We moved into our house exactly 20 years ago this month, and believe it or not, we're still running on the original HVAC unit. I keep hearing from neighbors and friends how theirs gave up after maybe 10-15 years tops, and here we are cruising along at two decades. I've done regular filter changes and had it serviced maybe every other year (okay, sometimes less than that, you know how life gets), but nothing extraordinary. I'm starting to wonder if we got some kind of magical unicorn unit or something.
Honestly, I'm half expecting it to suddenly give up now that I've bragged about it online, lol. But seriously, makes me curious if others have similar stories—anyone else managing to squeeze way more life out of their heating and cooling than expected? Would love to hear your experiences or tips if you've got 'em.
"I've done regular filter changes and had it serviced maybe every other year (okay, sometimes less than that, you know how life gets), but nothing extraordinary."
You're definitely doing something right. Regular filter changes are honestly half the battle...keeps the unit from working harder than it needs to. Had clients whose systems lasted 25+ years with just basic upkeep like yours. The newer ones are efficient, sure, but built differently—sometimes simpler older tech just lasts longer. Keep riding that unicorn till it bucks you off, lol.
You're definitely not alone with that kind of luck. My last place had an HVAC pushing 22 years before I finally replaced it. Honestly, I wasn't even that diligent with maintenance—just swapped filters every few months and had it serviced maybe twice in the decade I owned it. Like you said:
"sometimes simpler older tech just lasts longer."
Exactly my experience. Newer units save energy, sure, but they seem fussier somehow...
I've actually noticed the opposite with some of my recent projects. A few older units I've come across seem to last forever, sure, but they also run a lot louder and unevenly heat or cool spaces. Newer HVAC systems might feel fussier because they're more sensitive to proper installation and setup—it's not always about complexity; sometimes it's just precision. I worked on a place last year where the homeowner swapped out their 20-year-old dinosaur for a modern system, and after some initial tweaking, their comfort level (and noise!) improved dramatically.
I do get the nostalgia for simpler tech though... less to go wrong, fewer sensors, fewer electronics. But I'd argue that when newer units are installed properly and maintained regularly, they're pretty reliable too. Maybe it's less about old vs new tech and more about how carefully things are set up from day one? Just thinking out loud here...
I've actually noticed the opposite with some of my recent projects.
Good points about installation quality. I've seen older units last decades mainly because they were sized correctly from the start and installed with proper ductwork. Newer systems can definitely outperform older ones, but only if the initial setup is spot-on.
