How long does a heat pump last?
Updated August 2026
A heat pump lasts 10–15 years, a little shorter than a cooling-only air conditioner because it works both seasons: it cools in summer and heats in winter, so the compressor logs close to twice the annual runtime. That extra duty is the whole story. A heat pump in a mild climate that leans on it only lightly can reach 15 or more, while one carrying the full heating load through a cold northern winter may be tired by 10. Ground-source (geothermal) systems are the exception: the buried loop lasts 50+ years and the indoor equipment 20–25.
Lifespan by type and situation
| Type or situation | Typical lifespan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Air-source heat pump (typical) | 10–15 years | Runs for both heating and cooling, so it ages faster than an AC |
| Mild climate, light heating load | 15+ years | Less winter runtime means less wear on the compressor |
| Cold climate, primary heat source | 10–12 years | Heavy year-round duty shortens the compressor life |
| Coastal, salt exposure | 7–12 years | Salt air corrodes the outdoor coil and fins |
| Geothermal indoor unit | 20–25 years | The compressor lives indoors, away from weather |
| Geothermal ground loop | 50+ years | The buried pipe outlives everything else in the system |
Signs yours is near the end
- Weak or lukewarm air in heating mode, or the backup electric strips kicking in more than they used to
- The reversing valve sticking, so the unit struggles to switch between heat and cool
- Ice building on the outdoor coil that no longer clears on the defrost cycle
- Grinding or screeching from the outdoor fan or compressor bearings
- A climbing electric bill in both summer and winter at the same settings
- Frequent repairs on a system already past 10 years
How to add years
Because a heat pump runs year-round, twice-yearly attention pays off more than it does on a furnace-and-AC pair. Have it serviced in spring and fall so a tech checks the refrigerant charge, the reversing valve, and the defrost controls before each season leans on it. Clean the coils and keep leaves and snow clear of the outdoor unit so airflow stays open, since a smothered coil makes the compressor labor. Run the heat pump checklist at each changeover, change the indoor filter every 1–3 months, and once the unit passes 10 to 12 years with a failing compressor or reversing valve, price a replacement.
What it costs to replace: plan on $5,500–10,000 installed. Replacing on your own schedule, before it fails, is almost always cheaper than the emergency version. The home maintenance cost calculator helps you set the money aside before it comes due.
OnOtto tracks your heat pump tune-ups age and service history, and warns you before end of life instead of after the flood.
Track your home's systems, free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Why does a heat pump last less than an AC?
Runtime. A cooling-only air conditioner sits idle all winter, but a heat pump reverses and runs through the cold months too, so its compressor logs close to twice the operating hours per year. Since compressor wear tracks hours of use, that doubled duty naturally shortens the calendar life to 10–15 years against an AC's 12–17. It also means maintenance matters more, not less: the same tune-up is protecting a machine that works twice as hard.
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Modern cold-climate models do, far better than older ones. Standard air-source units lose capacity as it gets colder and lean on electric backup heat below roughly 30–40°F, while cold-climate inverter models keep useful output down near 0°F or lower. The harder a heat pump works to hold the house warm through a deep winter, though, the more runtime it piles up, which is why cold-climate units used as the primary heat source often land at the 10–12 year end of the range.
Is a 12-year-old heat pump worth fixing?
It depends on the part. At 12 years a heat pump is deep into its 10–15 year life, so a $1,500–2,500 compressor or reversing-valve repair is rarely worth it: that money is better put toward a $5,500–10,000 replacement that resets the clock and runs more efficiently. A cheap fix, a $150 capacitor or contactor, or a $250 defrost board, is fine for keeping an otherwise sound unit going another season or two.