Today's heating, ventilation and air conditioning units are more energy-efficient than their predecessors. New air conditioning and heating equipment lasts longer than ever. The end of a furnace's or air conditioner’s service life depends on more than just chronological age. Energy-efficiency issues and the price of any necessary repairs versus the cost of upgrading to a new unit all enter into that determination. Furnace Lifespan The average service life of a new furnace is 15 to 20 years. Most furnace parts that fail during that span are replaceable at a cost that makes repair a better call than replacing the entire furnace. The exception is the heat exchanger, a furnace's single most expensive component. A cracked heat exchanger in a unit that’s already out of warranty is usually a tipping point that means it’s time to shop for a new furnace. Central Air Conditioners Central air conditioners typically last from 10 to 15 years. The lifespan of a central cooling unit may be reduced if its capacity is not properly matched to the cooling load of the home.

Oversized air conditioners “short-cycle,” turning on and off rapidly, inflicting excessive wear and tear on the compressor. Like the furnace heat exchanger, the compressor is the most costly part in the system. A worn-out compressor in a unit that’s outlived its warranty is usually a deal-breaker that warrants upgrading to a new, more energy-efficient air conditioner rather that repairing the existing unit. References National Association of Home Builders: Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components Photo Credits Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionHow Long Will My Central Air Conditioner Last? A central air conditioning system is a very complicated animal.  It uses the heat from outside when it is warm to actually cool your home.  This entire process is illustrated below.  Most people do not care how the cooling system works, just that it does work.  How long will it last?  This question is complicated. A cooling system's life span, like any other system's life span, depends on use. 

If the system is used 24/7, then system will have a relatively short life span of 8-10 years.  ac unit with no windowThis is typical of Florida.home ac repair near me A cooling system in Wisconsin, however, may last 20 years or more because there is really only 2 months of the year you really need it. 1 ton ac dealsHowever, if someone runs it all the time for 5-8 months out of the year, the cooling unit will not last long. The chart above gives a general idea of how long cooling systems work for.  Please note that the systems may or may not last to the stated life of the product depending entirely how the system is used. More by this AuthorPlumbingPlumbing 101: Hot and Cold Water Lines Should Not TouchHot and cold PEX water lines ran through the same hole in a stud wall.

This is not a typical installation as both pipes should have their own holes to pass through the framing. ARS Construction One of the big... Home AppliancesAttic Central Air Conditioning: Energy Efficiency InformationA thermal image of an attic air handling unit for a central air conditioning system. ARS Construction Using thermal imaging is a very useful tool to find moisture, insulation, and even electrical issues. While it is not... PlumbingWhen Pipes Sweat: Causes and Cures For Sweating PipesThe PEX tubing and brass ball valve are sweating substantially in a basement that the building owner wants to finish but can not until this issue is corrected. ARS Construction In hot summer months, it is not uncommon... You are here » You Asked, We Are Answering: Your Home Efficiency Questions I was going through my blog roll this morning when I saw that someone had asked this elsewhere. I figured it would be a good question to ask. In general, how long do evaporator coils last in a home AC system?

How can I make them last longer? If I want to replace them, what should I keep in mind? They should last for the life of the A/C system, which is generally 15-20 years for a high quality system. (Many people end up replacing their systems between 12 and 15 years due to efficiency issues or deferred maintenance causing damage to more easily damaged components, such as the compressor.) Most of the time, evaporator coils fail because they are allowed to get dirty or are allowed to have ice build up on them. Things you can do yourself to help prolong the life is to make sure you change your HVAC intake filter regularly and use a high quality filter (filters should be in place for no more than a month, and should be replaced sooner in a dusty environment if you can no longer see light through the filter), and make sure that your evaporator coils are draining correctly. The easiest way to make them last longer is to have a licensed HVAC technician perform regular maintenance on your system.

This should be done once a year, typically in the winter time. The technician will clean the coils and check them over. At the same time, the A/C tech will check to make sure that your coolant is at the right level/pressure and that there are no leaks in your system. If you replace them, you probably want to replace the entire system at this point thanks to many recent gains made in efficiency. I'm not sure if how long they "should last" matches most home owners experiences. Looking at many consumer complaint websites showed many users with failure between 5 and 7 years. Recommended Maintenance Didn't Save Me You should always do the recommended maintenance, but in my case maintenance wasn't the problem. I have a 14.5 SEER, 2.5 Ton Carrier unit. The evaporator coil started leaking after 43 months (under 4 years). It was a small leak where the copper met the rusty metal housing. I used high quality filters and replaced them every 2-3 months. They never looked dirty but I still replaced them within the recommended window.