How Much Should It Cost to Install a Furnace?

In terms of installation, a furnace is quite simple. You have your gas or electric line coming in from the outside and going to the furnace unit installed on your basement wall or crawlspace. Next, you have a blower fan that either pulls air through the ducts, pushing it into different rooms of your house, or blows air into those ducts, which then carry it throughout your home.

So what does this mean for how much it’s going to cost? If we were talking about something as complex as a central AC unit whose compressor would be installed outside of the house, then installing a furnace would be simple because there are no external parts. This is not to say it’s inexpensive, though, because even something as simple as a furnace will have various components that need installation and inspection.

The first thing you’re going to need is a flue pipe. A flue is a thin metal tube from your furnace directly up through your roof or into an existing chimney. You can purchase this at your local home improvement store for around $75-$100. A cutting tool of some sort, also known as a hacksaw, will be needed to cut the pipe to fit correctly.

Next, you’ll need to ensure the area where the unit will be installed has the necessary clearances to allow airflow. You’ll need to make sure that all of the electrical connections are up to local code, and on top of that, you’ll also need clearance for vent piping.

The next step is installing the unit itself. If you’re using electricity, then chances are it will be a simple plug-in installation, so there’s not much work required on your part at all. If you’re using gas, though, you may have to hire someone else depending on where your gas line enters your home.

So what about the ductwork? Most homes have existing ducts already for central heating. Still, if a new heating unit has been added or an old heating unit removed from your home, you may need to add a new duct on top of whatever it will cost to run lines for future airflow. This can get expensive because many people already have their vents in place and ready to go, so the running of new lines won’t cost very much. In contrast, someone who needs to install completely new lines will pay more—even having some minor modifications done, such as installing a flexible venting system rather than traditional metal ones, can be hundreds of dollars.