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🔥 Furnace Replacement

Furnace Replacement: What It Costs, 95% AFUE vs 80%, and Who to Trust

Honest price ranges for a full gas furnace changeout, the 95%+ AFUE high-efficiency upgrade and the PVC venting it requires, and the modulating/variable-speed comfort tier — plus why an ACCA Manual J load calculation protects efficiency and comfort, how to spot the cracked-heat-exchanger condemnation used to force a replacement, and reviewed local installers with named manufacturer authorization. (Federal 25C credit expired Dec 31, 2025 — state and utility rebates are the surviving incentives.) Listings cover 36 states and 489 cities — each provider scored out of 100 on the Vouched Score, blending public-record signals, customer reviews, and editorial assessment. See methodology →

489 cities Pricing guide Labor costs by state FAQ

Furnace Replacement by state & city

Click a state to expand the full city list, or browse the whole state.

Alabama AL Auburn · Birmingham · Decatur +12 more 15 cities
Arkansas AR Benton · Bentonville · Cabot +12 more 15 cities
California CA Anaheim · Bakersfield · Chula Vista +12 more 15 cities
Colorado CO Arvada · Aurora · Boulder +11 more 14 cities
Delaware DE Dover · Middletown · Newark +1 more 4 cities
Georgia GA Albany · Alpharetta · Athens +12 more 15 cities
Idaho ID Boise · Caldwell · Coeur Dalene +10 more 13 cities
Illinois IL Aurora · Bloomington · Champaign +12 more 15 cities
Indiana IN Anderson · Bloomington · Carmel +12 more 15 cities
Iowa IA Ames · Ankeny · Bettendorf +12 more 15 cities
Kansas KS Dodge City · Garden City · Hutchinson +12 more 15 cities
Kentucky KY Bowling Green · Covington · Elizabethtown +12 more 15 cities
Louisiana LA Alexandria · Baton Rouge · Bossier City +9 more 12 cities
Maryland MD Aspen Hill · Baltimore · Bethesda +12 more 15 cities
Michigan MI Ann Arbor · Dearborn · Detroit +12 more 15 cities
Minnesota MN Blaine · Bloomington · Brooklyn Park +12 more 15 cities
Mississippi MS Biloxi · Clinton · Columbus +12 more 15 cities
Missouri MO Blue Springs · Cape Girardeau · Chesterfield +12 more 15 cities
Nebraska NE Bellevue · Columbus · Fremont +8 more 11 cities
Nevada NV Carson City · Enterprise · Fernley +11 more 14 cities
New Jersey NJ Brick · Camden · Cherry Hill +12 more 15 cities
New Mexico NM Alamogordo · Albuquerque · Carlsbad +8 more 11 cities
New York NY Albany · Binghamton · Buffalo +12 more 15 cities
North Carolina NC Asheville · Burlington · Cary +11 more 14 cities
Ohio OH Akron · Canton · Cincinnati +12 more 15 cities
Oklahoma OK Ardmore · Bartlesville · Broken Arrow +12 more 15 cities
Oregon OR Albany · Beaverton · Bend +12 more 15 cities
Pennsylvania PA Allentown · Altoona · Bethlehem +12 more 15 cities
South Carolina SC Aiken · Anderson · Charleston +12 more 15 cities
Tennessee TN Brentwood · Chattanooga · Clarksville +12 more 15 cities
Utah UT Draper · Layton · Lehi +12 more 15 cities
Virginia VA Alexandria · Arlington · Charlottesville +11 more 14 cities
Washington WA Auburn · Bellevue · Bellingham +12 more 15 cities
Washington D.C. DC Washington 1 city
West Virginia WV Charleston · Huntington · Morgantown +3 more 6 cities
Wisconsin WI Appleton · Eau Claire · Fond Du Lac +12 more 15 cities

Typical Furnace Replacement pricing (2026)

Last updated June 21, 2026

Estimated typical ranges. Actual cost varies with home size, equipment, and scope — always request a written quote for your job.

ServiceTypical range
Full gas furnace replacement (80% AFUE, installed)$3,000–$6,500
High-efficiency condensing furnace (95%+ AFUE, installed)$4,500–$9,500
Modulating / two-stage variable-speed (ECM) furnace upcharge$600–$2,000
Condensing-furnace venting + condensate conversion (80%->95% AFUE)$600–$1,800
Gas line / electrical / permit modification (changeout)$150–$900
Electric furnace / air-handler replacement (installed)$2,000–$5,000

Furnace Replacement technician wages by state

Mean annual furnace replacement technician wage in states we cover, vs. the national mean. Click a state for local pricing and providers.

StateMean annual wagevs. national
Washington D.C. $83,780 +24.9%
California $74,470 +11.0%
Washington $74,000 +10.3%
Illinois $72,860 +8.6%
Minnesota $71,780 +7.0%
New Jersey $71,490 +6.6%
New York $70,480 +5.1%
Maryland $68,890 +2.7%
Colorado $68,100 +1.6%
Oregon $67,380 +0.5%
Wisconsin $66,360 -1.0%
Missouri $64,980 -3.1%
Delaware $64,530 -3.8%
Pennsylvania $63,250 -5.7%
Indiana $62,530 -6.8%
Nevada $62,370 -7.0%
Ohio $62,140 -7.3%
Virginia $61,260 -8.6%
Michigan $61,120 -8.9%
Iowa $60,160 -10.3%
Utah $59,030 -12.0%
Nebraska $58,630 -12.6%
Kentucky $58,450 -12.8%
Idaho $58,150 -13.3%
Kansas $57,210 -14.7%
New Mexico $56,190 -16.2%
Oklahoma $55,400 -17.4%
Georgia $55,340 -17.5%
Louisiana $55,140 -17.8%
Tennessee $55,130 -17.8%
South Carolina $55,010 -18.0%
North Carolina $54,710 -18.4%
Alabama $52,440 -21.8%
Mississippi $50,210 -25.1%
Arkansas $50,010 -25.4%
West Virginia $48,040 -28.4%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2024 (SOC 49-9021) · pulled 2026-05-08.

Furnace Replacement FAQ

Do furnace replacement companies need a license?
Yes — replacing a gas furnace is licensed mechanical work, and because it ties into gas-fired combustion and venting it carries extra safety weight. Texas regulates it through TDLR's Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (ACR) program, Florida through the DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board, and Arizona through the Registrar of Contractors. A changeout normally requires a mechanical (and often gas) permit plus a post-install inspection. An unlicensed 'handyman furnace install' on a gas appliance is the single biggest red flag — verify the state license and general liability insurance before hiring.
What does 80% vs 95%+ AFUE mean, and is high-efficiency worth it?
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is the share of fuel a furnace turns into usable heat: an 80% furnace wastes 20% up the flue, a 95%+ condensing furnace wastes 5% or less. The high-efficiency tier costs more and requires different venting (PVC intake/exhaust plus a condensate drain), but it lowers gas bills and is usually the tier that qualifies for utility rebates. The payback depends on your climate and gas rates — in a mild-winter state the savings are smaller, so weigh the upgrade against how much you actually run heat.
Should my installer do a Manual J load calculation?
Yes. ACCA Manual J is the recognized standard for sizing a furnace to your home's actual heat loss; Manual S then selects the equipment and Manual D checks the ducts. An oversized furnace short-cycles — it blasts on and off, wears out faster, and on a high-efficiency unit it gives back much of the efficiency you paid for. A quote based only on 'same size as your old furnace' or a square-footage rule of thumb, with no load calc or on-site inspection, is a red flag.
Why does going from 80% to 95% AFUE change the venting?
A standard 80% furnace vents hot combustion gases up a metal flue. A 95%+ condensing furnace extracts so much heat that the exhaust is cool and produces acidic condensate, so it must vent through PVC intake and exhaust pipes and drain the condensate — the old metal chimney can't be reused. That venting conversion is a real line item ($600–$1,800) on an 80%-to-95% upgrade, so make sure the quote includes it rather than surprising you mid-job.
How do I avoid the cracked-heat-exchanger replacement upsell?
The number-one way furnace replacements are over-sold is condemning a repairable furnace — most often by claiming a 'cracked heat exchanger' the homeowner can't see. An honest contractor documents a suspected crack with a combustion analyzer (a measured CO reading) and a camera or visual inspection before recommending replacement, presents both the repair and replacement options, and supports your getting a second opinion. If you're told the furnace must be replaced today with no documented proof, slow down and get another quote.
Should I replace my furnace and AC at the same time?
If both are near end of life, replacing together gives you one matched, right-sized system, one labor mobilization, and aligned warranties — often cheaper than two separate jobs a year apart. If only the furnace has failed and the AC is newer, a good installer confirms the new furnace and coil still work with your existing equipment instead of upselling the pair. Either way, insist on a Manual J load calculation rather than copying the old equipment sizing.