A central heating system within the home or office was designed to be as efficient as possible. These systems come in a wide variety of types, powered by different fuel sources, and have varying average lifespans. The lifespan of your heating system depends on the system itself, the level of maintenance required annually, and whether or not you had the system professionally installed.
For the most part, a furnace will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. A boiler, however, can last up to 30 years if properly cared for the entire time. For a boiler, the quality of the water being supplied will make a huge impact on how long the heating system will remain effective.
Some key maintenance tasks a home or business owner can perform to ensure they get the most out of their heating system include changing the filter regularly, receiving service on their system either annually or seasonally, removing debris from an outside unit, and replacing the refrigerant when needed.