It’s not until your furnace breaks down in the middle of cold winter’s night that even we Canadians can fully appreciate the importance of the furnaces that heat our homes.
And that appreciation makes the question of “how long does a furnace last?” a very important one to answer. Especially if the one you own is an older model.
What’s the Lifespan Of A Furnace In Canada?
While the average lifespan of heaters range from 15 to 30 years, knowing when it’s time to replace yours can depend on many different factors.
One easy example is where you live. Furnace lifespans in Nunavut are probably much shorter than those in Ontario. Here are just a few other factors that can affect the average life expectancy of a heater.
- Manufacturer & Types – Of course, different brands build heating units of differing levels of quality. But even the model range within a brand, from regular gas to high-efficiency furnaces, will affect how long the furnace lasts.
- Regular Maintenance – Proper maintenance of your heating system, which can include regularly replacing the air filter and annual maintenance checks, will optimize the working life of the furnace – not to mention your energy bills and indoor air quality.
- Correct Size – Without proper sizing of the unit for the area it is required to heat, it can run inefficiently, require more regular maintenance and have a shorter lifespan.
Life Expectancy of Different Types of Heating Systems
To give you a better idea of how long you can expect your furnace to last, here are the average lifespans of different types of furnaces.
- Oil Furnaces – 15 – 20 years
- Propane Furnaces – 16 – 20 years
- Electric Furnaces – 20 – 30 years
- Gas Furnaces – 15 – 30 years
If you need a new furnace click here to learn more about the rebates that are available to you.
