How much does a furnace cost to install?

The cost to install a new furnace varies, but the most common high efficiency natural gas residential furnaces range between $4,800 to $8,800 Canadian. Differences in the complexity of the furnace installation, size of the unit and features of the furnace can increase the cost of installation. 

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Reasons the cost to install a furnace is unique to the home. 

There are different features in furnaces and different sizes of units. Venting can be difficult to install into an existing home and the Hot Water Tank's venting may need a liner kit to meet building codes.

 

Furnace size. Square feet and CFM - it is recommended to size the new furnace to the size of the ductwork rather than just the square footage of the home. However, the size of the home does matter... a 3,500 square foot home would require a larger furnace than a 1,500 square foot home.

 

Condensate pumps - older homes with septic systems and mechanical rooms in basements did not typically have drains in the concrete, in these situations a condensate pump is needed to push the water.

 

Age of home/placement of utility room in the home - If your furnace is older than 10 years usually new exhaust venting pipes are required for the installation of a the high efficiency gas furnace.

The majority of 60's and 70's homes have a fairly basic layout (rectangular shape) so ductwork is much easier to design and install and the furnace is often close to the exterior wall of the home, which creates a shorter run to exhaust the furnace to the outside.

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Newer homes generally have more unique architectural designs to them and the mechanical equipment can be located in many different spaces (Garage, crawl space, exterior mechanical room, or in the middle of the basement under the stairs).

The length of new venting required to exhaust the furnace to the exterior and the difficulty of the installation of the new venting will impact the overall cost of your homes new furnace installation. 

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Do you have problems with your existing furnace? 

There is more than just the cost of replacement to consider when shopping for your homes new mechanical system.  

• Improper airflow or cold rooms - New furnaces have the ability to deliver more airflow than the older ones. This can help with those rooms that might not see as much airflow.

• Noise - If the noise levels from your existing furnace are intrusive be sure the let us know, some furnaces are quieter than others. 

• 5" Filters - bigger is better in the eyes of the system, 5" filters help your system breathe better. Installing the filter in proper location, and size are paramount to the systems air delivery abilities.

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Which furnace should I buy? What furnace is the best? 

There are a lot of options when it comes to brand, make, and models of furnaces, so how do you narrow it down?

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There are many great brands of heating and cooling equipment, many brands are even made by the same manufacturer, a google search will confirm that yes, Trane and American Standard are both made by Ingersol Rand and Goodman manufactures  the Daikin product, Lennox manufactures Airease, Allied and Ducane etc etc.
 

The #1 concern (after price) is the Reliability of a furnace. This depends on a variety of factors, including how often maintenance is performed, if it’s properly-sized for your home, but most importantly, the quality of workmanship on the installation. It is often said that the reliability of your new furnace installation is 60% installation and 40% product.

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Things to look for in your HVAC contractor

Make sure you go with a certified and insured contractor. Companies affiliated with FortisBC's Trade Ally Network are certified and require up to date liability insurance to be a part of the network. 

Next choose a company that backs their work by offering a warranty on labour for new installations (like we do). Your home is too important to risk to a company that isn't insured, and doesn't stand by their work.

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We proudly install Airease heating and cooling products because of their high quality standards for efficiency and reliability. Airease products feature innovative technology and versatility that gives us the confidence to know your home will be consistently comfortable.

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What is the best time of year to replace a furnace?

The easiest answer to this question is: The best time to replace your furnace is when it is NOT an emergency. Most furnace and air conditioning manufacturers offer rebates periodically throughout the year and of course its ideal to have your equipment changed when the outdoor temperatures are mild. No one wants to have their  system down and furnace removed on the coldest or warmest days of the year.

 

FortisBC Furnace Rebates. Who gets them?

Typically homes that have a Furnace that is 10 years or older, and are a year round primary residence qualify for rebates. Have a look at our Rebate Page for the most up to date information. ​