How Long Do Air Conditioners and Furnaces Last?

Typical lifespans

Lifespans vary widely with the equipment, how it was installed and how well it has been maintained. As a general rule of thumb across the industry:

• Central air conditioners: often around 15 years, sometimes more
• Heat pumps: often around 15 years. Because they heat and cool, they run more hours each year than an air conditioner alone
• Gas furnaces: often 15 to 20 years or more

These are rough guides, not guarantees. A well-installed, well-maintained system can outlast them, and a poorly matched one can fail early.

What shortens equipment life?

• A system that was oversized or undersized for the house
• Leaky or undersized ductwork that strains the equipment
• Clogged filters left in place too long
• Skipped maintenance
• An outdoor unit crowded by plants or debris

Signs it may be time to replace

• Repairs are becoming routine
• Rooms that used to be comfortable no longer are
• Energy bills are rising without a change in how you use the house
• The system is louder, short-cycles or struggles with humidity
• An older air conditioner still uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced in the U.S.

Repair or replace?

Age is one input, not the whole answer. Jordan looks at the condition of the equipment, what has failed and what the repair involves, and tells you plainly when a repair still makes sense. See what affects AC replacement cost and what affects furnace replacement cost.