How Much Does It Cost to Install a Furnace in Connecticut?

A furnace installation in Connecticut can range between $4,600 and $8,500, the median price being somewhere around $5,500.

The exact cost of your furnace installation will ultimately depend on 2 factors:

1. The furnace itself and any system modifications needed
2. The company that installs your system

One of the most expensive parts of your furnace installation will be the furnace itself. The cost of the furnace will depend on:

• Fuel type
• Furnace size
• Furnace efficiency
• Additional features

When it comes to buying a furnace, the 3 most common options include:

1. Electric: The least expensive upfront, but electricity is the highest in terms of utility costs.
2. Oil: The most expensive upfront, but oil is between electric and gas in heating costs.
3. Gas: Somewhere between the cost of oil and electric upfront, gas furnaces have the lowest monthly energy costs.

But choosing a fuel type isn’t only a matter of personal preference. Your technician may recommend sticking with the type of furnace you already have in order to keep installation costs down.

You’ll have to pay more for the installation if:

• You’re switching fuel types. If you’re looking to switch from an electric furnace or oil heating to gas, you may need to pay to have a gas line installed for the furnace. If you already have a gas or oil furnace and would like to switch to electric (we don’t recommend this given the higher utility costs), you’ll probably need to have your electrical panel upgraded so it can handle the additional load.
• Your ventilation system needs work. Gas furnaces require proper ventilation to ensure the carbon monoxide that’s released in the heating process is safely expelled. If your ventilation system needs to be repaired or moved to accommodate your new furnace, that will add to your overall installation cost.

The larger and more efficient your furnace, the more it will cost to install.

Furnaces are sized in British Thermal Units (BTUs), which is a measurement of how much heat they can produce. Essentially, the higher the furnace’s BTU output, the more heat it can provide in an hour. Most residential furnaces in Connecticut range from 40,000 BTUs to up to 200,000 BTUs.

The size furnace your home needs will depend on the “heat load calculation” the furnace replacement specialist performs. This calculation is critical in the furnace buying process because it determines how much heat your home loses.

A heat load calculation takes into account:

• Square footage and orientation of your house
• Number and sizes of doors and windows
• Ceiling height
• Floor and roofing material
• Quality of your home’s insulation
• Local climate
• And many more factors

If a technician tries to give you a rule-of-thumb calculation by suggesting furnace size based on square footage, you will likely end up with a furnace that’s too large or too small.

A furnace that is oversized or undersized can result in:

• Inconsistent and inefficient heating
• High heating bills
• Additional repairs
• Reduced unit lifespan

Higher efficiency furnaces cost more to install, but often mean lower energy bills each month.

Furnace efficiency is measured by an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, which determines how well a furnace can convert fuel into heat.

• A high-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE rating between 90% and 98%
• A mid-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE rating between 80% and 85%

So if you have a furnace with an AFUE rating of 95%, that means the furnace converts 95% of the fuel (gas or electricity) it consumes into heat and only wastes around 5%.

Many high-efficiency furnaces, which are what we recommend for cold Connecticut winters, come with advanced technology like:

• Variable-speed heating, which means the unit’s blower motor can ramp up or down in speed, allowing the furnace to heat your home more consistently and efficiently.
• Modulating burners, which means the gas valves operate in increments anywhere from 30–100% (some can operate as low as .5%) to provide more precise, even heating throughout your home.

If you opt to install additional comfort features alongside your furnace, your installation cost will increase.

Features you can have installed include:

• Zoned heating: If you’ve noticed parts of your home tend to get colder than others, you might benefit from zoned heating. This allows you to set different temperatures for different areas.
• Smart thermostat: A smart thermostat will allow you to program schedules for your furnace, saving you money on monthly energy bills. Plus, you can control the temperature from an app on your smartphone.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) leak detection: Over time, gas furnaces can develop cracks in the heat exchanger or problems ventilating properly, which can result in small amounts of CO leaking into your home. A CO detector will help prevent leaks from becoming hazardous.
• Whole-house air filtration system: Installing an air scrubber will improve your home’s air quality, especially for those with allergies or pets.

You’ll pay more for higher-quality furnace installation companies.

When it comes to installing your furnace, you don’t want to go with the lowest bidder. Bids that are much lower than others beg the question, “what is being left out? What shortcuts are taken?”.

Quality technicians and a professional installation department hace the know-how to ensure your equipment is properly-sized by performing a thorough evaluation of your home, performing an accurate load calculation and ensuring your home stays comfortable and avoids unexpected high utility bills.

The bottom line? Your new system is an investment and should last 10 to 12 years. That said, consider the real cost of cheap work.

A good furnace installation company will:

• Get great reviews. We have over 1,000 verified 5-star reviews, and A+ BBB rating, adequate liability and workman’s comp insurance.
  
• Have extensive experience installing furnaces. Aiello has been serving Connecticut homes for more than 90 years. Which means, you know we will still be in business if you ever have any issues with the furnace we install for you.
• Provide a written guarantee of their work. We back all of our furnace installations with some of the best guarantees in the industry.