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Buying a furnace is always a big ask, but for your home and family, getting the details right matters. You want to maximize your return on your furnace investment. The unit has to last.
How often do furnaces need to be replaced? BVS answers that question below so that you can make informed purchasing decisions based on when to replace your home furnace. Feel free to contact the team to discuss furnace installation in Houston when the time comes.
How Long Does a Furnace Last?
A few factors influencing furnace longevity include the type of furnace, usage conditions, and maintenance. However, the average lifespan of residential furnaces is 15 years.
There are three primary types of furnaces:
- Gas furnaces have the shortest lifespan, at 15 to 20 years.
- Electric furnaces last 20 and 25 years on average.
- Boilers last 15 to 25 years, depending on the type and radiator equipment.
Electric furnaces tend to last the longest since they have fewer moving parts. The downside is that they are also usually the most expensive kind to run.
Gas furnaces have a high upfront cost and shorter lifespan. However, these units are much more efficient to run from month to month.
A boiler’s lifespan can vary—modern boilers will hit 20 years relatively easily, whereas older cast-iron boilers have been known to last over 50 years! Stainless steel boilers also have a long lifespan and are easy to maintain.
Signs You Need a Furnace Replacement
Based on the information above, can you estimate your furnace’s expected lifespan? Understanding furnace replacement intervals helps you stop your furnace from running past its prime, at which point it gets progressively more expensive to maintain.
So, how do you know when you need a new furnace? Below are some common signs it’s time for a furnace upgrade:
- Increased energy bills. Older furnaces work harder to achieve the same heating performance. You’ll pay more in energy costs to run them and repair them more often.
- Uneven heating. Do you notice cold pockets around the house? If your heater isn’t distributing air evenly, it’s on its last legs.
- Air quality suffers. Aging furnaces are less effective at filtering particles. The home’s occupants might notice worse allergies or respiratory difficulties.
- More dust. Is there excessive dust settling on surfaces around your home and on vents? Consider a furnace replacement.
- Loud sounds. Grinding, popping, and scraping noises indicate a larger problem with your HVAC system. Don’t wait; schedule a professional repair visit.
- Yellow pilot light flame. A furnace’s pilot light should burn a bright bluish color. Orange or yellow could signal a damaged gas burner. Yellow flames also point to carbon monoxide, which needs swift attention.
- Frequent repairs. If your furnace is over 15 years old and breaks down multiple times per year, it’s more cost-effective to get a new one.
How often do furnaces need to be replaced if there aren’t obvious signs of disrepair? Generally, if the cost to repair your furnace has ramped up to at least 50% of the cost of a full replacement, buying and installing a new unit will save you money.
Extending Your Furnace’s Lifespan
Fortunately, there are several ways you can minimize furnace replacement frequency. Try the following:
Change Filters Every Six Months
Furnace filters remove soot and dust from the air, but they clog. The result, restricted airflow, puts a major strain on your system and increases the chances of damage.
Experts like BVS recommend replacing your furnace filter at least once every six months—once every three months if you frequently use your furnace.
Get Regular Furnace Maintenance
It’s best to schedule regular furnace maintenance once a year. The typical furnace maintenance checklist will involve the following:
- Inspecting heat exchange
- Cleaning gas burners
- Changing air filters
- Checking electrical components
- Testing the thermostat
- Cleaning vents and vent covers
When is the best time of year to schedule maintenance? Early fall tunes up your furnace before winter to ensure it’s in optimal condition when you need it the most. A spring maintenance visit is also good to check that everything is okay once the unit has powered down after a busy season.
Clean and Seal Ductwork
Heat loss from leaks in ductwork wastes a lot of energy. You’ll see this in your monthly energy bills.
Leaky ducts also mean your heater has to run harder to compensate for this loss, which wears out its components faster. Cleaning and sealing your ductwork improves heating performance and saves on repair costs. It also improves your home’s indoor air quality.
Keep Consistent Temperatures
Can you save energy by turning the furnace on when you are home and off when you leave? On the contrary, this frequent cycling uses more energy than if you just left the furnace on.
If you don’t want to spike your energy bills, the optimal temperature to keep your furnace is about 70 degrees during the winter.
Replace Insulation
The EPA reports that good insulation can save a typical homeowner about 15% on heating and cooling costs.
Heat leakage is most likely to occur in attics and crawl spaces, so updating your insulation in those areas can help with the following:
- Curb heat loss to save energy
- Reduce system strain to avoid repairs
- Make your house more comfortable
- Keep the heating consistent to save on costs
One More Tip: Buy a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats let you create programmed routines to save energy. For instance, you can program your furnace to turn on at specific times to match your schedule.
With smart thermostats, you can control settings from your smartphone. You can also monitor energy usage to identify areas for improvement, so it’s a great investment.
Get Cooling and Heating Services in Houston and Surrounding Areas
How often do furnaces need to be replaced? Now you know. Why not read our blog to learn more about the most common causes of furnace damage or ask us about indoor air quality solutions?
Contact BVS Home Experts online or call (281) 809-6417 today!
