How Can I Make My Furnace Last Longer?

The average furnace lasts between 10 and 15 years. But did you know you can take steps to make it last longer? There is no shortcut or hack to increase your furnace’s longevity. 

In reality, the key is treating your Conway system with care and respect. With just a small amount of time and energy, you can ensure your furnace will live well beyond its warranty. From our team here at Coastal Air Plus, here are four things you should do to make your furnace last longer:

1. Change Your Filter Regularly

This is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your heating system. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see how frequently you should replace your filter. 

When filters get clogged with dust and debris, it causes all sorts of problems with your furnace. The airflow becomes restricted, causing the furnace components to wear down more quickly.

2. Schedule Maintenance

You should see one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals for maintenance at least once a year. Your heating equipment might have issues you can’t yet see. 

Fortunately, a trained eye can spot them. Also, our technicians will clean any excess debris or mold from your equipment. This protects your furnace, as well as your South Carolina home’s air quality.

3. Regulate Your Home’s Humidity

Protecting your furnace from excess moisture is an easy step to forget. Humid temperatures can cause your unit’s parts to rust quickly. This can lead to breakdowns. It can also lead to a cracked heat exchanger, which is expensive to replace and potentially deadly. Additionally, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health , excess humidity can cause a host of other problems in your home.

4. Limit Your Use

In automotive terms, the amount of hours your furnace spends running is comparable to a car’s mileage. If you can run your heating system less frequently, you’ll get more use out of it in the long run. 

A convenient way to do this is by upgrading your thermostat to either a programmable or Wi-Fi/smart thermostat. Programmable thermostats can automatically turn down your heat during hours when no one is home. Wi-Fi thermostats allow you to adjust temperatures on your smartphone or computer/laptop when you’re home or away. You can also monitor your weekly energy usage, so you can consider ways to cut down.