The average furnace lasts between 15 and 20 years. However, there are multiple things you can do to help extend the lifespan of your furnace. The longer you can keep your furnace running efficiently, the longer you can put off purchasing an entirely new system.
Get Annual Maintenance
One of the best ways to not only ensure that your system lasts its intended lifespan but also help push it past that is to get regular furnace maintenance. Call a furnace professional once a year so that they can perform a proper tune-up on your system. This includes many tasks, including inspecting your system, cleaning its components, and replacing your air filter. Annual maintenance can help to keep the internal components of your system working efficiently and alert you of any small problems before they turn into major disasters.
Never Put Off Furnace Repairs
Whether you’re just really busy or you’re trying to save up money, it can be tempting to try and put off necessary furnace repairs. However, this can drastically reduce the life of your system. One small problem that you may have can turn into a much larger problem in a short amount of time. It’s best to get any system malfunction repaired as soon as you notice the problem to help prevent it from getting worse. If you have a gas furnace, skipping repairs may also lead to air quality issues and subsequent health problems.
Replace Dirty Filters Often
Most HVAC professionals recommend replacing your furnace filter once every three months. This reduces the strain on your system as it improves airflow through your ducts. As a homeowner, it’s essential to take your own specific factors into consideration when it comes to the proper time to replace your air filters.
If you have multiple pets or a lot of people going in and out of your home on a regular basis, your air filters may need to be replaced more often. It’s a good rule of thumb to check your filter every month or two to see if it needs to be replaced. When you stay on top of filter changes, it helps to ensure that your furnace isn’t overworking to heat your home
Be Mindful of Your Ductwork
For your furnace to deliver warm air throughout your home, it relies on a series of ducts. Over time, the constant expansion and contraction of your ducts can cause leaks and gaps. In fact, it’s been estimated that the average homeowner loses about 30% of their warm air through these gaps and leaks. It’s a good idea to consider having your ductwork inspected and sealed up by a professional at least once every 10 years. This will help to keep warm air inside of your home and will increase your furnace’s efficiency.
Apart from making sure that your ductwork is properly sealed, you also want to ensure that it gets cleaned regularly. Any dust and debris within the air can end up flowing through your vents. Additionally, when you have leaks and gaps, they can cause air to pull that dust from inside of your wall cavities into your ductwork. It’s recommended to have your ductwork cleaned by a professional every five years. The cleaner your ductwork is, the cleaner your furnace will be and the longer it will last.
Properly Insulate Your Home
It’s not uncommon to get caught up in all the ways to keep your furnace running great that you forget about all the other elements that go into influencing how your furnace runs. For example, the insulation present in your home is going to have a big impact on how often your furnace has to run to generate heat for your home. When you have the proper amount of insulation in your attic and walls, it can keep the cold air out. This allows your furnace to run less than if you didn’t have adequate insulation in your home.
Get an Energy Audit
Along the same lines of ensuring that you have adequate insulation, you could also get a professional energy audit performed on your home. This will alert you of where cold air is making its way into your home so that you can address those issues. When you can seal up a lot of the air leaks around the home, you help to keep the cold air out. The longer the cold air stays out, the less your furnace has to run to keep your family comfortable while you’re at home.
Exceptional Furnace Services
Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. offers exceptional furnace services to the East Peoria, IL, area. We also offer cooling, geothermal, ductwork, commercial, fireplace, ductless mini-split, and indoor air quality services. Call our office today to schedule your next service appointment.
