What’s Your Furnace’s Life Expectancy?

Your furnace is an important and a pricey utility in your Woodbridge, Virginia, home. It’s natural to want to know how long you can expect it to last. While most furnaces last an average of about 15 years, there are many factors that can shorten or lengthen your furnace’s life expectancy.

The Heat Exchanger

In most cases, the heat exchanger determines how long your furnace will last. The heat exchanger is responsible for heating the air that circulates through your home in the winter.

Heat exchangers usually last about 15 years. If you invest in maintenance, yours might even last 20.

Level of Use

Another determining factor is the level of use of your furnace. If you run your furnace on high all fall, winter and spring, it’ll break down sooner than if you use it minimally.

Try to find other ways to keep your home warm to cut down on the use of your furnace. Consider using a space heater in high traffic rooms, and keep your thermostat at a lower temperature. Make sure your home is properly insulated to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

Other Variable Factors

Scheduling regular maintenance on your furnace will help prolong its lifespan. Make sure to check and change the filters during peak times, too. Dirty filters force your furnace to work harder.

Have your ducts cleaned and sealed periodically, so air isn’t leaking from your ductwork. All these small steps will help make your furnace operate more efficiently and last longer.

If you want to schedule maintenance for your furnace, or if you think it’s time to replace it, we’re the HVAC professionals to call. Contact Brennan’s Heating and Air Conditioning at 703-783-0145 to schedule an appointment and ensure your heating system is in good working order.

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