Your furnace plays a crucial role in keeping your home warm and cozy, especially during those freezing months. But like any major appliance, furnaces have a limited lifespan. So, whether you’ve just moved in or have an old faithful furnace, it’s important to know how old it is. This knowledge empowers homeowners to stay on top of maintenance, handle repairs, and plan for future replacements.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into various ways you can figure out how old your furnace is. So, let’s get started and explore these methods together, brought to you by Loveland Heating & Air.
What Is the Importance of Knowing Your Furnace’s Age?
Knowing the age of your furnace is really important for a few reasons. It directly affects how well your heating system works and how long it will last.
- Maintenance: Regular maintenance is key to keeping your furnace running efficiently and safely when the colder seasons hit. Plus, it’s good to know the age of your furnace because when you schedule your seasonal maintenance checks, it’s helpful for the HVAC technician to know the approximate age of your heating unit ahead of time.
- Repair: When your furnace starts having issues, it’s important to consider how old it is. This will help you decide whether it’s better to invest in repairs or get a new unit that makes more financial sense.
- Replacement: Most furnaces usually last around 15 to 20 years. So, if your furnace is getting close to or has already passed that mark, it’s a good idea to start thinking about getting a replacement. That way, you can avoid any unexpected problems down the road.
- Warranty: Most furnaces come complete with manufacturer warranties that are valid for a certain period of time. Therefore, knowing the age of your unit helps determine if any warranty coverage is still valid.
What About the Owner’s Manual?
To quickly find out how old your furnace is, you can turn to the owner’s manual. It’s a really helpful resource! Usually, you’ll find important details about the installation or manufacturing date in there. Just flip to the beginning or look for a “Specifications” page. It’ll give you a good estimate of your unit’s age. So, if you still have the owner’s manual handy, that’s where you’ll find the information you need.
What About the Manufacturer’S Label?
If you can’t find the owner’s manual or it doesn’t have the information you need, there’s another way to get the required data. Take a look at the manufacturer’s label, usually attached to the furnace. You can find it inside the furnace cabinet or on the side of the unit. This label contains important details like the model number, serial number, and manufacturing date. Now, let’s talk about how to decode the manufacturing date from the serial number. Keep in mind that different manufacturers may use different coding systems. Some may have a simpler format like “MFG Date: MM/YYYY”.
What About the Manufacturer?
If you’re unsure about the age of your furnace and can’t find the information on the serial number or manufacturer’s label, don’t worry! Another option is to reach out directly to the manufacturer. They usually have a helpful customer service or support team that can assist you in figuring out the age of your unit based on the serial number or other identifying details. Just give them a call, and they’ll be happy to help!
What About a Professional Consultation?
And finally, an HVAC technician can also take a close look at your furnace and tell you how old it is. Usually, during your regular seasonal furnace inspections, the technician can easily find out when it was made and give you some helpful information about its current condition and how much longer it’s expected to last. That’s why we believe it’s important to have consistent seasonal checks to keep your furnace in the best possible shape.
Knowing the age of your furnace is crucial in ensuring your home stays cozy and warm during the coldest months. So, to avoid any inconvenience of your furnace acting up when you need it the most, take proactive steps to figure out its age and make informed decisions about your heating system.
For personalized guidance and heating and cooling support, we invite you to call Loveland Heating & Air today at (513) 216-5913 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here! Your warmth and comfort are our top priority!
