Here are some of our most popular questions and answers.  If you don't see an answer to a question that you have or have an idea for a new FAQ, please feel free to use any or our contact methods to let us know.  Remember we support and update this site for the benefit of our customers and everyone!!

How long will an air conditioner or furnace last?

Consumer Reports and other industry publications say that the average life of heating and cooling equipment is 12-15 years.  It is not that at 15 years your system will quit working or that you may not have 20 years of worry free trouble, but at 12-15 years the equipment has given many years of service and may become more prone to costly repairs.  Also, a major factor is that the equipment efficiency is always improving.  Just 10 years ago most furnaces were 80% efficient and now most are near 95%.  So just by replacing a 10 year old furnace, depending on efficiency, you could reduce your heating cost by 15%.  For central air conditioning, the federal goverment regulates the minimum efficiency which is SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). Just like a vehicle's MPG, the higher the number, the better.  In 2006, the minimum went from 10 to 13 SEER, which for Wisconsin is about $50 per year.  By replacing your 10 year old air conditioner (which when it was new had an average SEER of 7 or 8) with a 13 SEER, you could cut your cooling costs in half.  So even though it is only 10 years old and working ok, by upgrading you can cut your annual costs; not have to worry about costly repairs; and make your home safer and healthier.