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How Much Does it Cost to Install a Furnace in Atlanta, GA


The cost to install a furnace in Atlanta, Georgia can vary, influenced by several factors. These may include the type of furnace selected, with gas and electric options presenting different cost structures. Additionally, the size of the furnace required for a specific space, the desired AFUE rating, the chosen brand, and the preferred warranty coverage can all contribute to the fluctuation in costs.

To gain a more precise understanding of the potential expenses, consider addressing the following 7 questions:

  • What type of furnace do I need: Gas or electric?
  • What size furnace will I need?
  • What AFUE rating do I want?
  • What brand will I choose?
  • What kind of warranties do I need?
  • What are the labor costs in my area?
  • Do I want any advanced features?

Let’s take a closer look at each of these questions.

Want to skip the research and get straight to the point? Contact us for a quote on your furnace installation.

7 questions that determine your ATL furnace installation cost

What type of furnace do I need? Gas or electric?

Bottom line: Electric furnaces are cheaper to install than gas furnaces but gas furnaces usually cost less to operate.

If you have an all-electric house (no gas lines), the choice is made for you: you’re getting an electric furnace. And when it comes to up-front costs, that’s good news for you since electric furnaces are generally cheaper to install than gas furnaces.

But if you have natural gas available in your home, you need to decide whether you want an electric or a gas furnace.

So, what’s the difference? Well, there are quite a few. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of gas and electric furnaces:

Electric furnace pros:

  • Cheaper to install
  • Quieter when running
  • Longer lifespan (20-30 years)
  • Less dangerous (no combustion gases produced)

Electric furnace cons:

  • Usually more expensive to operate (higher utility bills)
  • Heat home slower

Gas furnace pros:

  • Cheaper to operate (lower utility bills)
  • Heats home faster

Gas furnace cons:

  • Higher installation price
  • Shorter lifespan (10-20 years)
  • Risk of leaking dangerous gases

What size furnace do I need?

Bottom line: The larger the furnace size, the more expensive it costs.

Furnaces are sized in BTU’s (British Thermal Units). It’s basically a measurement of how much heat a furnace can provide in a given time.

But here’s the thing: furnace sizes are like shoe sizes. You can’t arbitrarily pick whatever shoe size you want, you get the size that fits your foot. Otherwise, it’s uncomfortable and a waste of your money, right?

The same goes for your furnace. The size your home needs is the size it needs. It’s not a good idea to go up an extra size to make your home warmer faster or to go down a size to save money. Not getting the right furnace size will cost you a lot more money further on down the road.

So how do you know what size furnace your home needs?

Well, you’ll need a professional to perform what’s called a manual J load calculation. During this in-home calculation, they’ll take into account your home’s:

  • Square footage
  • Construction materials
  • Insulation levels
  • Number of windows
  • Number of people living in the home
  • Floor layout

And with all this information, they’ll be able to calculate the specific furnace size you need. Usually, this calculation is performed by the heating contractor you hire to install the furnace.

For an in-depth explanation of furnace sizing, check out our article, “What Size/BTU Furnace Do I Need for My Atlanta Home?”.

What AFUE rating do I want?

Bottom line: For gas furnaces, the higher the AFUE rating, the more expensive the unit (electric furnaces all have AFUE ratings of 100%), BUT higher ratings mean more long-term savings.

Source

Every furnace has an AFUE rating (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). That rating tells you how efficient the furnace is. All electric furnaces have a rating of 100% but gas furnaces can be anywhere from 80% to 98%.

That percentage just tells you how much of the fuel your furnace consumes is actually converted to heat.

Here’s an example of how this works: Let’s say you have a gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 80%. That means that for every dollar you pay for natural gas, $.80 of that goes toward actual heat energy that keeps your home warm. The other $.20? Well, that was wasted because it escaped up your furnace flue in the heating process.

So, the higher the AFUE rating of your furnace, the more you save every month on your heating bills.

Related: Why You (And Your Wallet) Should Care About Your Furnace’s AFUE

What brand will I choose?

The bottom line: Bigger, more reputable brands are more expensive than smaller, lesser-known brands.

Like anything, bigger furnace brands are typically going to cost more but they come with a product you know you can trust. Some of these “bigger” brands include Lennox, Trane or Carrier.

It really just comes down to doing some research and making sure that you choose a brand you can trust and offers a solid warranty.

What kind of warranty will I need?

Bottom line: The longer the warranty and more coverage it offers, the more expensive it will be, raising the overall cost of your furnace installation.

Typically, furnaces have two warranty coverage areas:

  • Manufacturer’s warranty- coverage from the manufacturer.
  • Extended warranty- coverage from the dealer or purchased by consumer.

Manufacturers warranties are usually offered with the unit itself and include the parts warranty and the heat exchanger warranty. Extended warranties are purchased by the consumer and cover costs such as labor and/or “extending” the manufacturer’s parts warranty. The longer the warranty coverage (1 year vs. 5 years), the more you can expect to pay upfront.

What are the labor costs in my area?

The bottom line: Higher quality contractors usually have higher prices. Beware of contractors who offer very low prices.

The bulk of the price you pay for a furnace installation will be the labor. But you don’t want to skimp when it comes to paying your contractor.

We suggest you get estimates of the installation cost from several contractors. And don’t just go with the lowest price. Do your research. Is the contractor experienced? Licensed? Reputable?

Does the furnace come with advanced features?

The bottom line: The following advanced furnace features increase comfort but also increase the overall price of the furnace.

Some advanced furnace features include:

  • Variable speed motor. This feature refers to a furnace’s fan speeds. Traditional furnaces come with pre-fixed blower speeds (think “low, medium, high” options). But variable speed blowers are more advanced because they constantly adjust their speed according to the exact amount of warm air your home needs at that moment. Think of it as the “cruise control” option that provides steady temperatures in your home.
  • Modulating gas valve. This feature refers to the “stages” of heat a furnace provides. A modulating furnace allows your furnace burners to produce only the exact amount of heat that is needed at any given time. Comparatively, one and two-stage furnaces only provide 1-2 different levels of heat which wastes money, fuel and decreases comfort during milder days when you don’t need as much heat.
  • Programmable thermostats. You may opt to install a programmable thermostat with your new furnace. These thermostats adjust the temperature automatically according to pre-set schedules that are programmed by the homeowner.

Need a quote on your furnace installation?

Live in Atlanta and ready for a specific price on your furnace installation?

Just contact us today and we’ll give you an specific price estimate.

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