Average Cost of Furnace Replacement in Virginia Beach
Furnace Installation & Replacement Throughout VA Beach
If the furnace in your Virginia Beach home
isn’t cutting it anymore,
it may be time for an
HVAC replacement
. You’re probably nervous about how much new
equipment will cost,
and the precise amount you’ll end up paying
can depends on several
factors. Learn more about what affects the
average cost of
furnace replacement
so you can make a cost-effective choice for
your home.
Furnace Fuel Type
Your first decision involves selecting a fuel choice. Your options include:
-
Natural gas: This is the most popular fuel
source for furnaces today. It
provides the most efficient operation for lower energy bills. -
Oil: This fuel is more widely available in
some states than natural gas,
but the equipment costs about the same while delivering less efficient
operation in the years to come. -
Electricity: While electric furnaces
usually cost at least 50 percent less
to purchase than natural gas or oil furnaces, they come with high energy
costs. If electricity is your preferred fuel type, consider a
heat pump instead.
Furnace Size
Correctly sizing a furnace is an important
part of HVAC replacement. The
correct size ensures optimal comfort, energy
efficiency and system longevity.
Don’t assume that your replacement furnace
should be the same size
as your old one. After all, the original
equipment might not have been
sized correctly, and even if it was, any
home improvements you’ve
made since it was installed could affect
your home’s heating requirements.
Obviously, larger furnaces cost more than
smaller ones. If you have a larger
home with more substantial heating
requirements, you can expect your HVAC
replacement to cost more.
Furnace Efficiency
Another important consideration is
efficiency. The minimum efficiency required
for newly manufactured equipment is 80
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency,
or AFUE. This means 80 percent of the fuel
source is converted into heat
for your home while the remaining 20 percent
is lost up the flue with
combustion fumes.
You can opt for a furnace that meets the
minimum efficiency requirement,
but your energy bills will be higher for the
next decade or longer that
your furnace is in service. Investing in a
90 AFUE or higher furnace costs
more upfront, but the energy savings every
month are usually worth the
extra investment.
Work with a contractor to help determine the
payback period of a more efficient
furnace. If it’s less than 10 years, the
higher initial purchase
price is worth it.
Labor Costs to Replace a Furnace
Finally, consider that your furnace requires
installation performed by
a knowledgeable professional. This means you
must take labor costs into
account. The price varies between companies
and may be a set fee or an
hourly rate. Costs may run higher than usual
if your ductwork requires
extensive repairs or modifications.
If you’re still concerned about the cost of
HVAC replacement or how
to choose the right equipment for your home,
rest assured a knowledgeable
contractor can recommend the best furnace
size, brand and efficiency depending
on your family’s comfort needs.
To learn more about making a cost-effective
HVAC replacement in the Virginia
Beach or Newport News, VA areas,
contact us
today!