How Long Will a New Furnace Last?
A new furnace is a big investment. Asking how long it will last is a great question to answer before you put down the money for a new furnace. An Atlanta heating company can help you with the install of your new furnace, but first, let’s take a look at how different factors will affect its lifespan when you compare it to an older furnace.
An Old Furnace
Longevity Vs. Efficiency
Furnaces installed decades ago actually lasted longer than new ones today, with some lasting 20-40 years. That is because the heat exchanger on older furnaces was made out of heavy steel. That made for a very durable furnace, but it really cut down on efficiency. Newer furnaces still have a heat exchanger, but the exchanger is thin and made out of aluminum. The tradeoff in longevity is that this exchanger makes the new furnace more efficient.
Dangers Come with an Old Furnace
Efficiency is a great reason to install a new furnace, because you’ll save a lot of money. Even so, the safety of your household is an even bigger reason to upgrade. A cracked heat exchanger can lead to poisonous carbon monoxide gases leaking into your home. An older heater also produces more carbon monoxide, making correct venting of the gas especially important.
New Furnace
More Efficient
Depending on the age difference between your old furnace and the new one, you could save thousands in energy costs, allowing the new unit to pay for itself in just a couple of years. The difference in efficiency is measurable with AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) ratings. Older furnaces operate at about 65 percent AFUE. New high efficiency furnaces run above 90 percent AFUE. This higher efficiency means that instead of wasting the 25 percent of energy in lost efficiency, your new furnace will convert it directly into heat. As an added bonus, you won’t need a furnace that is as big as your old one, because newer furnace models are more efficient.
Treat it Well
A new furnace will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. You can increase a new furnace’s lifespan by 25 to 40% with proper maintenance. Just like a new car, a new furnace will perform a lot better if you treat it well.
Even though a new furnace won’t last as long as an older version, your wallet will be happier as the savings start to add up. In order to keep saving with the efficiency of the new furnace, you need to get regular preventative maintenance done every year. A maintenance check will cover inspection of burners and heat exchangers to make sure that everything is working correctly. A check will also look at the blower to see if it needs cleaning. A maintenance check helps your furnace to work well all winter long.
Call Anytime HVAC
Use Anytime Heating and Cooling Inc. for your next HVAC job. We will come out and give you a free estimate on a new furnace. If all you need is repair, we are equipped to do that as well. We can walk you through the pros and cons of repairing your current furnace versus getting a whole new system. Either way, Anytime Heating and Cooling Inc. will make sure you stay comfortable throughout the year. All you need to do is give us a call.