How Long will Your HVAC System Serve Your Needs?

A common question among Jansen heating and Cooling customers is how long their central furnace or air conditioner will keep running.

An even tougher question: When will it start losing efficiency or start slacking in performance?

Finally, and most importantly, what can you do to help it last longer?

To be honest, there’s no definitive answer to the first two questions (a combustion furnace may last 15-20 years while an AC or heat pump will last closer to 10-15), though those are just ballpark numbers, dependent on a variety of factors.

The good news is that homeowners can take steps to make their HVAC equipment last longer and operate more effectively and efficiently. The following factors have a direct effect on system longevity, efficiency and performance.

Factors that will extend heating and cooling system longevity

Maintenance

A central heating or cooling system that’s been neglected maintenance-wise, not surprisingly, won’t last as long as one that receives regular homeowner attention and bi-annual professional maintenance from a Cincinnati furnace and AC repair company.

You can perform some easy maintenance steps yourself, such as checking and changing the air filter in a forced-air system regularly. (Check it monthly and change it when it looks clogged or dirty.)

HVAC companies provide professional maintenance on their clients’ HVAC systems once a year for heating and once a year for cooling. Hire a company that you can trust to perform a comprehensive maintenance tune-up.

Everything else being the same, a well-maintained AC, heat pump or furnace can be expected to last till the upper end of the projected life span for the equipment.

Use

The more use your cooling or heating system gets, the more wear and tear occurs on the equipment components, and the shorter the life span.

An example is your car. Take two cars of the exact same make, model and year. One has 200,000 miles on its odometer; the other has 100,000. Guess which one’s going to give up the ghost first?

Likewise, a combustion furnace operating in a climate with long, cold winters won’t last as long as one that’s operating for a few months every year in the mild winters of Georgia or Alabama.

Your choice

Someday, even if your trusty, old air conditioner is still cranking away after 15 years of service, you’ll be better off upgrading to a new, high-efficiency system. With a new AC system installed by a reputable HVAC system expert, your bills will be markedly lower and cool air will find its way much more effectively to every room in your home.

With a combustion furnace, it’s a matter of safety as well, since an older model will have a much higher likelihood of malfunctioning, with potentially hazardous consequences.

When gauging whether to fix an older HVAC system or replace it, you’ll want to get some expert advice from a company you trust to provide good advice. Jansen Heating and Cooling has an excellent reputation among Cincinnati HVAC contractors.