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How Old Is My Furnace?
Most furnace makers hide the manufacture date in the serial number. Pick your brand and type the serial number to see the month and year your furnace was made, how old it is, and how much of a typical 15 to 20 year life is left.
Find your brand
- Lennox
- Carrier
- Bryant
- Payne
- Trane
- American Standard
- Ameristar
- Goodman
- Amana
- Janitrol
- Rheem
- Ruud
- York
- Luxaire
- Coleman
- Heil
- Tempstar
- Comfortmaker
- Arcoaire
- Nordyne
- Intertherm
- Miller
The brand on the cabinet is not always the company that made it. Who makes what.
Where the serial number is
Take off the front lower panel (turn the power off first). The data plate is a metal or foil sticker on the inside of the door or on the side of the cabinet, next to the blower. The serial number is usually labelled "Serial No.", "S/N" or "Ser. No."
How long does a furnace last?
Most furnaces last 15 to 20 years. Yearly servicing, the local climate and how hard it works all move it within that range. Past 15 years, it is worth getting a replacement price before the unit fails, so you aren't forced into a rushed decision.
A furnace made before 1992 was built before the federal 78% efficiency minimum. How long furnaces last, and when to replace one.
Questions
How can I tell how old my furnace is?
Every furnace has a data plate with a serial number, and most makers hide the manufacture date inside it. Pick the brand and type the serial number into the decoder above. If the label prints a manufacture date, use that.
Where is the serial number on a furnace?
Take off the front lower panel (turn the power off first). The data plate is a metal or foil sticker on the inside of the door or on the side of the cabinet, next to the blower. The serial number is usually labelled "Serial No.", "S/N" or "Ser. No."
How long does a furnace last?
Typically 15 to 20 years.
Keeping an older furnace going
- Furnace air filter: Change it every 1 to 3 months. Check the size printed on the old filter.
- Carbon monoxide detector plug in: Any gas furnace, and especially an older one, should have a CO alarm nearby.
- Smart thermostat: Cuts run time on any system, old or new.