How long does a gas furnace last?

You can expect a gas furnace to last about 15 to 22 years, with an average of 19 years. Regular maintenance is the most important factor for long life. 

   Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. To understand the basis, potential use, and limitations of lifespan ratings, see our blog post How accurate are the average life expectancy ratings of home components? Are they actually useful?  

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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   To learn more about gas furnaces, click on any of the links below to our other blogs on the subject.

• What color should the flame be in a natural gas furnace?

• Which one is better for a home heating system: electric or natural gas?

• What does the "AFUE" rating of a furnace mean? 

• Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can’t find it?

• What is the required clearance for access and working space in front of a furnace or air handler?  

• When is it acceptable to use indoor air as combustion air for a furnace? 

• Is a furnace allowed in a bedroom, bathroom, or an adjoining closet?

• What is a return air plenum for a furnace or air conditioning system?

• Can the return air be in the same room as the gas furnace?

 • Why is there a wall switch next to the furnace or indoor unit of the air conditioner in the garage?

• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs?

    Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING and LIFE EXPECTANCY pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

NOTE: These life expectancies are based on data provided by InterNACHI, NAHB, FannieMae, and our own professional experience. Because of the numerous variables that can affect a lifespan, they should be used as rough guidelines only, and not relied upon as a warranty or guarantee of future performance.