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| | | A simple wall or floor furnace can heat part or all of a small home without ductwork, while a larger unit may be the heart of a central system which distributes warmed air by blowing it through ducts. | | |
| Typical costs: | - A gas floor furnace (heat rises from a grill flush with the floor) runs around $900 -$1,500, with installation averaging $1,000 -$2,000.
- A self-contained, vented, gas wall furnace that provides hot air directly to the surrounding space ranges from $500 -$1,500 depending on capacity and energy efficiency; installation can run $1,000 -$2,000.
- Replacing an older gas furnace in a central heating system with a mid-efficiency (73-83 percent) unit when there's existing useable ductwork starts around $1,700 -$4,000, but depending on complexity and location can run $5,000 -$7,500 or more.
- A replacement high-efficiency (90-97 percent) gas furnace when there's useable existing ductwork starts around $2,500 -$6,000 but depending on complexity and location can be $7,000 -$10,000 or more.
- Replacing an oil-fuel furnace starts around $2,000 -$5,000, but can run $6,000 -$10,000 or more for complex installations.
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| What should be included: | - A floor or wall model is self-contained; it must be vented but there is no ductwork to carry air to other parts of the home.
- A central heat forced-air furnace has a burner, where the fuel is delivered and burned; a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the burners to the air; and a blower/fan to distribute the heated air into the ducts. Mr. Fix-It provides a detailed overview with easy-to-understand illustrations of how things work.
- A heating system that's too powerful for your home won't run properly, producing an uncomfortable living environment. A contractor should calculate the actual capacity needed.
- A permit may be required to replace a furnace; check with the local planning department
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| Additional costs: | - Some local governments require a fire inspection ($25 -$75) for a replacement furnace.
- Replacing an old furnace with a high-efficiency new one can also require installing a chimney liner for about $300 -$700 for a gas furnace or $700 -$1,800 for a fuel oil model. If needed, make sure this is included in all estimates.
- Removing an old fuel oil tank from the basement costs around, $500 -$1,500 and up depending on the complexity; removing an abandoned underground oil tank starts around $1,500 -$3,000 and goes up depending on complexity.
- Older ductwork might contain asbestos, creating unpredictable additional costs for asbestos removal.
- Adding an air cleaner to system the costs $700 -$900 and a programmable thermostat runs about $200 -$300.
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| Discounts: | - Check whether your power company offers discount packages through local dealers of energy-efficient furnaces. Your power company may also offer low-cost loans for energy-efficient home improvements..
- You might not have to buy a new furnace or you may be able to purchase a smaller, less-expensive model if you take energy-saving steps such as finding and sealing any air leaks, adding insulation or upgrading/replacing inefficient doors and windows. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy offers detailed guidelines.
- Until Dec. 31, 2007, consumers buying a furnace with an efficiency rating of at least 90 percent can claim a $150 -$200 income tax credit from the federal government. The Alliance to Save Energy lists the criteria for the tax credit, which also covers other improvements such as air conditioning, water heaters, windows and doors.
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| Shopping for a furnace: | |
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Article updated November 2007 |
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