Here at Baumann & DeGroot we have been experts on all HVAC needs since 1994, in order to better educate our loyal customers we have put together this article to help you know if its time to replace your furnace.
Q: How long should my furnace last until it needs replacing?
A: Like every other appliance in your home furnaces are victims of planned obsolescence. Appliances are not designed to last in todays world. Refrigerators only last 6-7 years now and furnaces are not designed to last much beyond 18 years. The 3 factors driving this have been the governments insistence on higher and higher efficiency, also the number of safety sensors built into these units have doubled in the last 2 decades, and finally manufacturers have been under enormous pressure to cut costs to stay competitive in todays throw away economy.
We look at the age of the furnace, cost of parts, efficiency of unit, and timeframe when determining whether to recommend a repair vs replacing a furnace. The age of the furnace and cost of parts carry the most weight. Putting a $700 heat exchanger into an 18 year furnace doesn’t make sense when there is a strong likelihood of further repairs around the corner that will add up. Also when working on an 80% efficient furnace there are robust savings in energy usage with a new furnace that need to be considered. Older furnace parts aren’t produced or stocked in abundance and can sometimes create a lead time that doesn’t benefit a family who is without heat. We strive to offer our customers a fair assessment and evaluation when recommending a replacement.
Maintenance
Consistent maintenance will stretch the lifespan of a furnace. Regular filter changes are crucial! For every inch in width your filter is, is the equivalent of months you should go between changes. Many 1” filters purchased from hardware stores say up to 3 months. That UP TO generally factors in Spring and Fall seasons with low run times. A 1” filter should be changed monthly.
For more information on all your HVAC needs feel free to check out our blog and Facebook page. Where we post regular content on all aspects of heating and cooling ownership and maintenance.
This is a Viessman Vitorond 100 furnace.
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