I have debated on what kind of HVAC system to get for my phone. A big concern of mine is how long the system will last. I don’t want to spend thousands only to have a system poo out on me in a couple of years. I found that 15 years is the low end of HVAC life. A ductless heat pump and heated flooring only live about that. The point is that you want to redo the floors after that time anyway. What if I don’t though? A heat pump is super expensive to only get a 15 year commitment too. Furnaces and fireplaces with proper care can go into the 20s. Central HVAC units also are about 20 years long. That is a little better. What scares me away from them is the amount of service required. You get 20 years but you need to earn them. The furnace needs yearly celaings, oiling and tightening of loose parts. Central HVAC units need air filter changes and frequent care as well. Once you factor in those costs and time, is it really worth those five extra years? What I really have been leaning towards is a boiler system. If you don’t do anything about it, a boiler should live around 50 years. If you actually do heating service and invest in replacement parts, people have owned boilers for almost 80 years. That is a much better commitment. The price tag is obviously much higher, but I feel you get what you pay for. A boiler also is a very versatile heating device.