"Did you stick with the same thermostat all this time, or upgrade at some point?"
I upgraded mine about five years ago to a programmable thermostat—honestly, best decision ever. Regular filter changes and annual DIY coil cleanings have kept my 18-year-old unit humming along nicely... fingers crossed for hitting that 20-year mark myself.
I swapped mine out about three years ago for one of those smart thermostats. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—seemed like just another gadget to fuss with—but it's actually been pretty handy. The remote control from my phone is a lifesaver when I'm away and forget to adjust the temp before leaving.
"Regular filter changes and annual DIY coil cleanings have kept my 18-year-old unit humming along nicely..."
You're definitely doing something right! I wish I'd been as diligent early on. My old HVAC made it to about 16 years before it finally gave up the ghost. Probably could've squeezed out a few more years if I'd paid more attention to maintenance back then. Lesson learned the hard way, I guess...
Anyway, sounds like you're on track to hit that 20-year milestone easily. Keep it up, and maybe you'll set some kind of forum record around here.
You're definitely ahead of the curve with your maintenance routine. Most folks don't realize how much those simple DIY cleanings and regular filter swaps can extend the life of their HVAC. I recently started doing coil cleanings myself—wish I'd known sooner. Keep it up, and hitting that 20-year mark shouldn't be an issue at all. Maybe you'll inspire a few of us to get our act together...
Hitting 20 years isn't just luck—it's good habits paying off. That said, even with regular DIY maintenance, sometimes parts just give out randomly. My neighbor was meticulous about upkeep, filters changed religiously, coils spotless... but still had a compressor fail at 12 years. On the flip side, my HVAC's pushing 18 now, and I only started getting serious about coil cleanings a few years ago (better late than never?). I'd say you're doing something right—stick with it and enjoy that extra cash saved from avoiding early replacements.
Wow, 20 years is impressive. Mine hit 16 this summer and honestly, I've been pretty lazy with upkeep until recently... guess I've been lucky too. Fingers crossed it keeps chugging along a bit longer, replacements aren't cheap.
