Your furnace is crucial for keeping your home warm and comfortable, especially in the colder months. Like any appliance, furnaces have a limited lifespan. If you’re moving into a new home or your current furnace has been around for a good amount of time, knowing its age is essential for maintenance, repair, and replacement planning. In this blog, Delaware Heating & Air will discuss different methods to aid you in determining the age of your furnace.
Know Just How Old Your Furnace is Beneficial:
- Maintenance Reasons: Regular maintenance is crucial to keep your furnace operating efficiently and safely during the colder months. 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 Reasons: If your furnace develops problems, knowing its age can assist you in determining whether it is more economical to repair or replace it.
- Replacement Reasons: Furnaces usually last around 15-20 years. If your furnace is nearing or beyond this age, it’s a good idea to start planning for a replacement.
- Warranty Reasons: Most furnaces have manufacturer warranties that are valid for a specific number of years. Knowing the age of your unit can help you determine if any warranty coverage is still applicable.
Try and Check the Owner’s Manual:
To determine the age of your furnace, consult the owner’s manual. It usually includes details about the installation or manufacturing date, which can indicate the unit’s age. If you have the manual, check the introductory section or a dedicated “Specifications” page for this information.
Look at the Manufacturer Label:
If you no longer have the owner’s manual or can’t find the date in it, an alternative is to look for a manufacturer’s label on the furnace. You can usually find this label inside the furnace cabinet or on the side. It often includes important details like the model number, serial number, and manufacturing date.
- To determine the manufacturing date, check for a sequence of letters or numbers within the serial number. The coding system used can differ between manufacturers and brands.
- Please note that certain manufacturers may provide a more direct format for the date of manufacture, such as “MFG Date: MM/YYYY.”
Call the Manufacturer’s Support Line:
If the serial number or manufacturer’s label does not clearly indicate the furnace’s age, you can contact the manufacturer directly. Most reputable furnace manufacturers have a customer service or support team that can assist you in determining the age of your unit based on the serial number or other identifying information.
Ask a Professional HVAC Technician:
A licensed HVAC technician can inspect your furnace and give you the age of the unit. During your next seasonal furnace check, the technician can identify the manufacturing date and provide insights into the furnace’s condition and estimated remaining lifespan. This is another reason why scheduling regular HVAC checks is an excellent way to ensure optimal performance of your furnace.
Knowing the age of your furnace is crucial to keep your heating system well-maintained and in top shape. You definitely don’t want it to break down on you when you need it the most.
Call Delaware Heating & Air today at (740) 227-8302, or schedule a heating or cooling repair appointment online now by clicking here!
