Table Of Contents
Gas Heater Life Expectancy
The lifespan of a gas heater generally depends on a variety of factors. It’s difficult to predict the lifespan of a gas furnace. For a typical furnace, the average lifespan is between 15 and 30 years. The lifespan can increase with regular maintenance.
- Ducted gas heaters last 10- 20 years
- If you use vented gas log fires, the gas logs last ten years if well maintained
- A gas fireplace lasts 10 to 15 years
However, sometimes replacing your gas heater furnace is better than repairing it. Licensed gas fitters may lack the skills to repair aging furnaces forcing you to replace rather than repair. Lack of spare parts can also lead to this problem.
Factors Affecting The Lifespan Of A Furnace
Several elements influence the lifespan of a gas furnace:
Furnace make and model
The lifespan of a furnace is dependent mainly on its make and model. It’s also important to note that newer heating systems have a longer lifespan than old models.
Poor installation
The average lifespan of a gas heater depends on how it is installed. Poor installation includes restricted airflow and sealed ducts. This results in poor gas heater performance and reliability. Furthermore, incorrectly installing fuel and venting lines can reduce its performance as well as shorten its lifespan.
Gas furnace maintenance routine
A gas heater requires routine maintenance to keep operating smoothly. Carrying out regular maintenance can help extend the lifespan of the gas furnace. Licensed gas fitters should carry out routine furnace maintenance. By inspecting and cleaning your ducted gas heating systems, they prevent more significant problems such as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Moisture levels and ventilation
The heating components of a gas heating system are at risk of corrosion if exposed to too much moisture. This may lead to reduced performance and premature failure. Furthermore, it’s crucial to keep your heat exchanger free from moisture to prevent damage.
Extreme thermostat settings
Thermostat components can be affected by how low or high you set your thermostat. Having a thermostat on too high or low a setting will reduce the gas furnace lifespan. You may be forced to undertake gas heater repairs or replacement, which is very costly.
Improper furnace sizing
Whether it’s a ducted gas heating system or split system air conditioning, having the proper furnace sizing has an impact on your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. Furthermore, incorrect sizing can shorten the furnace’s lifespan.
How To Extend The Life Of A Gas Furnace
Regular maintenance
Nothing can prolong the lifespan of a gas heater better than carrying out regular cleaning, maintenance, and servicing. When done by a professional, maintenance and cleaning of the heating system ensures that all its parts are running at peak performance. So, what should you look for to keep your gas heating systems running smoothly and efficiently and avoid premature failure?
Keep debris away from filters, motors, and the heat exchanger
Accumulation of dust is prevalent with ducted gas heating and cooling systems. This is mainly due to the system’s fans, inlets, and outputs. As a result, the efficacy of the system is reduced because the fan has to work harder. This can be avoided by undertaking regular cleaning of the fan assembly hence extending the life.
Check and clean the air filter in your furnace
It’s advisable to have your ducted heater’s air circulation system cleaned and maintained frequently. Clogged filters restrict airflow and may lead to overheating and eventually damage the heating system’s heat exchanger and other components. Keep the air filter clean and replace it if you notice your heating system performance is reduced.
Other ways of increasing the lifetime of a gas heater are:
- Installing quality gas heaters. To install the best one, consult a professional gas fitting or plumbing firm. Your choice will depend on your needs, goals, and your property.
- Control your home’s humidity levels to reduce moisture and safeguard your heating system from rust and corrosion. Rust and corrosion may lead to cracks and leaks.
- Depending on the frequency of use, keep checking your heating systems to ascertain they work properly.
- For gas water heaters, test the pressure relief valve to ascertain its working correctly.
- Flush the water storage tanks at least once in six months to ascertain if the water is filled with dirt and debris.
- Install a programmable thermostat to control temperatures while away from your home.
- Reduce the gas furnace workload by insulating it. Attic insulation makes the most of heat produced by the furnace by trapping it inside.
Signs That Your Furnace’s Life Is Coming To An End
Everyone wants their gas heater to last indefinitely. Or at least past the winter season. However, one day you’ll have to replace it. Thus it’s essential to keep an eye on the gas furnace as it ages. Below are some of the warning signs.
Your appliance is starting to show signs of ageing
If your gas furnace is ten years old or less, likely, it doesn’t need replacing. This is because a warranty covers the spare parts. After 15 years, your home heating system’s chances of failure start to rise. The average lifespan of a gas heater is 15 to 30 years.
Odours when the heat is turned on
While it’s usual to smell a bit of natural gas when you first put on the heat in the winter, it’s not normal if you smell it all the time. As furnaces age, the likelihood of a crack developing in the heat exchanger increases.
This can result in gas leaks or even carbon monoxide poisoning. There could be a leak in your furnace if your family is experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea, or a burning nose or eyes. This is not a prank. As quickly as possible, contact a registered gasfitter.
Your gas heater shuts down without warning
This is the most telling symptom that your furnace is about to fail. A total heating system breakdown is imminent if your heating system cuts off for no apparent cause.
Increasing energy or heating costs
Is your gas or heating bill significantly higher than in previous months? This could indicate that your gas heater is working harder to maintain the same temperature as in recent years. Also, this could be a sign that your gas furnace is starting to fail and need replacing.
Repairs are becoming more common
It’s usual for a home heating system to require minor repairs from time to time. It may be time to replace your furnace if you pay for furnace maintenance every year and your heating system is getting older. When the price of repairs exceeds the price of a new furnace, it is time to replace the central heating system.
Your furnace no longer supplies heat to your home adequately
Is your ducted gas heater regularly on and off, or does it occasionally blast chilly air? If this is the scenario, it’s possible that you need to replace your ducted gas heater.
Are you continuously altering the temperature in your home?
Your furnace may be failing if you’re constantly fidgeting with the thermostat because the same temperature setting feels hot, then cold. This is an indication that your furnace can no longer handle the heating load it once could.
Inconsistent heating of rooms
When one room seems warm while another feels frigid, the furnace isn’t working correctly. This could indicate that the furnace is nearing the end of its useful life.
Soot accumulating near registers in the air ducts
If you notice soot accumulating around the air vents where the heat is emitted, your furnace may be producing too much carbon dioxide. Contact a gas ducted heating technician to carry out duct heater repairs.
Your heater is making strange noises
When you turn on the heat, strange noises like banging, popping, screeching, or rattling may indicate that your furnace is on its final legs. For example, When you turn on your furnace for the first time each winter, you may hear a popping sound produced by dust and grime accumulating around the igniter.
However, contact a registered gas fitter for an evaluation if weird noises continue to emanate from the furnace every time the heat is turned on.
Discovering If A Gas Heater System Needs Servicing
One of the ways of prolonging the lifespan of gas heating systems is through carrying out regular maintenance. Here are a few indicators that your gas heating systems need to be serviced.
- Soot building around the heater
- A pilot light that frequently blows out
- Discoloured walls or hot walls when the heating system is on
- Eye irritation when near the heating units
- Burning with a yellow sooty flame
- Smelly gas
For a gas water heater, the following signs indicate your heating system needs a professional plumber.
- If cold water is flowing out of the water taps when the heater is on
- Moisture around the gas water heater is a sign of possible leaks
- Rusty water flowing out of the pipes indicates your storage tank or pipes are rusty and need replacing
- Rumblings from storage tanks are a result of build-up sediments moving around when the heater is on
In case you start to notice any of the above, it’s essential to turn off the gas metre and call in a registered gas fitter to service your gas systems.
How Long Does Bottled Gas Last?
Having looked at how long gas heaters can last, let’s look at how the gas used for heating can last. The lifetime of a gas bottle depends on the gas consumption rating. LPG gas bottles are the most common.
For a standalone outdoor gas heater with a maximum heat output of 30MJ/h, a 9-kilogram liquid propane tank can last up to 9 hours on a high setting.
A patio gas heater or an outdoor gas heater can last for ten hours with a 9Kg propane gas cylinder. Natural gas patio heaters are less expensive and require little maintenance compared to propane patio heaters.
Increasing The Efficiency Of Your Gas Heater
Keeping your home warm will allow your furnace to work only as hard as it needs to. Heat will be kept from escaping up through the rafters and roof with attic insulation. Caulking windows, weather-stripping doors, and other cracks will aid in the retention of heat inside your home, lowering energy consumption while enhancing efficiency.
Furthermore, keeping your family safe as you operate your gas heater is essential. Make sure to read the safety tips on each gas appliance or manual before carrying out any repairs. Furthermore, should you feel your gas heater is no longer up to code, or is in need of routine maintenance, it is for the best to have a professional perform the servicing for you.
