Furnace installation cost is one factor in deciding what sort of system you want for your Dayton area home. One thing is certain: It’s best to do research and make the choice before the failure of your aging, existing furnace forces you into a snap decision – perhaps at a time when you’re at a disadvantage to get the best deal and service (such as the middle of this winter’s coldest spell). Another thing to consider is expected service life. The average new furnace will last around 15 years. So, whatever choice you make now, you’ll be living with the consequences for well over a decade if you stay in the home. Here are some of the factors that influence furnace installation cost:
Gas, oil or electric? Electric furnaces have the lowest upfront and installation costs. If you’re upgrading from an existing electric furnace, the new one will usually exactly replace the old furnace with few if any accommodations required. However, though electric furnaces have high efficiency ratings, the substantially higher cost of electricity in most areas usually makes them the most expensive option for home heating.
Venting. Gas and oil furnaces require direct venting to the outdoors for safety reasons. If you’re replacing an electric model, these vent ducts probably aren’t installed in the home. They’ll have to be added in order to upgrade to gas or oil. You’ll also need to have gas lines run into your home if they’re not already there.
Efficiency. New higher-efficiency condensing gas furnaces with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings of 90 percent or more will require additional installation accommodations. Most need separate intake and exhaust venting, typically routed through an exterior wall instead of the roof. In addition, a condensate drain system is required to remove water extracted from the combustion process.
Ductwork. Connecting any type of new, efficient furnace to aging, leaky ductwork is false economy. Building codes in many locales now mandate duct pressure-testing and sealing, if required, whenever an existing air conditioner or furnace is upgraded.
For more information about furnace installation cost in your Dayton or Springfield area home, please contact us at Detmer And Sons, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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