Furnaces are superb options for home heating. Although they may not last as long on average as boilers, modern furnaces are competitive when it comes to their service life. The advances in technology during the last two decades have significantly added to the durability of gas, electric, and propane furnaces, making them attractive options for people who want to get many years of quality heating.

However, there is no single answer to how many years a furnace will last. Environmental factors affect it, as well as how frequently it’s used. The most important thing for getting the longest service out of your furnace is to have it maintained annually and repaired promptly. Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating can help you take good care of your furnace, no matter the type, so you won’t have to worry about scheduling a replacement shortly.

The manufacturer of your furnace should give it an expected lifespan. The average expected lifespan for most contemporary furnaces is between 16 and 20 years (much higher than older furnaces, which were often fortunate to make it to 10 years). However, in our more than 25 years in the HVAC business, we’ve worked on furnaces that survived for longer than 20 years, thanks to solid construction from a trusted brand and homeowners who took good care of their units. We’ve also seen furnaces fail after only a few years, usually because of neglect.

If you have a furnace that’s over 20 years old, you don’t necessarily need to think about replacing it immediately. You should, however, keep a close watch on it for malfunctions and signs of inefficient performance, such as an increase in your heating bills. At that age, it’s often more cost-effective to replace the furnace rather than repair it; you’ve already gotten a superb service life from it, so look into the next long-term investment in your heating.

Above all, make sure that your furnace receives regular preventive maintenance from skilled technicians. You should have maintenance done every year, no matter the age of your furnace, so that it gets the proper tune-up and cleaning to make sure it operates its best. Maintenance will also catch potential repair concerns before they turn into actual repairs.

If you sign the preventive maintenance agreement with Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating, we will give you two check-ups a year (one for your heater, one for your AC) along with priority scheduling, a 15% discount on parts and equipment, and one FREE emergency call. With our assistance, you can get your Boerne, TX home furnace to that 20-year marker, and perhaps beyond – call us for your Boerne heating service needs!

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