What’s the Cost of a Furnace Installation in Irvine, CA?

The cost to install a furnace in Irvine typically costs around $4,000, but can range anywhere from $2,500 to $7,000.

Giving an exact price for your furnace installation is tricky because it will depend on multiple factors.

For example, the factors that impact a furnace installation include:

1. Fuel type
2. System efficiency
3. Added comfort features
4. Ductwork modifications
5. The company you choose

We’ll cover each of these factors in detail to help you better understand what to expect when buying a furnace.

Gas furnaces typically cost more to install than electric systems. However, gas is often a cheaper fuel source compared to electricity, which means while gas furnaces are a higher upfront cost, they also cost less to operate (i.e. you’ll get lower utility bills).

When choosing a furnace type, you’ll probably be better off going with the fuel type that your existing furnace uses.

But in case you’re thinking about switching fuel types, you’ll want to consider:

• Whether you have a gas line installed. If you’re thinking of switching to gas and don’t have a gas hookup, you’ll need to have a line installed for the furnace which will add to your installation cost.
• The size of your electrical panel. If you’re thinking of going with an electric furnace, you may need to upgrade your electrical panel so it can accommodate the added surge of the furnace. Otherwise, the furnace could overload the electrical panel.

You’ll pay more upfront for high-efficiency furnace systems.

That being said, a more efficient furnace usually means lower monthly heating bills, which could save you money in the long run.

Furnace efficiency is measured by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, which measures how well a furnace can convert fuel to energy (heat).

For example, if you have a furnace with a 96% AFUE rating, the furnace can convert 96% of fuel consumed to heat and only wastes 4%.

The national minimum standard AFUE rating is 80%. High-efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings somewhere between 90% and 98%.

For most Irvine homes, we recommend an AFUE rating of 83–86% if you’re looking for a mid-efficiency furnace and an AFUE rating of 92–95% for high-efficiency furnaces. Since Irvine winters are relatively mild, you don’t necessarily need a furnace with the highest AFUE rating to efficiently heat your house.

Upgrading features on your furnace will add to the overall installation cost.

Comfort features include additions like:

• Variable-speed blower motor: Variable speed heating has virtually unlimited heating stages and can adjust the blower to provide more consistent, efficient heating.
• Modulating burner: These burners adjust heat in precise increments (usually within 1 or 2 degrees of the target temperature), allowing the furnace to keep your home at a more consistent temperature.
• Smart thermostat: Smart thermostats automatically raise and lower the temperature based on how you program it, offering more accurate indoor temperatures and lower energy bills throughout the year.

Any kind of modification to your ductwork will increase your furnace installation cost.

If your home needs to have ductwork installed, you could be looking at another $1,000+ added to your installation cost.

If you have ductwork but haven’t had it inspected in a while, you may want to have your technician inspect it before installing your new furnace. An inspection will catch any cracks or gaps in your ducts that could decrease the efficiency of your furnace.

The company you choose to install your furnace will have an impact on the following 3 price factors:

• Labor costs
• Special deals
• Warranty

To help you decide which company to go with, we’ll explain how each factor impacts your installation cost.

Higher-quality technicians will charge more for their labor.

When you get a furnace installed, you’re essentially paying for 2 things: the furnace itself and the labor to install it.

While the cost of the furnace system won’t range much from company to company, labor costs likely will.

Our advice: Don’t go with the cheapest offer.

A good technician will take care to install your furnace right. Improper installation could cost you more money in future repairs than it would have cost to pay for a quality technician.

Some manufacturers will offer deals and discounts to companies that choose to become dealers of their systems.

For example, since True Home is a Lennox Premier Dealer, we get access to special deals on Lennox furnace systems that other Irvine furnace installers don't.

The longer the warranty, the more you’ll pay upfront but the less you’ll pay in repairs after the furnace is installed.

Most furnace installations include 2 warranties:

1. Manufacturer (parts) warranty: This warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the cost to replace faulty parts 5–10 years (depending on the manufacturer) after the furnace was installed.
2. Labor warranty: Most companies that install your furnace will guarantee their work for at least a year after installation. The labor warranty is meant to cover the cost of any repairs due to improper installation.

Both the manufacturers warranty and labor warranty typically come with extended warranty options that will cost more but will provide longer protection.

For example, at True Home, we offer homeowners the option to choose a 10-year parts and labor warranty on most furnace installations.