Your furnace plays a critical role in maintaining a warm and comfortable home, especially during colder months. However, like any appliance, furnaces have a limited lifespan. So, whether you’re moving into a new house or your current furnace has been in operation for a couple of decades, it’s crucial to know the age of your furnace to facilitate effective maintenance, repair, and replacement plans. In this blog post, Bexley Heating & Cooling will explore various methods to determine the age of your furnace, ultimately providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions as situations occur.
Understand the Age of Your Furnace is Crucial for Several Reasons:
- Maintenance: Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure optimal and safe operation of your furnace during the colder months. With that in mind, when you schedule your seasonal maintenance checks, it’s helpful for the HVAC technician to know the general age of your heating unit beforehand.
- Repair: Determining the age of your furnace can provide valuable insight when it comes to deciding between repair or investing in a new unit. This information allows you to make a more informed and confident decision about the most cost-effective course of action.
- Replacement: Furnaces generally have a lifespan of 15-20 years. So, if you know your furnace is nearing or has surpassed this timeframe, you can plan accordingly.
- Warranty: Typically, furnaces come with manufacturer warranties that remain valid for a specified number of years. Having knowledge of your unit’s age can assist in determining the status of any existing warranty coverage.
Check the Owner’s Manual
To determine the age of your furnace, try referring to the owner’s manual. The comprehensive owner’s guide typically includes details about the installation or manufacturing date, providing valuable insights into the unit’s age.
Look for a Manufacturer’s Label
If, by any chance, you no longer have the owner’s manual or cannot find the date within it, your next best course of action is to locate the manufacturer’s label on the furnace. The manufacturer’s label is usually inside the furnace cabinet or on the side of the unit. This label typically provides a plethora of information, such as the model number, serial number, and manufacturing date.
- To determine the manufacturing date, look for a sequence of letters or numbers within the serial number corresponding to the date. (It’s important to note that various brands employ different coding systems, resulting in some variation.)
- Moreover, some manufacturers opt for a more direct format when indicating the manufacture date, often using “MFG Date: MM/YYYY.”
Contact the Manufacturer
If the serial number or manufacturer’s label does not provide sufficient information about the age of the furnace, you can contact the manufacturer directly. Most reputable manufacturers typically have a customer service or support team available to assist you. They should be able to aid in determining the age of your unit.
Consult a Professional Technician
Last but not least, a certified HVAC technician has the expertise to thoroughly inspect your furnace and provide you with accurate information regarding its age. During your seasonal furnace check, the technician should be able to identify the manufacturing date while assessing the furnace’s condition, as well as give insight into its estimated remaining lifespan. Keep in mind scheduling regular seasonal checks presents an excellent opportunity to ensure optimal performance by promptly servicing your furnace.
The last thing you want is for your furnace to fail when you need it the most. So, it is crucial to know the age of your furnace to ensure a warm and comfortable home. You can confidently determine the age of your furnace by checking the owner’s manual, inspecting the manufacturer label, seeking advice from professionals, or utilizing online resources. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision regarding your heating system.
Call Bexley Heating & Cooling today at (614) 924-7856, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here!