How Long Does A Furnace Last? (Plus Signs of Failure)

If your heater was there when you bought your home and you have been there for 15 years, you should probably be shopping around for a new one. In fact, most experts recommend that you start looking for good deals when your furnace turns 15 anyway.

The average lifespan of an older-type furnace may be less than 15 years, but they typically go for at least 15. However, the newer ones can last from 15 to 30 years. This depends on the brand, type, usage, and maintenance. The answer typically also relies on the type of furnace though. There are gas, electric, oil, and propane.

If the furnace you have now has been cranking out heat for the past 20 to 30 years, you must have a good brand, so you may want to stick to it. Otherwise, you will want to shop around and find out the best models for furnaces. Some of the top brands include Carrier, Rheem, Goodman, Trane, and American Standard.

The natural gas furnace is the most popular type of furnace in the United States. They are also the most efficient with a rating of 65% to 98% in most cases. Although they do tend to cost more, gas furnaces are worth it with such a high-efficiency rating, long lifespan, and least monthly cost to run.

A quality gas furnace will last about 25 years with proper maintenance. This means changing the furnace filter often, getting the furnace inspected twice a year, and always getting it checked if there is a strange noise, smell, or lack of heat. You also have to have proper ventilation and make sure there is no moisture in and around the furnace.

An electric furnace is the least expensive to purchase and can last up to 10 years longer than a gas furnace. A good electric furnace will last you about 30 years or more. Installing an electric furnace can be less than half the cost of installing a gas furnace.

But the cost to use the electric furnace is a lot higher. Where a gas furnace may cost you $100 to $150 a month during the winter, an electric furnace can run up to $500 a month or more. Electric furnaces are quieter than gas furnaces though and you do not have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning with electricity.

The oil furnace is cheaper than gas but is not as efficient, only rating at about 80% efficiency. The life of an oil furnace is typically about 15 to 20 years, so they are on the average end of that spectrum. They are not as expensive to run and will keep your home warm all winter, but there are some drawbacks to the oil furnace.

For example, an oil furnace requires you to have an oil tank to be installed under your home, which can be expensive. Not only that, but you will have to inspect it often to make sure it is not leaking because that would be dangerous. You will also need to keep the tank full and that requires a source to bring you oil as needed. And oil is always expensive. Just check your gas prices.

The propane furnace is small, fitting in crawlspaces or attics, and propane is the most eco-friendly fuel available with an 80% efficiency rating. The life span of a propane furnace is about 20 to 30 years so it will last you a good long time. About 10 million households in the United States use propane to heat their homes. Propane is stored in a propane tank outside your house and is usually found in rural areas where there are no oil or gas furnace options.

The cost to refill the tank varies from $400 to $3,000 depending on the size of your tank. But you may only need to use one tank per year, so that is $400 for the whole year. But some people do not like having that large expense once a year. It is a safe, economical, and clean way to provide heating and other appliances in the house. And it is always available, even if the power or gas is out for some reason.

If your furnace is more than 15 years old, you should start shopping for a furnace even if it is still working well. The efficiency of an older furnace is only about 20% of its maximum efficiency. So, a gas furnace that is rated at 98% efficiency is only going to be about 25% efficient after 15 years.

But there are some signs to look for that your furnace may be trying to tell you something. You have to pay attention to those little hints your furnace is sending you. And you can have it serviced but the rule is usually 50/50. If it costs you more than 50% of the cost of a new one to fix, you may as well get a new one. Especially if it is over 15 years old.

If you have a gas furnace, a yellow flame instead of a blue one may be a sign of carbon monoxide leaks. This is very important because carbon monoxide is deadly. Other signs of carbon monoxide issues include rust on the vent pipe, water leaking from the flue, vent, or chimney, rust on pipes or appliance jacks, and streaks of soot around the furnace. If you do not feel an upward draft going into your chimney, this can be another sign of a carbon monoxide leak.

The physical signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include flu-like symptoms, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, chest pain, burning eyes and nose, and frequent headaches. If you have a gas furnace and anyone in your home has these symptoms, leave the house right away and call the gas company.