Furnaces and air conditioners theoretically have similar lifespans, with both lasting somewhere between a decade or two. If you installed your current equipment simultaneously or still use your home's original equipment, you'd probably expect both to fail around the same time. However, many factors can influence the overall condition of HVAC equipment.
Unfortunately, this uncertainty can leave you with a big question when one of these two items fails: should you replace the other one, even if it's still working fine? No single answer is correct for every household, but these three questions will help you decide what's best for your needs and budget.
1. How Old Is Your Equipment?
Age should be your number one concern when replacing your HVAC equipment. Since furnaces and air conditioning units tend to last for around twenty, you may want to look at a complete replacement if your system is this old or older. Even if one part of the system is still working well, replacing them both together can save you some hassle and may even save a little bit of money.
On the other hand, there's no reason to replace relatively new equipment. For instance, if your AC compressor fails after only ten years, there's no reason to rush and replace your furnace, assuming it's still working correctly.
2. How Well Maintained Is Your Equipment?
However, age alone isn't the only thing you should consider. While HVAC equipment tends to fail after a certain number of years, maintenance and usage can have a huge impact. For example, a well-maintained furnace in an area that doesn't get severely cold winters may last much longer than expected. On the other hand, a poorly maintained system may fail much earlier.
Try to take an honest evaluation of your maintenance habits. Do you change your filters routinely? Do you schedule annual HVAC service visits? If so, there's no reason to replace the portion of your system that still works.
3. Are You Upgrading For Efficiency?
One final aspect to consider is that your air conditioner and furnace share a blower, and this component can have a significant impact on efficiency. For example, if you're replacing an old air conditioner with a variable-speed model, you'll need a new blower to accommodate this high-efficiency feature. Meanwhile, your old furnace won't be able to take advantage of this improvement.
If your goal is efficiency, replacing your air conditioner and furnace together can be beneficial. Pairing equipment in this way will ensure that you get the best possible efficiency year-round, helping you to save money on your utility bills and help to offset the cost of your new HVAC installation.
Share12 September 2022
Have you ever stopped to think about the general health of your air conditioner? Although it might seem like a silly thing to worry about, air conditioners need a little tender loving care just like any other home appliance. Unfortunately, it can be hard to detect issues until your system sputters to a halt one day. My blog is all about improving your HVAC experience by learning how to keep it on point. On my blog, you will learn how to check for air conditioning problems, troubleshoot your system, and even find the perfect replacement--should you need to upgrade your system.