What Is the Typical Life Span for a Furnace?
Furnaces are by far the most common heating option in the US, and this is true even in places like Texas where the winters are generally quite mild. Most homes in colder climates rely on gas furnaces for heating, but either gas or electric furnaces can be a good option for homes in Richmond. Here is some information regarding how long you can expect your furnace to last.
Average Life Span for Gas and Electric Furnaces
Gas furnaces tend to have lower energy costs than electric units purely for the fact that natural gas tends to be quite a bit cheaper than electricity. However, gas furnaces also generally have a much shorter life span. A gas furnace will usually last for 10 to 15 years, whereas electric furnaces should last somewhere between 20 and 30 years. This is definitely an important consideration as the longer life span of an electric furnace can help to offset the higher energy costs, especially in warm climates where you typically don’t need a lot of heat.
Factors That Can Affect Your Furnace’s Life Span
The single biggest factor that will influence how long you can expect your furnace to last is how diligent you are about having it inspected and maintained. An annual furnace tune-up is by far the best way to protect your furnace’s life span and will also help to keep your heating bills in check by ensuring that the unit is functioning at its peak efficiency. It is also important to monitor your furnace for any signs of a potential problem and contact one of our HVAC professionals immediately if you do notice any issues with your heating. If not, a small problem may turn into something much more serious that could drastically shorten your furnace’s life span.
Another important factor to consider is how often the furnace runs. The more hours the furnace runs every year, the more wear and tear it will receive and the shorter its life span will be. The fact that people in Texas have moderate winters means that their furnaces will typically have a longer life span than those in cold northern climates. This same factor is also the reason that air conditioners in Texas generally have a much shorter life span than those in colder locations since they are used more during the year.
At Air Express Air Conditioning & Heating, our certified HVAC technicians are ready to assist with any of your furnace maintenance, repair or installation needs. We also specialize in air conditioning and indoor air quality services, and we work on both residential and commercial HVAC systems. To schedule a furnace tune-up or if you need any other HVAC service in Richmond, Katy or the surrounding areas, give Air Express Air Conditioning & Heating a call today.
