There is no simple answer
A few months ago, a Dave’s Cooling and Heating customer replied to one of our emails where we asked what was on their mind regarding their HVAC system.
One of our customers replied with:
How long do these systems last? I have a Mitsu ductless system, a Bryant heat pump and an oil furnace. The units are just a couple years old. With your scheduled maintenance, how long can I expect these systems to perform well before replacement is necessary?
This is an absolutely great question. And there is no simple answer.
If you Google, many experts might give a range of 15-25 years. A 10 year range obviously means there’s a lot of different factors at play.
Furthermore, no one wants to spend extra money every year maintaining their system if it does not end up extending the life of their system.
Or you might think that since you have an extended warranty, you might as well leave it to the warranty. If anything breaks, you’re covered right?
So you might be wondering, what’s the point? Or how long can you actually expect these systems to last with proper maintenance.
Especially if you already change your filter yourself every month or know how to flush condensate lines. (Two most important things when it comes to maintaining your system!)
The Factors that Contribute to Your Systems Life
There are many factors that contribute to the lifespan of your HVAC system – such as the brand, quality of installation or even your dog! (We’ve seen pets pee on systems and damaging them!)
We also work with some of the most high quality HVAC systems such as Mitsubishi Electric and Lennox.
However, the main two factors being how much or how you actually use the system and how well you are able to maintain it.
First, just like a car, the more you use it…the more wear and tear it will experience over time, naturally. We’re not saying that you should use your system less – just the reality of the situation. Like other large machinery, HVAC systems are built with lots of components that work together. When there are so many components that work together, things are bound to fail at some point.
Second, it most definitely matters how well you maintain your system! Changing your filters and cleaning your condensate lines are often said to be the most important tasks…and they are. But this is just the start.
But you know what actually keeps your system or car running longer than everyone else’s? It’s having a trained eye to be able to spot small problems early on so they do not become bigger problems down the line. This is probably the single most important factor in preventing larger breakdowns in a system.
In fact, one of our technicians’ systems has been running for 39 years now. How? Because he is able to do exactly that – spot smaller problems before they become larger problems and affect other components inside the system. Older systems in our opinion were also built much better.
This is why experts give a huge range for your systems life-span. There is really no way to know what will happen with your system. Which component will start to wear and tear first. Unless you know exactly what to look for like a factory trained technician!
So how many years might you expect with proper maintenance by an experienced technician?
Ductless systems: With proper installation and maintenance, Mitsubishi Electric Ductless systems can last upwards of 20 years. They are some of the most high quality systems on the market.
AC Units / Heat Pumps: These can last upwards of 15 years with proper maintenance.
Furnaces: These can last upwards of 30 years with proper maintenance.
Boilers: These can last 15-20 years with proper maintenance.
What comes with a HVAC maintenance plan?
We started Dave’s Club to offer the best HVAC maintenance in Frederick, MD. We offer several plans that can also be customized to your exact needs and HVAC system.
Our private maintenance technicians are factory trained to spot small problems before they become larger ones.
We perform a list of tasks that help ensure that your system is running at peak capacity:
- Check system functions, safety controls & adjust operating sequence*
- Inspect electrical components and connections and tighten*
- Ensure proper airflow and change dirty filters (supplied by customer)
- Inspect pumps, lubricate, and check flow rates*
- Clean and lubricate motors*
- Examine belts, adjust, and align*
- Inspect, clean and balance blowers*
- Clean condensate pans, condensate traps, and condensate lines to prevent obstructions*
- Clean outside coil and straighten fins for efficient operation*
- Check refrigerant levels*
- Check thermostat for proper operation*
- Clean burner assembly*
- Remove soot from fireside of burner*
- Visually check operation of humidifier*
- Visually or with remote camera, inspect heat exchanger for cracks*
- Clean heat exchanger*
- Check gas pressure*
- Inspect and clean inducer motor*
- Check flue pipe*
- Check air intake & exhaust for blockages on 90%+ furnaces*
- Adjust air/fuel ratio of burner and perform combustion analysis*
*Wherever Appropriate
Want more information on Dave’s Club packages and pricing?
