How Can I Tell the Age of my Furnace?

It’s critical to know the age of your furnace. Knowing how old your furnace is will help you plan and budget for prospective furnace repairs or replacements. This is especially important in the bitterly cold GTA, where we never want to be without heat! 

Unfortunately, it can be quite tricky to determine the actual age of a furnace. But here are some quick and simple techniques to assist you in figuring out how old your furnace is. 

How old is my Furnace?  

If you don’t know how old your furnace is, you may find necessary information on the furnace itself. Improved labelling has made it easier to determine the age of the newer furnaces, but older furnaces may require more detective work. 

When was it last serviced or installed? 

There are other techniques to determine the age of your furnace if the manufacturing date isn’t visible. To begin, seek documents such as a manual. If you’re lucky, there will be a date on it that will tell you how old your furnace is. Look for a service tag if you don’t have a manual. HVAC technicians commonly leave information about service appointments.  It may not specify the date of production; however, it could show when the appliance was installed. 

Is There a Label? 

If a handbook or service tag isn’t available, the next step is to look for a label. But before you do anything, switch off the furnace. This can be accomplished by turning off the power. Even better, locate the master fuse and turn off the circuit breaker. Once the unit is turned off, look for a label. Depending on the system, it may be mounted on the outside or inside panelling. 

If your furnace doesn’t have a sticker or tag on the outside, there’s a strong possibility one can be found inside. The detachable door can be opened to gain access to the inside panelling. The date may  be printed on the label. However, it is likely to have a serial number exactly what you need to determine the manufacture date. 

Is there an imprint or stamp on the inside? 

The label you’re looking for will be on most newer furnaces; however, serial numbers on older furnaces may be hidden on one of the components inside the appliance. After confirming the unit is turned off, search for an imprinted number of parts, such as the gas valve, electric relay, blower compartment, fan blades, or access panels. 

How to Research the Serial Number 

You can usually use the serial number to calculate the age of your furnace if you know it. How? A quick method is to conduct an internet search. Enter “find manufacturing date” and the brand or manufacturer of your furnace. This search will lead you to a website that contains serial number data. 

The serial number of a furnace is  a code.  The first four numbers usually signify the week and year of construction. However, if the serial number begins with a mix of digits and letters, it could indicate the month and year of manufacture. (January is represented by either A or M, so B or N would be February, and so on.) 

Here are a few examples of how you can interpret the serial numbers for some leading furnace brands: 

Trane Furnace 

71422L41G (7 represents the year and 14 is the week = April 2007) 

12331234B (12 represents the year and 33 is the week = August 2012) 

Goodman Furnace 

96-45678 (96 represents the year = 1996) 

0607456789 (06 represents the year and 07 is the month = June 2007) 

If your internet search yields no results, contact the manufacturer directly. Customer support may request a picture of your heating system to assist them in determining the age of the furnace. 

How Long Do Furnaces Last? 

When the age of your furnace is no longer an issue, you can estimate how much longer your heating system will keep your Ontario house warm. You have around 15 years on average before considering furnace replacement (or you risk facing costly repairs). A furnace can last much longer, especially if experienced technicians perform regular HVAC maintenance. 

There are additional signs that it is time for a new furnace, even besides age and repair bills. These include a noisy furnace, a cold home (even after making considerable modifications to the thermostat), and higher energy expenses. Replacing an outdated furnace with a new one will not only restore your comfort but also help you save money on your utility costs because new models have much greater energy efficiency ratings. 

Contact us for Professional Furnace Advice 

If you are still having trouble identifying the age of your furnace or have realized it is time for a replacement system, don’t hesitate to contact us to speak with some of the most experienced technicians in the industry. We will inspect Trane, Goodman and Bryant brand furnaces.  

We will inspect the overall operations of your existing furnace and determine its life expectancy. If you require a new furnace installation, you can count on us for quality work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.