Shopping for a furnace? Furnaces are integral to your home’s heating and cooling system. The furnace converts fuel into heat, while a fan circulates warm air throughout the home. When outside temperatures are hotter, the furnace uses the air conditioner to draw in warm air and circulate the cooled air. If you are looking to buy a new furnace, here are some things you should know.
Furnace Types
There are four main types of furnaces which include natural gas, propane, electric, and oil. Natural gas furnaces are the most economical and these days they are highly efficient. About half of all Americans use natural gas furnaces. In terms of cost, electric furnaces are your most inexpensive option but you’ll be paying more money for electricity than you would with gas. Oil furnaces are more commonly found in the northeastern United States and are less fuel efficient compared to gas. However, the initial cost of the furnace itself is lower. Lastly propane is a byproduct of oil and gas production and can be stored in tanks. Propane furnaces are used by only a small portion of the United States in areas where gas and oil are not easily accessible.
Is It Time to Replace?
If you aren’t sure whether it’s the right time to replace your furnace, there are a few things you should consider. It is often recommended that you replace a furnace that is 15 or more years old. Electric furnaces last even longer, up to 10 years longer in most cases. But age isn’t all important, you also want to check if your furnace has an AFUE of 80% or less, which is a measure of an appliance’s efficiency. If your furnace is need repairs more frequently or is otherwise declining in performance, these are other reasons to replace your furnace. Be sure that when looking for a replacement, that you consider the new units efficiency, heating stages, noise level and, of course, price!
Pricing
When it comes to shopping for furnaces, pricing is going to be the biggest concern for homeowners. Two major things that affect the cost of a furnace are the cost of the unit itself and the cost of installation. Based on the size and model, and the company installing your furnace, pricing will vary.
The Lennox SLP98V High Efficiency Gas Furnace is one of the most highly efficient models out there. It has an efficiency of 98.7% and a 10-year limited warranty. With installation, it can cost you between $3,250 to $ 5,500. Another high-efficiency model, the York TM9V High Efficiency Gas Furnace can cost between $3,000 to $6,900. That has an efficiency of 96% and a 10-year limited warranty on the parts. To compare with an non high-efficiency model, the MRCOOL 80% AFUE 5 Ton 110K BTU Upflow/Horizontal 5-Speed Gas Furnace at Lowe’s is $1012. However, that does not include installation costs.
As mentioned, electric furnaces usually have a lower upfront cost. You can purchase a model between $850 to $1,500. However, installation costs can vary between $1,200 to $6,000. According to Modernize Home Services, the average cost of American Standard Furnaces is $1,143, while installation costs add another $2,400. Meanwhile, electric Lennox furnaces are around $1,125 and installation costs are $2,418.
The cost of oil and propane furnaces is about in the middle. The Comfort-Aire 83% AFUE 95,000 BTU Output Front Flue Oil Highboy Hot Air Furnace at Home Depot is about $2,150 and that price does not include installation. The Blueridge 134,000-151,000 BTU BGL83UF Highboy Upflow Oil Furnace will cost you about $2,050. Propane furnaces are generally less than that but still higher than electric, such as the Williams Forsaire - 60K BTU - Propane Direct-Vent Wall Furnace for $1,529.
If you are on the hunt for a new furnace for your home or mobile home, you have a ton of options available. Determine the right fit for you and compare quotes to ensure that you are getting the best deal on your unit and installation.
