Your furnace plays a crucial role in keeping your home cozy and comfortable, especially when it’s chilly outside. But like any appliance, furnaces have a limited lifespan. So, whether you’re moving into a new place or your current furnace has been around for a while, it’s important to know its age for maintenance, repairs, and planning for a replacement. In this blog, Chillicothe Heating & Cooling will discuss different methods you can use to figure out how old your furnace is.
Why Is Knowing the Age of Your Furnace Beneficial?
- Maintenance: Keeping up with regular maintenance is super important to make sure your furnace runs smoothly and safely during those chilly months. Plus, keep in mind that when scheduling your seasonal maintenance checks, it’s helpful for the HVAC technician to know the general age of your heating unit beforehand.
- Repair: If your furnace starts acting up, knowing how old it is can help you decide if it’s worth fixing or it is time for a new one.
- Replacement: Generally, furnaces usually last around 15-20 years. If your furnace is getting close to or has already hit that mark, it’s probably a good idea to start budgeting for a replacement.
- Warranty: Many furnaces have manufacturer warranties that last for a specific number of years. By knowing the age of your unit, you can figure out if there’s still any warranty coverage.
Have You Checked the Owner’s Manual?
One of the easiest ways to figure out how old your furnace is is to check the owner’s manual. The manual usually has details about the installation date or the manufacturing date of the furnace, which can give you an idea of its age. So, if you still have the manual that came with your furnace, start by looking for this info in the introduction or a dedicated “Specifications” page.
Have You Looked for a Manufacturer Label?
If you happen to no longer have the owner’s manual or can’t find the date in it, your next best bet is to find a manufacturer’s label on the furnace. Usually, you can find this label on the inside of the furnace cabinet or on the side. It’s packed with helpful info like the model number, serial number, and manufacturing date.
- To find the manufacturing date, just check the serial number for a bunch of letters or numbers that stand for the date. Keep in mind that each brand may have its own coding system. So, it can be a bit different for each one.
- As a heads up, some manufacturers make it easier by mentioning the manufacturing date as “MFG Date: MM/YYYY.”
Have You Contacted the Manufacturer?
If the serial number or manufacturer’s label doesn’t give you clear info about the furnace’s age, you can always try reaching out to the manufacturer directly. Most reputable furnace manufacturers have a customer service or support team line that can help you figure out how old your unit is based on the serial number or other identifying info.
Have You Consulted a Professional Technician?
The next time you have a licensed HVAC technician inspect your furnace, they should be able to tell you how old it is. Usually, during your seasonal furnace check, the technician can find out when it was made and give you an idea of how much longer it will last. Scheduling regular seasonal checks is a great way to make sure your furnace is serviced for the best performance.
Knowing the age of your furnace is super important to keep your home warm and cozy. You definitely don’t want your furnace to go out on you when you need it the most, right? So, try using these tips listed here to figure out the age of your furnace. This way, you can make an informed decision about your heating system.
Call Chillicothe Heating & Cooling today at (740) 281-2186, or click here to schedule an appointment now!