Do you need help repairing or replacing your furnace? Pro Comfort Control can help when you call 508-684-5331.
Are you trying to budget for future expenses and wondering when you’ll need a new furnace? You’ll benefit from knowing the average life of a furnace and how to avoid paying for early replacement. As the trusted provider for reliable furnace repair in Sudbury and the surrounding areas, Pro Comfort Control has all the advice you need.
Factors That Affect Your Sudbury Furnace’s Life Expectancy
Your furnace should last between 15 and 30 years, but several factors can shorten or lengthen how long it lasts. Some furnaces require replacement in as little as 10 years, whereas others can last longer than 30 under the right conditions.
Furnace Type
The type of furnace you have plays a major role in how long it lasts. You likely have one of the three following most common types of furnaces:
- Gas: Gas furnaces heat your air using a gas-powered flame. You can expect them to last between 15 and 30 years.
- Electric: Electric furnaces have the best chance of lasting 30 years, and with proper care, they should last a minimum of 20 years.
- Oil: One reason oil furnaces are the least common models is that they only last between 15 and 25 years.
Installation Quality
The quality of your furnace’s installation is another major factor determining how long it lasts, which is another reason you shouldn’t try to cut costs with subpar service. A properly installed furnace runs more efficiently, causing less wear and tear and requiring fewer repairs.
Maintenance Consistency
Regular maintenance is the most important thing you can do to extend the average life of a furnace. You should schedule maintenance at least once a year, preferably in the fall so you have the peace of mind knowing it can last through the winter when you use it most. However, many homeowners also schedule a second maintenance appointment in the spring to determine whether heavy winter usage negatively impacted the furnace.
Efficiency Rating
Furnaces with a lower efficiency rating have to work harder to produce your desired results, which means they wear out faster and require more frequent repairs. The furnace’s annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) measures how much fuel the heating process wastes. For example, an AFUE of 75% means that, for every 100 British Thermal Units of energy the furnace uses, it outputs 75 BTUs of heat.
AFUE measures typically range between 70% for old oil models and 100% for certain newer electrical models.
Usage Frequency
How frequently you use your furnace also significantly affects how long it lasts. For example, if you’re setting your thermostat at 80 degrees, your furnace will probably run all winter. Likewise, if you’re turning it on when it’s 60 degrees outside, that means it’s running more often than most furnaces.
This causes a lot of wear and tear on the furnace.
Helping Your Furnace Last Longer in Sudbury
You can use the following best practices to get the most out of your furnace.
Annual Maintenance
Don’t underestimate the importance of regular maintenance in keeping your furnace fully functional. Many homeowners attempt to save money by ignoring routine maintenance because they think their furnace is running fine. While often true, you should still invest in maintenance for a well-working furnace because that means it won’t show any drop in performance.
One easy maintenance practice you can do yourself is to change your filter as a dirty filter wears out your furnace much faster. Change your filter at least every 30 days or more often if you have pets or you smoke.
Appropriate Size
Don’t install a furnace that’s too big or small for your home. A too-small furnace wears out faster, and a too-large one skyrockets your energy bills.
Moderate Usage
The US Department of Energy suggests keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter to achieve the most efficient results. You should also only run your thermostat as necessary for minimal comfort and safety if you want it to last a long time.
Let Pro Comfort Control Help Maintain Your Sudbury Furnace
Now that you’re aware of the average life of a furnace, you can help it last as long as possible and save money by avoiding early replacement. With meticulous annual inspections and quality repairs, our expert technicians can help your furnace last its full life expectancy.
Whether you’re wondering about the causes of furnace shutdown or need help with your gas furnace, Pro Comfort Control provides all your HVAC needs when you call 508-684-5331.
