A 69-year-aged furnace, still operating in a Bowmanville, Ontario home, recently won a longevity contest hosted by Button’s Heating and Air Conditioning, highlighting a trend of older appliances outlasting newer models.
The contest, designed to recognize the durability of older heating systems, awarded Doug Bothwell a new, high-efficiency Daikin furnace, installed free of charge. According to Todd Button, owner of Button’s Heating and Air Conditioning, the fourth-place entry was a 49-year-old furnace, followed by a 55-year-old unit in third and a 60-year-old furnace taking second place. “We thought we would try to uncover one lucky person with the oldest furnace out there and help them enjoy a new furnace,” Button said.
Bothwell, the contest winner, stated he couldn’t recall a time when the furnace wasn’t a fixture in his home. “This furnace has been here in the house maybe all of my life,” he told CTV News. Remarkably, despite its age, the furnace had never required any repairs. “I don’t recall us having any problems whatsoever, not one. It just ran and ran.”
The replacement furnace, provided by Daikin and McKeough Supply, is expected to deliver significant energy savings. Button estimates Bothwell will save “a tonne in hydro and significantly in gas as well” due to the new unit’s increased efficiency. While modern furnaces typically have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance, they often incorporate more complex electronics and sensors, potentially increasing repair costs.
Button noted that older furnaces, like Bothwell’s, were often built with fewer moving parts, contributing to their longevity. “I guess it’s one of those things… They don’t build them like they used to, right? It was purring like a kitten. I was in shock at how well it was still working,” Bothwell remarked.
Despite the reliable performance of his decades-old furnace, Bothwell readily accepted the upgrade. “I can’t complain about it at all. Let’s just hope this one is half as excellent as the old one. That would be great,” he said.
The retired furnace isn’t destined for a scrapyard. Instead, it has been donated to the HVAC program at Durham College, where students will have the opportunity to study its construction and potentially glean insights into improving the durability of future furnace designs.
