What Is The Life Expectancy Of Various Kinds of Home Heating Systems?

If you’re heating a Boston home, you may wonder what the life expectancy of your heating and cooling equipment is. Different systems have different life expectancies. Preventative and regular maintenance have a lot to do with what you can expect out of your equipment.

High efficiency gas furnaces don’t have a very long life expectancy. Normally, depending upon the brand and quality of your equipment, you can expect to replace your furnace within 5-15 years. The big components to watch/maintain are the heat exchanger and the inlet/exhaust pipes. Annual inspections and monthly filter changes are recommended. You may also need to replace belts if you have a belt-driven motor in your setup.

Oil furnaces have a 12-25 year life expectancy. With oil furnaces, it’s very important to have the integrity of any underground storage tanks checked/inspected annually for leaks or damage. It’s also important to remedy any damage to the tank immediately to prevent long-term environmental damage.

Boilers have a similar life expectancy. A gas boiler, with a life expectancy of 10-15 years, will probably outlast an electrical boiler, which only has a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Corrosion and excessive pressure are the two main boiler killers. Regular inspection and maintenance with anti-corrosives can help extend the life of your boiler.

Heat pumps can last 5-20 years, depending upon their design and the maintenance they receive. Heat pumps are more common in colder climates. The major failure mechanism is the compressor. Proper annual maintenance can help extend the life of the heat pump and compressor.

Whole-house air conditioners can last 8-20 years with proper maintenance. Proper maintenance includes regular cleaning and inspection, drain and refrigerant maintenance. Room air conditioners can last 5-15 seasons, depending upon their handling and storage, operational cycles, mounting, and whether or not they’re properly sized for the room they’re cooling.

Boston Standard Plumbing can assist you with all of your heating and cooling needs. Whether you need annual inspections, maintenance, repair or replacement, Boston Standard Plumbing can help. Contact us at (617) 288-2911 today.

Photo Credit: Dwight Sipler, via Flickr

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