How to Determine the Age of a Furnace

As your furnace naturally wears down with age, maintenance and repairs are likely to increase. When you know the age of your furnace, it’s much easier to determine whether replacing your unit would be more cost efficient. So, if a gap in maintenance or a decline in your furnace’s efficiency has you wondering, “How old is my furnace?”, we have some practical solutions to find your answer.

Why Is Furnace Age Important?

The most important reason to know the age of your furnace is to determine when replacement may be necessary and the best time to fit that plan into your budget. In some cases, it may even be more cost effective to fit this replacement into your warranty coverage plan.

Aside from that, it can also help you decide on upcoming maintenance needs with your furnace, air ducts, or even your AC if you have a connected unit.

What Is the Average Age of a Home Furnace?

Most home furnaces will last between 15­–20 years. But this expected lifespan can be more or less depending on how well cared for your unit is. With regular maintenance such as cleaning, tune-ups, and filter replacement, as well as keeping up with any necessary repairs, the average furnace will likely last you much longer.

For the most accurate life expectancy of your unit, check with your manufacturer or local HVAC professional. The size, use, brand, and efficiency of your unit may affect this estimate and maintenance needs.

How to Determine Your Furnace Age

Whether you acquired your furnace through purchasing your home or simply can’t remember how long it’s been since you serviced or replaced your unit, you can follow these steps to locate your furnace’s age:

1. Identify previous service paperwork or sticker. If you can, locate any previous paperwork that mentions the unit age or last date of service. Most of these documents will also list the date of installation, allowing you to calculate your furnace’s age. If you can’t find any paperwork, look for a sticker on your furnace that may indicate this same information.
2. Locate the serial number. One of the easiest ways to determine furnace age is by serial number. Most furnaces should have a sticker listing the serial number and manufacturer either on the exterior or inside the removable door on the front of the unit. When you find it, write down the serial number and search the manufacturer’s site or manual for decoding the date format. Most manufacturers will list the month and year of production in the first four digits (e.g. a production date of November 1987 would appear as these first four digits: 1187). Others, however, may list the week instead of the month first, or list the date at the end of the serial digits.
3. Send a photo to the manufacturer. If the serial number is missing, don’t worry. You can try sending a picture of your unit to the manufacturer, and they’ll likely be able to identify the exact or average age of your furnace.
4. Call your local HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) providers. For the most accurate assessment of your furnace age, call the HVAC experts at Precision. Our professionals will be able to take a look at your unit in person and provide you will a correct age and forward strategy for repairing, replacing, or maintaining your unit.

Furnace Nearing Replacement? Precision Can Help

An older furnace is more likely to run down any connected HVAC systems and run up your heating bill if it’s not working efficiently. Count on our experts at Precision Heating & Air^® to correctly calculate your furnace’s age and provide you with the best possible solution for repair or replacement based on its condition and your home heating needs. To get started, give us a call at (512) 379-6385[OUW6], or schedule service online.