How long does a heat pump last?
A heat pump typically lasts 15 to 16 years. The home builders’ survey gives 16 years and the US Department of Energy’s analysis uses about 15. A heat pump runs in both summer and winter, so it wears faster than an air conditioner of the same build.
What the published figures say
| Years | Source | What the figure is |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007) | Survey of manufacturers and trade groups. Its appliance figures describe use by the first owner. |
| About 15 | US Department of Energy, energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps, final rule (2017) | Average lifetime in the Department’s cost analysis, built from household survey data. |
| 15 | US Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program, purchasing energy-efficient residential air-source heat pumps | Assumption used to compute lifetime energy cost. |
| 15 to 20 | US Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center, air conditioning guide | A general statement about heating and cooling equipment. |
| More than 10: consider replacing | ENERGY STAR, when is it time to replace heating and cooling equipment? | A prompt to weigh replacement, not a life expectancy. |
The sources measure different things, which is why they differ. A survey of first owners gives a shorter figure than an analysis that follows units until they are scrapped. All of them describe typical equipment. A given unit can fail sooner or run far longer, and age alone is not a reason to replace anything that works safely.
How old is yours?
The build date is coded into the serial number. Where to find it: How old is my AC unit or heat pump?
Find the age from the serial number
What the build year tells you
- Built before 2010, when new units stopped being charged with R-22 at the factory. Many units of this age use R-22, which has not been produced or imported since 2020. The rating plate names the refrigerant.
- Most units of these years use R-410A. Since January 1, 2025 new systems are built for refrigerants with a lower global warming potential, such as R-454B and R-32. Servicing R-410A systems is still allowed.
- Built after the refrigerant rules changed on January 1, 2025. New systems use R-454B or R-32, which are mildly flammable. Replacement outdoor units for existing R-410A systems are still made, so check the refrigerant named on the rating plate.
- Built before January 23, 2006, when the federal minimum efficiency rose from 10 SEER to 13 SEER.
- Built under the SEER2 ratings that took effect on January 1, 2023. SEER2 numbers come from a different test and cannot be compared directly with older SEER labels.
What shortens or extends its life
- Year-round operation. A heat pump heats in winter and cools in summer, so it runs many more hours than an air conditioner.
- Dirty coils and filters.
- A refrigerant leak that is topped up without being repaired.
- An outdoor unit buried in snow or leaves, which blocks the airflow it needs to defrost.
- Maintenance that is skipped. A yearly check finds a failing part before it damages others.
Signs that replacement is near
- A failed compressor or reversing valve that is out of warranty.
- A refrigerant leak in a unit that uses R-22. R-22 has not been produced or imported since 2020.
- Backup heat that runs much of the time in ordinary cold.
- Higher electricity use for the same weather.
- Repairs that are becoming frequent.
Sizing the replacement
Sources
- NAHB and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007): https://teamcomplete.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/07-NAHB-Life-Expectancy-Depreciation-Feb-2007.pdf
- US Department of Energy, energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps, final rule (2017): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-01-06/html/2016-29992.htm
- US Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program, purchasing energy-efficient residential air-source heat pumps: https://www.energy.gov/cmei/femp/purchasing-energy-efficient-residential-air-source-heat-pumps
- US Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center, air conditioning guide: https://basc.pnnl.gov/resource-guides/air-conditioning
- ENERGY STAR, when is it time to replace heating and cooling equipment?: https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/heating-cooling/replace
- Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR 82.15 and 82.16, limits on R-22 (HCFC-22): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/section-82.15
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Technology Transitions sector tables for air conditioning and heat pumps: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/sector-tables
- Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32, energy and water conservation standards: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-10/section-430.32
Other equipment
- How long does a water heater last?
- How long does a tankless water heater last?
- How long does a furnace last?
- How long does a central air conditioner last?
- How long does a refrigerator last?
- How long does a washing machine last?
- How long does a clothes dryer last?
- How long does a dishwasher last?
- How long does a range or oven last?
Figures last checked against their sources on October 5, 2026. Method and sources.