How Long Should Your
Furnace & AC Last?

Typical lifespans

Gas furnaces commonly last 15 to 20 years when they're maintained. Central air conditioners tend to last 12 to 17 years, and heat pumps, which run in both seasons, often land around 10 to 15. These are ranges, not guarantees. A well-installed system on an annual tune-up schedule can beat them, and a poorly sized or neglected one can fall short by a decade.

What shortens equipment life in Utah

Dust. Dry summers, construction and wind move fine dust into filters and coils. A clogged filter or dirty outdoor coil makes everything work harder.

Altitude. Much of Davis County sits around 4,200 to 4,500 feet. Manufacturers specify adjustments to gas input at elevation, and a furnace not set up for it can run rich, soot, and wear out sooner. It's a reason to have furnace work done by someone who sets combustion for your elevation.

Hard use in both seasons. Utah gives equipment hot summers and cold winters, and a heat pump or an air handler shared between heating and cooling works year round.

Short cycling from oversizing. A system too large for the house turns on and off constantly, which wears parts and doesn't dehumidify or even out temperatures. Proper sizing from a load calculation matters.

Skipped maintenance. Dirty burners, flame sensors, coils and clogged drains cause most of the breakdowns we see. An annual tune-up is the cheapest way to extend life.

Signs a system is near the end

Age past the ranges above, repair calls getting more frequent, rising energy bills with no change in use, uneven rooms, a cracked heat exchanger, a failed compressor, or noises that have changed. Rust or soot on the furnace, and any carbon monoxide concern, are reasons to stop and have it looked at.

The repair-or-replace rule of thumb

A common guideline multiplies the age of the system by the cost of the repair. If the result is over about $5,000, replacement usually makes more sense. A 15-year-old furnace with a $400 repair scores $6,000. An eight-year-old AC with a $400 repair scores $3,200. It's a rule of thumb, not a verdict, and it works best alongside other factors: whether the system uses an obsolete refrigerant, how big the energy savings from a modern unit would be, and whether you're planning to stay in the house.

We would rather fix what's fixable. If a repair makes sense, we'll say so, and if replacement makes more sense, we'll show both options with numbers so you can choose.

Refrigerant: why R-22 and older systems are a special case

If your air conditioner is old enough to use R-22 (often sold as Freon), it's costly to service. R-22 production and import ended in the U.S. in 2020, so what remains is reclaimed or stockpiled supply, and a refrigerant leak repair can cost more than the system is worth. Newer systems are also moving away from R-410A to lower-impact refrigerants, which is something to ask about when you're getting quotes on new equipment. Ask your technician which refrigerant your system uses and what it will cost to service in the years ahead.

Efficiency and Utah rebates

A new furnace or AC can use noticeably less energy than one from the early 2000s. Rebates and tax incentives change from year to year. We keep a current list on our Utah rebates page, and our team can tell you which ones apply to a particular system. For heat pumps specifically, read heat pump installation.

Paying for a replacement

We offer financing through Synchrony for larger projects. Ask for the terms on a quote so you can compare the monthly cost with what repairs and higher bills are costing now.

What to do next

If your system is in the second half of its range, ask for a no-pressure assessment. If it's not heating or cooling today, start with our checklists for furnace problems or AC problems. When you're ready to compare options, see furnace installation, AC installation, or request a free estimate for new equipment.