Should Your Furnace be Replaced at the Same time of AC?
This is a question that pops up all the time during the warmer months of the year. A Homeowner is in need of a new Air Conditioning System, and has to decide whether to replace the furnace at the same time or not. Changing the furnace is not required unless you are making changes to the cooling capacity, however, the benefits of doing a full system change-out are huge, if the furnace is more than 8-10 years old! As a matter of fact, if you just ASK the person who is quoting your AC job, they may just give you a furnace AT COST, just to get the job!
When You MUST Change the Furnace
As stated above, the furnace may not always need to be replaced, but there are times when you MUST change out the furnace.
Are You Increasing Air Conditioning Capacity
[adsenseone]The blower inside your gas furnace is designed to move a specific amount of air through your duct system. This is measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. That volume of airflow is matched to the cooling capacity of your air conditioning system for optimal efficiency. A Ton of cooling capacity needs a minimum of 400 CFM to work properly and avoid freezing up! For example, a 2.5 ton air conditioning system requires a minimum of 1000 cfm of airflow. If you increased the cooling capacity to 3-tons of AC, your furnace blower MUST move at last 1200 cfm.
When You Don't Have to Change the Furnace
If you are not changing the size of the AC unit, there is literally no need to swap the furnace out unless its broken! The AC circuit is completely independent of the heating cycle, and aside from replacing the evaporator coil that mates with your furnace, if it's not broken, it is NOT required to be replaced! That said...
You WILL Save Money Doing A Full Change-Out!
Its just simple economics... the Contractor is going to be there and they are going to have most of the area cleared out for the new evaporator coil. In most cases, changing your furnace will only add 1-2 hours of labor to their project along with the cost of the furnace itself and some general sheet metal work. His crew is already there and if he is reputable contract having the unit inspected, why not just get it all done at once?
- Typical AC ONLY Replacement Cost in July - $2900 - $5000 (Low Estimates)
- Typical Cost of a Furnace ONLY replacement in Mid Winter - $2900 - $4000
- Typical cost to add the furnace in Mid Summer... $1000 - $1500
As you can see in the basic and rough estimates above, you can save MORE than a thousand dollars getting the furnace replaced at the same time! Unfortunately, if you wait until winter, it does not work the same way...
How to Get a Furnace for FREE or Dealer Cost!
[adsenseone]When your Contractor comes out and quotes your replacement Air Conditioning System... let them get all the way through their presentation and ask them one question: "How Cheap Can you Install the Furnace for, if I sign RIGHT NOW?" If they add $3000, tell them thank you and let them leave! Even the MOST EXPENSIVE Gas Furnaces on the market cost less than $2000 at contractor rates, and they must not want the job that badly!
It is however very fair for them to add cost, plus 50% markup... which is MUCH lower than they will quote you in the winter time!
Approximate Gas Furnace Costs to a Dealer
There is alot of varation in pricing models to different volume dealers around the country, but these general guidelines apply.
Brands like Carrier, Trane, American Stanard Amana, and Lennox will usually be higher than others. Goodman, Bryant, Payne, Frigidaire and others will be lower cost.
80% Efficiency Furnaces will range from $400 - $1200, depending on brand and features.
90% or Higher efficiency units will range from $650 - $2000, again, depending on brand and features.
One way or another, you will always save money by installing the furnace at the same time!