How Often Should You Replace Your Home Heating System?

How often should you replace your heating system? Numerous resources in print and online provide varying answers to this question. All these places then have different facts and guides that can help extend the lifespan of your furnace. One major tip, which is common in these resources, is by having proper and regular maintenance.

There have been instances wherein the furnace needed heating system replacement a few years short of its life expectancy because of certain issues with its main components such as the burner misfiring and burned controls. Different problems can start to manifest at any time once one or two components are damaged or stops working and no immediate solution is applied.

On average, furnaces can last between 15-20 years. However, there are still a lot of heating systems that do not reach this life expectancy. The longevity of these units depends on the production quality, frequency and extent of their usage, and the exposure to a proper maintenance program.

Always consider the fact that a furnace is a complex system, it doesn't run on components alone. Whether it runs on electricity or gas, it runs on the teamwork of a collection of significant parts. When one of these components malfunctions or breaks because either it’s worn out or has reached its limit, the entire system suffers. For a fact, a heat exchanger lasts up to 15-20 years. So if your unit survives and still works beyond that, you'll have to shoulder an expensive repair service and replace the heat exchanger (which is costly too) to keep it functional.

You can look for options to reduce the system's workload. Seemingly normal habits may actually damage it. A simple action like adjusting the thermostat frequently or forgetting to properly close the doors pushes it to work harder and stay on longer. Air leaks around doors and windows, insufficient insulation in several parts of your home, and undetected blockage in vents and ducts must be addressed right away.

If you suspect such issues happening in your home, be proactive and do something about it. Or better yet, ask help from a professional. By getting expert assistance, you're not only addressing obvious problems with your furnace, but you're also covering underlying and hidden concerns that can lead to bigger problems in the future.