Life Expectancy of a Forced Air Furnace

Life Expectancy

• A forced air furnace, regardless of the fuel it uses to heat the air, lasts approximately 15 years. After 15 years of service, the furnace loses its efficiency as the seals on the metal housing begin to separate and the blower motor starts to give out. Have a professional contractor evaluate your forced air furnace each year to make sure it is not allowing warm air to escape before it reaches the duct work. If warm air is escaping, and the furnace is 15 years or older, then consider replacing it.

Sizing

• A critical element of installing a forced air furnace -- one that can extend the life of the unit -- is getting the right unit for the size of your home. A common mistake contractors make when sizing up a new forced air furnace is replacing the existing furnace with one that is the same size, through the assumption that the original furnace was sized properly. This can result in the wrong size furnace being installed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the proper elements for sizing a home for a forced air furnace include the number of occupants, the number and location of home windows, attic and wall insulation, size of the home and the local weather patterns. Your local energy utility company and any reputable HVAC contractor can give you the proper sizing of your home by using a calculation system designed to produce the proper number.

Options

• One of the advantages of a forced air furnace is that the air can be modified before being pushed out through the duct work to improve your family's health and comfort. Filtration systems using furnace filters and ultra-violet lighting can be added to improve the quality of the air. Humidifier and dehumidifier systems can also be added to maintain the level of moisture in the air. This not only makes your home feel more comfortable, it helps preserve your drywall and woodwork.

Working Parts

• A factor that goes into the life expectancy of your forced air furnace is the maintenance and replacement of the working parts. You should have your furnace inspected by a certified professional each year to make sure the blower, blower motor, burners, heat exchanger, flame sensor and pilot are all working properly.