A furnace replacement done in a day, done to code

80% or 96%

An 80% AFUE furnace vents up your existing chimney liner and costs less. A 96% condensing furnace vents out a sidewall in PVC, produces condensate that has to be drained, and burns roughly 16% less gas. On an average Whitehall gas bill, the upgrade typically saves $180 to $290 a year. If you're staying in the house more than six years, the 96% usually pays. If you're two years from selling, an 80% is the honest answer.

One thing to know: if you have a gas water heater sharing the chimney and you switch the furnace to a 96%, that chimney is now oversized for the water heater alone and may need relining. We check that during the estimate and include it in the quote if it applies — rather than discovering it on install day.

Real pricing

• 80% AFUE single-stage, straight replacement: typically $4,400 – $6,200
• 96% AFUE two-stage with ECM blower: typically $6,600 – $9,300
• 96% modulating with variable-speed blower: typically $9,000 – $12,000
• Furnace and AC together (full system): typically $11,000 – $15,000, and cheaper than doing them two years apart

What install day looks like

Two techs arrive between 7:30 and 8. Old furnace out by mid-morning, new unit set and connected, sheet metal fabricated on site, venting run, gas and electrical connected, condensate routed. We fire it, set gas pressure, measure temperature rise against the nameplate, run a combustion analysis, and check static pressure. You get a walkthrough on the filter, the thermostat, and the shutoffs. Old equipment leaves with us. Heat is on the same evening — we don't leave a house cold overnight.

Warranty

10-year parts warranty registered by us on your behalf, plus 2 years on our labor. If a part we installed fails in that window, there's no diagnostic fee and no labor charge. Maintenance plan members get the labor coverage extended to 5 years.