How Much Does A New Furnace Cost? 

Here in the Ardmore PA and Main Line area, homes have a variety of heating and cooling systems. Some homes run on natural gas while others run on oil heat. Some people use electric systems as well.  All of them have pros and cons, but if you have an aging HVAC system in your home, what you really want to know is how much it’s going to cost you to replace it.

The average cost for furnace installation in Ardmore PA, and the Main Line is $7,000. The range is $5,000 to $10,000, and up to $15,000+ for high-end systems. The price depends on the size and strength, plus the energy efficiency.  Sometimes people end up replacing both their furnace and air conditioning at the same time- you can read more about that by clicking here.

Factors that affect price

Your costs are going to depend on what kind of system you currently have, and whether you need to replace it with a similar model, or potentially change your system to give you better comfort and efficiency, which will save you money in the long term. Here at John Cipollone, we want you to know all the factors that go into the price of a furnace, so you can make a choice that works best for your family.

Key things that affect your costs:

• The type of unit you are replacing. Most people stick with the fuel source they currently have when replacing a heater, but sometimes people decide it’s a good time to consider another option, like switching from oil to natural gas, or a heat pump system. Switching fuel sources can add to your up front costs, but may end up saving you money each month on fuel bills.  
  
  
• The size of the furnace– Making sure you have the right size furnace for your home is important. Sometimes, the initial HVAC system in a house may not have been sized correctly, or new additions to the home means a larger system may be necessary. If you have portions of your home that are always too hot or too cold, this might be solved when replacing your system. The bottom line is the bigger your home, the bigger a unit you will need, and the costs go up accordingly.
  
  
• Efficiency- Newer heating systems have greater efficiencies than older units, often due in part to better technology and new electronic controls. AFUE is a measure of the efficiency of a system, and new furnaces come with different efficiency ratings.  The higher the efficiency rating, the more costly a new system may be, but you will also save money each month on energy costs with a higher efficiency system, so that is something to consider.
  
  
• Type of Blower/heat distribution unit. There are three general types of blower units that help distribute heat throughout your home with forced air heating- single-stage, two-stage, and variable speed.  
  
  
  1. A single-stage system costs the least but it’s the least efficient and works best in smaller, single-level homes. It’s either on or off, working 100% all the time, and can lead to big swings in comfort levels in your home
     
     
  2.  A dual or two-stage system acts at 65% capacity most of the time and adds a second stage to go up to 100% capacity when needed- making sure your home is consistently comfortable.  This helps avoid big temperature swings in your home, and can also be helpful in keeping your humidity levels more consistent. This is usually recommended for homes that are larger and often have two or more floors of living space.
     
     
  3. Variable speed furnace blowers operate between 35 – 100% capacity, adjusting as needed to keep your home perfectly comfortable- up to half a degree. They are more efficient- varying the energy they use depending on the weather, and are generally quieter than single or two-stage systems. They are also more costly.
     
     
  4. Add-ons- If you add additional HEPA and air cleaning features, humidity controls and more, all of these can add costs when replacing your system, but they also add comfort and can decrease allergens and dust in the air, helping keep your family healthier as well.
     
     
• Installation challenges- If you are switching over fuel sources, need new duct work, need upgrades to your electrical system, or other complications, all of these will add additional labor and material cost to your furnace replacement.
  
  
• Brand- Different brands of furnaces come with different costs. Here at John Cipollone, Inc., we recommend Carrier oil and gas furnaces and heat pumps because of their efficiency and consistently high quality. Expect to get what you pay for – cheaper brands are out there, but often you end up replacing those systems sooner than higher quality systems like Carrier.

Money and Quality Matter

If it’s clear you need to replace your furnace, one thing to consider is the time of year. If you know your system will need to be replaced, waiting until it fails -always on the coldest day of the year- will end up costing you more money than deciding to replace a unit when your HVAC contractor has fewer demands. 

When a heater fails and needs immediate replacement, there may be less choice in available systems, more demand on the time of the technicians during a cold snap and more- which all will increase the price while decreasing your options- as happens in any emergency.  If you can schedule a replacement of your furnace during the spring or early Fall, you will end up with more choices and fewer emergency repair fees as well.

Here at John Cipollone, Inc., we try to keep you informed about the health of your system through our maintenance program, so you can help anticipate any issues- including whether it’s time to start considering a new system, so you can make a plan to replace a furnace before you are left out in the cold!  This way, you can be proactive and enjoy cost savings as well by making the change when it’s good for both of us- and you avoid any emergency fees as well.