top your priority list. This ensures you don’t incur hefty repair costs thereafter. This is because your furnace life expectancy and remaining furnace life span depend directly on how well you maintain it.

Regardless of the differences in the types of Lennox furnaces, Goodman furnaces and HVAC systems available in the market, the cardinal rule is to have your furnace serviced at least once annually. This is usually the case with most heating systems. Having said that, the elephant in the room still stands; just how long should a furnace last with the right maintenance and how long does a furnace last in actual sense?

A furnace, like any other HVAC system, is a busy component. It profitably services your home throughout the year but if not properly maintained, it might end up operating on reduced energy efficiency, thus proving too costly for many a homeowner.

The average industry furnace lifespan sits somewhere in the region of 12 to 15 years. A well maintained furnace, however, can potentially extend its useful furnace life expectancy to 20 or more years. Unbelievably, depending on the type and quality of furnace one installs, some have been known to possess an estimated furnace life expectancy of up to 40 years. This clearly tells you that furnace maintenance is everything!

Thanks to readily available furnace maintenance in Toronto, you can increase the lifespan of your furnace significantly.

What triggers reduced furnace life expectancy?

Understanding what causes your furnace to wear down easily and demand regular maintenance is critical in determining the appropriate maintenance approaches that you need to engage. It also helps you address our key concern; how long should a furnace last?

Dust and dirt accumulation has been established as a key player in compromising your furnace’s functionality.

So, why is regular furnace maintenance critical?

1. Safety

Among the main reasons for maintaining your furnace is the safety of your loved ones. If your furnace’s heat exchanger isn’t functioning efficiently, dangerous gases, including carbon monoxide, are likely to leak into your home, thus putting anyone in your home at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

2. Warranty and insurance

Regularly maintaining your furnace will keep you covered under the manufacturer’s warranty and help you comply with most home insurers’ requirements.

3. Save on repairs and energy consumption

Regular maintenance ensures that your furnace is performing optimally, which means that your energy bills remain within acceptable ranges. You will also avoid emergency and costly repairs because the team tuning up your system will always inspect it and keep you updated on its status in a timely manner.

How do we maintain our furnaces?

This section will also help us demystify the question; how long does a furnace last? To increase your furnace life span, make sure to practice the following:

Annual or semi-annual patch ups

If you find the semi-annual furnace maintenance beyond your budget, you could go for the annual option. Should you opt to go with the annual option, however, make sure you find a reliable HVAC technician near you to do the tune up for you. When certain, go ahead and engage their services. Ensure they do a robust inspection of the furnace’s components including the vent and thermostat, lubricate all moving parts, check the heat exchanger to make sure it is safe to use and lastly, clean and completely tune up the furnace for enhanced functionality. The inspection should involve both the furnace and air conditioner, especially if they are installed close together.

Replace the air filter frequently to maintain adequate airflow.

The air filter collects dust, dirt, and debris from your home’s atmosphere, thus making it susceptible to frequent clogging. A dirty air filter inevitably overworks your furnace, causing it to overheat and shut down frequently. This element, therefore, needs regular replacement to minimize the risk of its components developing greater problems. If the components are damaged, the furnace is bound to break down occasionally.

Minimize moisture concentration.

If your air conditioner happens to be installed on top of the furnace, a slight blockage in the condensate line could cause a drip of condensed moisture directly on the furnace. Subsequently, the presence of moisture is bound to cause rust buildup around the furnace. To reduce water concentration in the air conditioner, clean the air conditioning coil regularly.

Pre-program your furnace to reduce wear and tear.

To minimize usage and reduce unnecessary wear and tear, program your furnace or thermostat to only run on specific intervals. For instance, choosing to switch the furnace off while away from the house might in the end expand the furnace life expectancy.

When to do furnace maintenance

Not sure when your furnace is due for a maintenance check? Want to find answers to “how long does a furnace last before the next maintenance?” Well, you can always consult reliable HVAC consultants such as Exalted Services. If you are certain it’s a minor repair work needed, our furnace repair service in Toronto is widely accessible. All you need to do is pick up your phone and call us!

For simple DIY checkups, make sure to check the safety switches on your furnace as well as carefully inspecting the internal components for any signs of wear.