It is important to note that the lifespan of your furnace is right around 15 to 18 years. It varies for the other parts of your HVAC system. What is an HVAC system you wonder? Well it HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This encompasses more than just the listed three: boilers, furnaces, air purifiers, etc. are all included as part of your HVAC system. Basically, if the primary function is to promote healthy and comfortable indoor air, it is part of your HVAC system.
As mentioned above, your furnace might last 15-18 years, but what about the rest of it?
If you are unsure how old any individual part of your HVAC system is, try to locate the nameplate, which should have the manufacturing date on it. Sometimes, if local HVAC services have fixed something, they will leave some sort of marking for what date they were there, so you at least have an idea of the most recent service date.
How do you determine when your air filters need changing? This depends on the type of filter you’re using and conditions in your home. If you have a lot of pets, you are going to want to change that bad boy slightly more often. If you don’t some of the pet dander/ fur that gets collected in the air filter will get recirculated into your home. Gross. If you are using standard one-inch air filters, you should change them at least once a month. However, more efficient filters can last anywhere from 6months to one year. If you are unsure about whether or not you should change your air filter, it never hurts to change it. If you notice it is visibly dirty, then you should change it. Or, contact your local hvac services professional and they will be able to advise you.
Because maintaining your HVAC systems seems relatively tedious, some people think that you don’t really need to have it looked at every year, but you do. Maintenance is vital in the health and longevity of your heating and cooling systems. Your HVAC system should get a tune up, once a year. A quick tune up can allow your HVAC contractor to take any preventative measures and fix anything that could be a large problem down the road, or just catch something early. Keeping your HVAC system running well by contacting your local hvac services will help keep you and your family safe and healthy.