Uncooked rice often contains the bacteria Bacillus cereus. These bacteria can form protective spores that survive the cooking process and if the rice is cooled slowly (and left between 5 Â°C and 60 Â°C for a long time), these bacteria spores can germinate, grow and produce a toxin (poison) that causes vomiting.
Obviously the colder a climate is, the more a furnace is required to run, and the shorter its life expectancy. With our relatively mild climate here in Seattle and the rest of the Puget Sound, the average life expectancy for a gas furnace is 15 to 20 years if well maintained, properly installed, and properly sized.
Air conditioners and heat pumps last an average of 10 to 12 years, while furnaces have a life span of around 15 to 20 years. If your equipment is within those ranges, expect more repairs in the near future. Technology changes all the time. This is as true for your heating and cooling system as it is for your phone.