How Long Do HVAC Units Last?

How Long Do HVAC Units Last?

Chances are you rely on your HVAC all year round. Whether it’s cooling down your home in the summer or providing much-needed warmth in the winter, reliable heating and cooling is essential to your family. If you have a system that’s seen years of usage, though, you might be wondering just how much life is left in it. Just how long do HVAC units last? The answer depends on several aspects.

Factors That Affect HVAC Lifespan

The answer to the question of HVAC longevity differs depending on several factors. Chief among these factors is maintenance because poor HVAC maintenance is the main cause of accelerated wear and tear. Depending on how diligent your repairs are, good maintenance can add up to seven years of life to your system! Make sure you’re changing air filters regularly, getting seasonal tune-ups as necessary, removing debris that may damage the system, and monitoring/replacing refrigerant when required.Oversizing or undersizing your HVAC system is also detrimental. As mentioned in our “Air Conditioning Myths” post, improperly sized units go through more on/off cycling, which can lead to compressor or blower faults over time. You should also be aware of the following things that negatively affect performance:

• Defective parts
• Improper installation procedures
• Inordinately long periods of use
• Corrosive or salty climates, especially coastal areas

How Long Can You Rely on These Parts?

Even with good maintenance practices, HVAC machinery can only last so long. Here’s a general rundown of how many years of service you can get out of different parts.

• Furnaces: 20 to 30+ years for gas furnaces. Usually replaced when heat exchanger begins to leak. For oil furnaces, 10 to 15 years, due to maintenance issues that arise from usage of less efficient fuel.
• Boilers: 20 to 35 years, also usually replaced as heat exchanger begins to fail.
• Air Conditioners: 10 to 20 years, although salty coastal environments can reduce lifespan by up to eight years. Needs replacement after compressor or condenser failure.
• Heat Pumps: 10 to 20 years. Lifespan is also lessened in coastal climates.
• Mini Splits: 10 to 30 years, shorter in coastal climates.

The question of “How long do HVAC units last” truly boils down to maintenance. As long as you’re taking good care of them, the components of your HVAC system can end up outlasting a lot of other household appliances. If you think a household air conditioner or furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan, get in touch with Stan’s AC today! We’re happy to schedule an appointment for either HVAC repair in Austin, or to consult with you about installing a new system.