• November, 03 2025

When will my gas furnace conk out?

The consumer magazine surveyed more than 25,000 people who installed new gas furnaces between 2007 and 2023. The furnaces generally heated their homes for a median of six months a year.

“Based on our analysis, we determined that, on average, about a quarter of gas furnaces are likely to break by the end of the 10th year of ownership, which is the midpoint of the expected life of the system,” CR.org reported.

Most members expect their furnaces to last a median of 20 years, so they sometimes must decide whether to repair or replace their heating system.

“When you compare the cost of repairing a faulty furnace with the cost of replacing one, prices might dictate that you lean toward repair,” it said

A majority of the people surveyed said they invested in maintenance.

“Most respondents (56 percent) said they shelled out for routine maintenance at least once per year, while 16 percent are happy to check up once every two years. Thirteen percent of our members don’t practice routine maintenance at all.”

Neglecting maintenance is a poor strategy. As the magazine noted, “Repairs can cost mere hundreds compared with new furnaces, past surveys found.”

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