How Long Does a Furnace Last? HVAC Experts Reveal When It's Time to Upgrade

As the weather gets chillier, your furnace becomes the unsung hero of the home. And while many homeowners understand the value of regular maintenance, it's equally important to know how long your furnace will actually last. After all, furnaces aren’t cheap, and it’s best to be prepared. To help you know what to expect, we spoke with three HVAC experts. They reveal their furnace maintenance tips and early signs that it may be time to consider a replacement.

How Long Does a Furnace Last?

The lifespan of your furnace depends on several factors, including the way the unit was installed, your usage, system maintenance, and the type of furnace you have.

"With average, not very consistent maintenance that most homeowners actually do, a typical furnace lasts about 15 to 18 years," says Kevin Goude, HVAC expert and owner of First Choice. "With yearly maintenance that includes things like cleaning the burners, checking the heat exchanger, and adjusting the blower, a furnace can last much longer—up to 25 years." Without any maintenance, furnaces rarely last longer than 12 years.

The type of furnace you have also contributes to its lifespan. "Gas and oil furnaces are way more sensitive to the lack of maintenance because they burn fuel and produce soot, which is why they can fail even after 10 years, while electric furnaces can often run 15 years even with poor service," Goude explains. 

How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace 

With a few simple tips, you can get extra years out of your furnace. Here are the steps our experts say you should never skip when servicing your furnace.

Schedule Regular Professional Maintenance

All of our experts stress the importance of annual professional maintenance. "Regular maintenance can reduce wear by keeping airflow strong and parts clean," says Steve Robbins, HVAC expert and owner of Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. He adds that neglecting small problems with your furnace can lead to serious damage in the long run, causing your system to run longer and hotter, which may lead to early breakdowns.

Depending on the type of furnace you have, there will be different maintenance tasks that pros need to do. Goude says for people with a gas furnace, the burners need to be cleaned during yearly maintenance. If you have an oil furnace, hire someone to clean the nozzle, replace the filter, and clean and tune the combustion chamber before the start of the heating season.

Change Filters Frequently

Changing your furnace's air filters is an easy fix for most homeowners and can extend the lifespan of your system. "Filter replacement is the basic thing that homeowners can do to make their furnace last longer," says Tamer Sayed, furnace expert and owner of Tamas Mechanical. "Thicker filters, such as those 5 to 6 inches thick, can be replaced once every nine to 12 months. Thinner ones must be replaced every few months." However, if you have hairy pets, allergies, or high humidity in your home, your filters will get dirtier quickly and will need to be replaced more often. 

Prevent Short Cycling

Short cycling is when the system or equipment turns on and off too frequently, says Sayed. This is problematic because it's inefficient and can damage the unit over time. To reduce short cycling, proper maintenance is key. Other ways to help with this issue include checking that all your vents are open and that nothing is obstructing them, as well as ensuring your thermostat works correctly. 

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Signs It's Time to Replace Your Furnace

Not sure if your furnace is on the brink? Here are three signs to be on the lookout for.

Frequent Breakdowns

Is your 15-year-old furnace breaking down a ton? Then it's probably time to replace it. "If your furnace runs loudly, cycles too often, or struggles to keep up, it may be nearing the end," Robbins says.

Keep in mind that a new furnace can also malfunction. If this happens, a partial or full replacement is worth considering, Sayed says.

Expensive or Overly Complicated Repairs 

Almost every furnace problem is fixable, but it's important to consider if the cost is worth it. Think of it like an old car: if you have 200,000 miles on it and the suspension goes, it isn’t in your best interest to repair the $2,000 problem when the car is worth the same amount. 

"You might need to replace a furnace not because it's unrepairable, but because the repair is too expensive compared to the remaining life of the unit," Goude explains. "If you have a repair bill and it's around $1,500 or more, while your system is 15 plus, it's best to replace it with a new one." 

Safety Concerns

When a furnace is nearing the end of its life, it can become a safety hazard in your home. "If there are safety concerns, such as too much soot and massive holes or damage, replacement is also the way to go," Sayed says.

Higher Energy Bills

An old furnace doesn't run as efficiently as a newly installed one. When the system struggles to heat your home evenly, it may run longer or more frequently, contributing to a higher energy bill.