Furnace Replacement Doesn’t Have to Cost an Arm And a Leg
We’ve all heard horror stories of furnace replacements costing $20,000 or more. And while that could be the case (if you want it to be), A R Engh is here to tell you it’s going to be okay.
The national average cost of a new furnace unit and installation is $4,453. This number can typically range from $2,500 to $6,500 based on the furnace model and installation needs. These numbers are based on the average household, not some mansion only 1% of the population have access to.
Throughout this blog, we’re going to explore the typical charges of getting a furnace replaced, a few typical charges people often don’t think about, and a couple ways you can save some money during this costly home improvement process.
Typical Furnace Repair Charges
Furnace
First and foremost, you need to pick the new furnace that will be installed in your home. You typically have 3 choices: electric, natural gas, or oil. These three types of furnaces all come with their own pros and cons, including price.
Electric Furnaces are typically the cheapest option, but they do not do well in colder climates where the furnace needs to be more powerful.
Natural gas furnaces are the most common option for colder climates and are the middle option when it comes to price. High-efficiency models can set you back more in the beginning but could save you money in the long run by heating your house more efficiently than basic models.
Oil furnaces are the most expensive option and are becoming less and less common. However, with a good maintenance schedule, they can last you 10 years beyond the other models.
Installation
In today’s world of DIY and YouTube tutorials, people have decided they can do almost anything themselves. In most cases they’re correct, but not when it comes to installing a furnace. This job typically takes around 10 hours for trained professionals to complete, and it will usually be completed by at least two technicians. Your final charge will depend on the specific amount of time the technicians need to spend on the job and any extra steps that come up in the process.
This is why it’s so important to make sure you are working with a reputable company. You are trusting they are doing the work correctly and as efficiently as possible. This is something we pride ourselves on at A R Engh: we take the time it needs to get the job done right, but we also work as efficiently as possible.
Typical Charges People Forget About
As a company who installs furnaces on a regular basis, we know what needs to be done on the typical job. Many of our customers, however, only have a furnace replaced once or twice in their lifetimes. This means people don’t always know all typical steps to replacing a furnace. Sometimes it’s a little more involved than simply taking the old furnace out and slipping the new furnace in. Here are a few normal charges people often forget about.
New Ductwork
In order to make sure your new furnace is installed properly and working efficiently, your technicians will inspect any existing ductwork you have. Oftentimes, ductwork needs to be repaired or replaced to make the old ductwork work seamlessly with the new furnace.
Gas Lines and Ventilation
While this is less common, it still happens often enough that we feel it’s important to mention. Depending on the type of furnace you had previously and the type of furnace you are choosing for your new installation, the gas lines and ventilation systems may need to be installed or adjusted.
Again, this is where it’s important to work with companies you know you can trust. A R Engh would never suggest adjusting the gas lines if it wasn’t necessary for safe installation and use. However, we would also never skip this step because of it being an added expense. Your family’s safety is our utmost concern.
Permits and Inspections
As with many home improvement projects, the work needs to be done through permits and inspections. Many reputable furnace companies will have all of this information readily available for you, telling you exactly who to contact and when. Many cities have no cost inspection options as well, so this may not be an added expense, but it is required when replacing a furnace.
Save a little money along the way
There are a few ways to save some money or keep costs down, and we would be remiss not to tell you.
Making sure to choose the correct size furnace for your area is key to long-term savings. While it may be tempting to choose a smaller unit for the cost savings at the beginning, the extra wear and tear of the small unit working overtime to heat a space it wasn’t created for will cost you more money in the long run. Talk with your furnace installer to discuss what the best model is for you, and whether or not investing a large amount of money now will save you more money in the long run.
Once your new furnace is installed, including routine maintenance in your budget will extend the life of your furnace and save you costly repairs down the road.
Finally, your furnace installer should also know if your new furnace qualifies for any credit with the local gas or electric companies. Many gas and electric companies offer credits for installing high-efficiency models, helping a little bit of your investment go back into your pocket.
Choosing the right company to replace your furnace can have a drastic impact on the amount you’ll end up paying on installation day and down the road.
A R Engh is always the right company because we value you as our customer. Your trust and business allows us to keep doing what we love, and we are grateful for it. A big home improvement project like furnace replacement requires a lot of trust in the company you choose. We are proud to earn yours.
Contact us right now to check out your own furnace, see where it may be in its lifespan, and explore replacement options if that’s deemed necessary.
No matter what, we’ve got your back.
