What to Expect For the Lifespan of Your HVAC System

Expected lifespan will naturally be an important topic for many components or appliances in your home, and your HVAC system is definitely on this list. How long do HVAC systems last? There are both some standard averages and some areas you can prioritize to help lengthen HVAC component lifespan over time.

At Thompson’s Comfort Connection, we’re here to offer a wide range of AC repair, air conditioning replacement and furnace installation service around Sandy, Midvale, Draper, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights and nearby parts of Utah. Here are some general average lifespan ranges for common HVAC components you may have in your home, plus some of the factors that can contribute to raising or lowering this lifespan.

Common HVAC Component Lifespan Ranges

Here are some of the standard average lifespan ranges for common HVAC components:

• Furnace: Assuming standard maintenance and upkeep, a typical furnace will last between 15 and 20 years.
• Air conditioner: Much like a furnace, an AC unit can be expected to last around 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance.
• Heat pump: With regular maintenance, a heat pump has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
• Ductwork: Properly installed and maintained ductwork can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years.
• Boilers: Depending on the type and quality of the boiler, it can have an average lifespan of 15 to 30 years.
• Thermostat: A thermostat can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, depending on the model and how well it is maintained.

By keeping in mind certain important factors, however, you can often extend component lifespan to the longer end of these ranges, or even beyond them in some cases. Our next few sections will go over these factors.

Maintenance and Upkeep

As you may have expected, one of the top factors for extending HVAC component lifespan is regularly maintaining and properly taking care of the system. This includes changing filters, scheduling professional inspections, and addressing any small issues before they become major problems.

Filters, in particular, play a crucial role in both the short-term and long-term health of your HVAC system. We recommend changing filters every one to three months, depending on usage and other factors. Sticking to this schedule can greatly reduce strain on all components, leading to longer lifespans.

Installation Quality

Another major factor for HVAC lifespan is the quality of installation – if it was done poorly or with substandard equipment, you may see much shorter component lifespans overall. This is why investing in high-quality installation services from trusted professionals like our team at Thompson’s Comfort Connection is so important.

One common mistake with installation actually goes back to selection of the product. If a furnace or AC is too large or small for your home, it will be overworked and run into problems much more quickly. We’re here to help you avoid such mistakes.

Usage Factors

There are a few additional usage factors that can contribute to altering HVAC component lifespan:

• Climate: Depending on the climate where you live, your HVAC system may experience more wear and tear and therefore have a shortened lifespan.
• Frequency of use: Naturally, the more often you are using your HVAC system, the more strain it will undergo and the shorter its lifespan will be. This is why efficient usage is important.

By keeping all these factors in mind and staying on top of maintenance and quality installation when needed, you can help ensure that your HVAC components last as long as possible.

Certain Salty or Corrosive Environments

On the flip side, one factor that can decrease HVAC component lifespan, especially for outdoor units like ACs or heat pumps, is exposure to salt and other corrosive agents.

For those who live near the ocean or in other areas with high levels of salt in the air, such as near the Great Salt Lake, it’s important to take extra precautions during installation and maintenance to protect these components from corrosion. This can include coating materials with rust-resistant paint or using special protective barriers.

How HVAC Professionals Help

One of the central roles of any HVAC professional is to help you extend the lifespan of your system. This involves regular maintenance, but it also includes offering expertise on usage and other areas that may contribute to shortening lifespan.

Our team at Thompson’s Comfort Connection will work with you not only for installation and repair needs, but also to develop a long-term plan for maintaining an ideal lifespan for your HVAC components. For this or any other HVAC services around Sandy, Midvale, Draper, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights or other parts of Utah, contact us today!