It would be wonderful if your home’s heating system was forever. But furnaces, heat pumps, and radiant heating systems aren’t like diamonds—they wear out with time until they can no longer handle their jobs without costing too much in upkeep. You can delay having to replace your heater with regular maintenance. Professional maintenance done each fall will help the heater reach its maximum potential service life. But make no mistake, there is a maximum. 

What is the maximum for your heater? Well, as with many things in HVAC, it depends. Service life expectancy is different depending on the heater type, its use, and its maintenance. We can give you some generalizations, but the best way to know for sure when you have a heating system ready to retire is to consult with our professionals.

Gas furnaces are the most common type of heater in the area, but electric furnaces, in-floor heating, and heat pumps are also found in many homes, and heat pumps are becoming more popular each year. Here’s a rundown on system life for these models:

You can look up the manufacturer’s website to find more information about how long they expect the heater to last. Your warranty can also give you an idea. Once a system is out of warranty, the question of repairs becomes more urgent and you’ll start to think more about replacement. 

These estimates assume that the heating systems in question have professional HVAC maintenance each fall (or in the case of a heat pump, spring and fall). Maintenance is essential for extending the life of a heating system. Without it, the heater will fail years earlier and may only make it to half the manufacturer’s estimate. If you have had heating maintenance regularly (or even at all), drop the life expectancy down by a few years.

This is another friendly reminder to schedule routine maintenance! Our Advantage Life program is the simplest way to have HVAC maintenance done each year.

We don’t recommend trying to “squeeze” a few more years from a heater that’s already at replacement age. If the system is still working fine and you aren’t having to schedule repairs for it every year, you should still start considering a replacement. But if the heater needs to have repairs regularly and you’re paying more to run it, it’s a risk to try to push it forward. You won’t save money, and you could even cause the heater to become dangerous. A timely replacement will save you money in the long-term and give you better comfort right away.

We offer top heating installation in Indianapolis, IN. We install the best Bryant products, such as the Bryant Evolution variable speed-heat pump. Ask about these and other options when it’s time to upgrade your home’s heating system to the next level of comfort and savings.

Rely on Vital Heating & Air because “Your Comfort Is Vital!