When you think of a furnace’s lifespan, how long do you think it lasts? Five years? 15 years? Forever?
Well, furnaces don’t last forever. And they definitely shouldn’t only last for five years. A furnace’s lifespan should be somewhere in the ballpark of 10-15 years before it becomes in need of replacement. Even with those estimates, it’s still going to take a lot of work to get your heater to last that long. From furnace repair in Mississauga, ON, to maintenance, there will be times that try the longevity of your heating system, and it’s up to you to make the right decision.
We’re going to list five things you can do to improve the lifespan of your heating system. Without these five items, you’ll never reach the 10-15 years that your furnace is supposed to reach.
Help Your Furnace Last Longer
Let’s focus on avoiding those problems that cause you to need an early replacement. Follow these 5 steps to get a longer lifespan out of your heating system.
1. Schedule Maintenance
Maintenance is an obvious point we wanted to mention. Heaters that are maintained annually keep their efficiency levels high and have a much longer lifespan than systems that aren’t. Professional technicians can target repairs before they actually become repairs, they can make adjustments to the system, and they can warn you when something doesn’t look right.
If you avoid scheduling maintenance, it’s going to be a long and hard road to the end of your system’s lifespan. It will lose on average 5% of its efficiency every year that maintenance is skipped, and you’ll see more expensive repair bills that make you dread calling us for help.
2. Call Early for Repairs
When you encounter a strange sound coming from your furnace, a foul odor, or some other problem—don’t wait. In the time between the problem occurring and when you finally decide to call for help, additional problems could be caused, efficiency can be lost, and the system can suffer from serious wear and tear.
3. Change Your Air Filter Regularly
Your air filter is the key to keeping your heater running smoothly. If you can change your air filter every 1-3 months depending on how heavily you use your heater, then you’ll see a dramatic increase in productivity from the system. It’ll last longer, run better, and provide more comfort to your home.
4. Keep Temperatures Mild
We know it can be tempting to keep things in the mid-70s during the coldest parts of the winter, but that’s just not good for your heater. The harder it has to work, the more problems you’re going to see, and to be blatantly honest, your home will never get as comfortable as you want it to. When you set temperatures to a realistic degree, it’ll be easier for your heater to reach them and you’ll be happier overall.
5. Unblock Vents and Bundle Up
Take a quick stroll around your home and make sure that furniture isn’t blocking any of your vents. Also, take a moment to bundle up and add another layer on when the temperature drops. This will make your home feel warmer, even if your heater doesn’t have to work as hard!