What is a Typical New Furnace Price?

A new furnace price is one of the factors you'll want to consider when replacing your heating system. Several factors go into furnace pricing, so we'll help you out by breaking down the different aspects.

Overall New Furnace Price

The average new furnace price ranges from $2,000 to $8,000. On average across this country, a full installation costs $6,000. This includes the price of the new unit, labor fees, and other installation upgrades or costs.

Furnace Type

An individual gas furnace unit costs $650 to $3,000 on average. The total cost, including installation, averages $3,000 to $8,000. The average price of an electric furnace unit is $700 to $1,100. It's cheaper to install an electric furnace than it is a natural gas furnace, with total costs including installation averaging $2,000 to $4,000. However, electric furnaces usually have higher operational costs, as they create a higher electricity bill.

A propane furnace unit ranges from $800 to $2,000 on average. When installation costs are included, the total costs add up to between $2,500 and $5,000. The average price of an individual oil furnace is $500 to $2,500. The total costs range from $3,000 to $5,000 on average.

Efficiency

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the metric for measuring furnace efficiency. Furnaces with higher AFUE ratings usually cost more. However, by purchasing a high-efficiency furnace, you may qualify for a tax break or a rebate.

Previous Type of Furnace

Your previous furnace type also has an impact on price. If your previous furnace was an electric furnace, it could cost $200 to $500 to have gas lines installed if you're planning to purchase a gas furnace.

Labor

Labor costs typically range from $75 to $100 an hour. The company you choose and the job complexity also affect labor costs. For example, you may need additional ducts installed, which would increase the labor costs. You could also pay furnace inspection charges of $200 to $600 and an assistant hourly fee of $50.

As you can see, multiple factors affect a new furnace price, including the company you work with. Be sure to choose a trustworthy and experienced HVAC company. If you're in the Broken Arrow area, contact the heating professionals at Air Assurance. We've been handling furnace installations for 36 years.

Things to Consider for Furnace Installation

Upgrading to a new furnace is an important step towards improved home comfort and lower energy bills. Furnace installation is a lengthier and more complex process than installing simpler appliances, however. In order to get the most benefit from your new furnace and to ensure installation goes smoothly, keep in mind the following things.

Furnace Installation Should be Completed by a Professional

Poorly installed furnaces pose serious safety hazards, such as the risk of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Only allow a licensed technician to install your new heating system. Professional HVAC contractors understand the importance of following special guidelines for furnace installation. These include:

• Calculating the heating load — A load calculation is necessary in order to determine the correct furnace size for your home. An undersized or oversized furnace will cost you money and won’t give you the best in comfort. Many variables, such as number of occupants, the home’s insulation, number of windows and type of windows, and the number of levels to the home figure into this calculation.

• Placement — A furnace requires sufficient clearance to allow sufficient airflow and maintenance access. Your contractor will also follow local codes regarding distance between the furnace and combustible materials.

• Ductwork — Before installation begins, a contractor should check your home’s ducts to ensure they are compatible and in good repair. Cracks in the ductwork or poor duct design will diminish your new furnace’s efficiency.

Prepare Your Space

The furnace installer will need enough room to work safely and comfortably. You can help by clearing a path to the furnace area and then cleaning the area itself of debris. Move items into another room or at least away from the work area and make sure pets are safely confined in another area of the home.Professional technicians clean up after they are finished. Your home doesn’t need to be spotless, but it is very helpful if the area is clear of furnishings or anything else that could get in the way.

For more information about furnace installation in your Broken Arrow home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Neil-Lockhart/Shutterstock”

Furnace Installation Coming Up? 3 Points to Ponder Prior

If you're in the process of shopping for a furnace replacement, there are a few things you'll want to consider. Selecting the wrong type of furnace will result in energy waste, excessive fuel and repair costs, and can also compromise your indoor comfort and air quality.

Make sure you discuss the following three points with a licensed HVAC contractor before moving forward with your furnace installation.

Sizing. Many homeowners automatically use their old furnace size as the guideline for their replacement. That can be a huge mistake. Since furnaces have an average lifespan of about 20 years or so, chances are the original HVAC contractor used "rule of thumb" measurements to determine the furnace size. These days, knowledgeable contractors use Manuals J, D, and S to get accurate load calculations and to determine the most energy-efficient HVAC equipment and design for your home. Among other things, accurate furnace sizing requires an inspection of your current HVAC system, building materials, insulation R-values and a conversation regarding typical home occupancy and furnace usage.

Energy and Cost Efficiency. Modern furnaces can have AFUEs as high as 97 or more. However, your contractor may recommend one with a slightly lower AFUE depending on your needs. The key is to find the best system in terms of energy consumption and fuel costs, as well your household budget. Your contractor can use a series of calculations based on your home's energy efficiency, current fuel prices and projected fuel costs to select a furnace with an AFUE that will pay for itself, and possibly more, over time.

Fuel source. Fuel prices are always fluctuating. The most affordable fuel when your original furnace was installed may not be the most cost-effective option now. Talk to your HVAC technician about your options, including wood pellets or geothermal heat pump, which may be wiser investments in today's market.

Once your new furnace installation is complete, make sure to observe annual maintenance appointments, or sign up for a maintenance plan to reduce lifetime repair costs.

Need a new furnace installation in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Installing a New Furnace? Questions to Ask Your HVAC Contractor

If you’re planning on installing a new furnace or air conditioner, arm yourself with these questions to ask your HVAC technician before the installation process begins.

• Are you licensed and insured? Ask for the contractor’s license number and verify it with the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. Then, ask whether the contractor has liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Odds are the job will go smoothly, but just in case, insurance guarantees you are not responsible for any accident or injury.

• Are you NATE certified? While you certainly want a contractor who is licensed and insured, take it one step further by asking about North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification. This is the only third-party certification program for HVAC technicians recognized across the industry.

• Can you give me references and a written bid? Check with references and compare bids from three or more contractors before making your choice.

• How will you size my new furnace? If the contractor says they plan on installing a new furnace based on square footage alone, look elsewhere. This inaccurate rule of thumb won’t provide the accurate sizing you need for efficient performance and maximum home comfort. Formal calculations are found in Manual J, and that’s what you want your contractor to refer to when sizing your new HVAC equipment.

• Are there any rebates available? Many companies consider this a hassle. Paperwork, delayed payment, etc can deter them from doing the right thing. Always ask or do your research. WIth the many rebates available currently, you can purchase higher efficiency units at the same cost as the lower efficient units for the same net cost!

• What energy efficiency should I choose? Discuss all your options with the contractor and figure out your return on investment for more costly but also more efficient furnaces so you can make an informed decision.

• What about warranties? Compare warranty options between units. Get any guarantees from the contractor in writing.

• Will someone come and inspect my system? It’s common practice for the contractor to revisit your home about one month after installation to verify the furnace is working correctly.

• What maintenance should I perform? Taking good care of your furnace after it’s installed will help it perform efficiently and last years longer. Learn about changing the filter and sign up for a maintenance agreement.

Air Assurance is a reputable, affordable contractor in Broken Arrow. To start the process of installing a new furnace, contact us today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

A Guide To Choosing A Heating Contractor For A Furnace Installation

When it comes to choosing a heating contractor, you need to make sure you take your time and find a great one. That is especially true when it comes to furnace installation and maintenance because carbon monoxide and combustible materials are involved.Follow this guide for choosing a heating contractor:

• Demand Energy Star-qualified products. You want maximum efficiency and savings, which means you need your furnace to meet Energy Star criterion for efficiency.

• Home assessments are the first step. Any contractor who offers a quote or recommends a product without assessing your home is cutting corners. A good contractor will perform Manual J load calculations and advise you on ways to decrease your heating demand before they price the job or suggest a furnace.

• Ask about rebates. There are often local and federal tax credits and other rebates available which may make one model more affordable than another.

• Ductwork should be part of the estimate. Your ducts have to work with the new heating equipment. That means they have to be sized appropriately and in good enough condition to handle the airflow. Work may not be needed, but if maintenance is needed, the contractor should be able to explain exactly what needs to be done and why.

• A walk-through should be included. Once the furnace is installed and completely ready for operation, the contractor should walk you through every aspect and feature. They should take you through everything from changing the filter to annual maintenance and cleaning.

• There should be thorough tests and documentation. The operation of the furnace should be tested at several key points for proper airflow, temperature and function. The results should be documented and you should receive a copy.

• Third-party verification is a bonus. Some contractors bring in another party to verify that the job was done correctly. This protects you and the contractor and is a sign that they are confident in their work.

If you're choosing a heating contractor in the Broken Arrow area, contact us at Air Assurance. Homeowners in this region have trusted us for more than 25 years, and we'll make sure the job is done right.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock