How Much Does a New Furnace Cost?
Key takeaways:
• Furnace replacement cost for an American Standard gas furnace includes the product and installation.
• Our new furnace costs range from about $5,000 on the low end to $10,000+ on the high end. There are a lot of variables.
• High-efficiency gas furnaces will cost more, as will furnaces with a higher heating capacity.
• For specific pricing, contact your American Standard dealer.
By Anne Fonda
Since a gas furnace can last 20+ years, most homeowners only need to replace a furnace once or twice in their lifetimes. It’s a big purchase, and you’re smart to be doing your research.
For more on those replacement furnace price ranges we mentioned, visit our HVAC Cost Guide. Reach out to your local American Standard HVAC expert for a home assessment and product recommendations.
Factors affecting your new furnace cost
Efficiency ratings, heating capacity, sizing, and more all factor into the cost of a new furnace. Let’s take a look.
#1: AFUE rating
A furnace's Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating measures how efficient a furnace is at turning fuel into heat. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace is. In general, a furnace with a higher AFUE rating will cost more than a similar furnace with a lower AFUE rating.
Let’s say you pay $100 for natural gas or propane for heating in a month.
- With an 80% AFUE furnace, $80 goes towards heating your home while $20 exits your home as flue gas.
- With a 90% AFUE furnace, $90 goes towards heating your home while $10 is exhausted as flue gas.
- With a 97% AFUE furnace, $97 goes to heating your home while $3 exits as flue gas.
If you have long, cold winters, the savings from a high-efficiency furnace could be worth the higher upfront cost.
#2: Sizing in BTUs
When you’re looking into gas furnace replacement, you need to know about heating capacity, or sizing. Furnaces come in various sizes, measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). One BTU equals the amount of heat required to raise or lower the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
You may not need a furnace with as many BTUs as your current furnace has if you’ve done a lot of home improvements such as adding insulation, sealing windows and doors, and fixing leaky ductwork. Be sure to ask any HVAC company giving you a quote to do a load calculation.
“BTU capacity affects comfort, efficiency, cost and the life of the system. If heating capacity of the furnace is too low, the room feels chilly even while your furnace continues to run. Too large and your system would short cycle, or heat the space too quickly and then shut off, resulting in wasted energy.”
- Sean Goddard, Senior Product Manager, Furnaces
#3: Number of stages or speeds
Our furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage, and variable speed. The number of stages or speeds can affect both your heating and cooling comfort.
- Variable speed means a furnace has a variable speed blower motor with ComfortR™ for humidity control in the summer. The variable speed blower motor runs at a wide variety of speeds to deliver precise temperature control throughout your home. Our Platinum Systems are variable speed. Variable speed systems are the quietest and most energy efficient.
- Two-stage means the furnace has two-stage heat, where it runs at 60-70% in chilly weather and 100% in cold weather. Two-stage heat can be combined with a variable speed blower motor for more consistent airflow. Two-stage systems provide more consistent heat than single-stage systems and are quieter.
- Single-stage means the furnace has single-stage heat, where the furnace is either heating at 100% capacity or it’s off. A single-stage furnace can be a good choice for small homes and milder climates. Pair it with a heat pump for a dual-fuel system.
#4: If you’re upgrading to a condensing furnace
Traditional furnaces with an AFUE of 80% vent flue gases through metal pipes in your chimney or piped through the roof. More efficient condensing furnaces (generally with an AFUE of 90% or higher) require PVC intake and exhaust pipes to be installed through an exterior wall or through the roof.
In addition, your HVAC technician(s) will need to install a condensate drain line. The extra labor and materials required will raise your overall costs when replacing a non-condensing furnace. However, if you’re replacing an existing condensing furnace, all of the pipes can be reused.
You’ll need to decide if the future energy savings and comfort from a condensing furnace are worth the higher installation cost.
#5: The condition of your ductwork
If you’re upgrading your system, HVAC companies you have come out for a quote should assess your current ductwork and airflow. If your ducts are undersized/oversized or in disrepair, they may recommend ductwork repair or ductwork replacement.
This is an additional cost, but issues with your ductwork can keep your new system from operating as efficiently as it could.
#6: Local labor rates
Finally, where you live can impact your gas furnace replacement cost. HVAC companies have to pay a living wage to keep experienced HVAC technicians and recruit new ones. So, if you live in a high-cost-of-living (HCOL) area, such as a big city in New York or California, labor costs will be higher than they might be for the same furnace installation in West Virginia.
Consider replacing the outdoor unit at the same time
If your central air conditioner or heat pump is 12+ years old, consider replacing it at the same time as you replace your furnace. You’ll save on furnace and AC replacement costs by doing it all in one visit, and HVAC replacement costs will only continue to go up.
0% HVAC financing can make it easier to get the system you need now by spreading the cost out over equal monthly payments.
Explore our furnaces
Visit our furnace product page to get a feel for what the various units have to offer. Then contact your local American Standard dealer(s) to schedule a quote.
Anne Fonda
Content Writer, Trane Technologies
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Sean Goddard, Senior Product Manager, Furnaces
Related articles
