Emergency services
Getting a new furnace for your home can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. We’re going to do our best to ease your tensions by discussing everything you need to know about getting furnace installation services at your home.
It All Starts With a Consultation
The very first part of any furnace installation is an initial consultation with your chosen furnace installer. At this appointment, they’ll discuss your options and take a detailed assessment of your home’s layout and other features. This will include things like your insulation rating, the number of windows and rooms in your home, and the size of your existing ductwork. This way, they can determine the appropriate size unit to meet your needs.
Fuel Type Impacts the Installation Process
It’s important to realize that furnaces can run on electricity, natural gas, propane, or even heating oil. Each furnace will have a slightly different installation process than the next. In general, an electric furnace is going to be the fastest to install, as it only requires electrical wiring to be run to power the furnace.
With a natural gas furnace, you’ll need to have a natural gas supply line in your home. If you already have one coming in for your stove or water heater, then an HVAC installation technician can simply branch off the main supply line to provide natural gas for your new furnace. Similarly, if you already had a gas furnace, the switch is much easier because the lines are already there. However, if you don’t already have a connection to the city’s main supply line, the installation process can be quite invasive.
You’ll need to have the ground dug up and a new supply line laid down and introduced through the basement or crawlspace wall. Furnaces that use propane or heating oil have a fairly similar installation process. They both require an on-site fuel storage tank that may be put outside your home or in your basement. A fuel line needs to be run from the supply tank to your furnace.
Existing Ductwork vs. No Ductwork
If this is the very first furnace that you’re having put in your home, it’s likely that you don’t already have ductwork. All furnaces work as forced-air heating systems that rely on ductwork to deliver treated air throughout your home. Ductwork installation can take one day up to a few days, depending on your individual circumstances.
For example, if your home is currently under construction, it will be much easier to add ductwork because it’s completely open on the inside. However, if your home already has drywall and flooring, it’s going to take longer to install ductwork, as those other materials will need to be removed. If you already have ductwork in your home, it makes the furnace installation process much quicker to complete.
How Long Does Installation Take?
In general, most furnace installation jobs will take between four and eight hours to fully complete. However, this is just a general timeframe and can be skewed due to a number of different factors. These include things like existing ductwork and fuel infrastructure as well as the number of installation technicians and their overall experience.
How Much Does Furnace Installation Cost?
It’s imperative to note that the cost of a particular furnace installation service is going to vary widely depending on numerous factors. These include things like your geographical area, chosen furnace system, and so forth. Generally speaking, electric furnaces tend to be the cheapest to purchase and have installed.
What Happens To Your Old Unit?
If you’re opting for a furnace replacement service, then something needs to be done with your old furnace before a new one can be installed. It’s very common for most furnace installers to include the removal of your old furnace in their overall pricing estimate. However, it’s important to double-check with your HVAC company to ensure they will handle removing and discarding the old system from your home.
What Happens During the Installation Process?
As your HVAC installer brings in your new furnace, they will go through a series of steps to connect it to your ductwork, electrical line, and fuel line if necessary. It’s very common for your furnace installer to alter the existing setup, such as your ductwork, to accommodate the size and orientation of your new furnace unit. They’ll also ensure that your furnace is installed on a rubber mat or on blocks to prevent its metal housing from coming into direct contact with any moisture that’s on the ground.
Once the furnace is connected to its fuel supply, power, and ductwork, your technician will perform commissioning. This is a fancy term that describes testing running your new furnace and measuring various components to ensure it’s functioning optimally at the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some of these measurements include static pressure, CFM airflow, and temperature rise rates.
Things to Ensure You Ask Your Furnace Installer
Once your furnace installer completes the installation process, it’s prime time for you to learn about your new furnace. Have them walk you through its control panel and locate its reset button. Be sure to learn where the air filter housing is and how you go about replacing the filter. They should give you a recommended schedule for replacement as well as the necessary size for your replacement filters.
Paperwork is an absolute must so that you can not only reference information about your furnace later but also so you can learn about your warranty contract. Check with your HVAC technician to see if there’s a yearly maintenance requirement as part of your furnace’s warranty coverage. If so, it can be very advantageous to join their maintenance program to ensure you never miss annual service on your new heating system.
Tips on Prepping Your Home For Furnace Installation Service
As a homeowner, there are a few different things you’ll want to do to ensure your home is ready for the furnace installation process. First, it’s necessary to create a clear pathway from your driveway to the location where your new furnace is going. Your HVAC company will need to carry the furnace to its final location and possibly remove your existing furnace. Give them a wide pathway that’s clear and easy to access.
Ensure that your electrical panel box has an appropriate label for your furnace’s breaker. If you have pets, be sure to lock them in a safe location so that your HVAC technicians can work without any unexpected interruptions. Lastly, take a look at the area around your furnace and ensure there’s enough room for multiple technicians to work without bumping into items.
Expert Furnace Installation Service
865 HVAC offers expert furnace installation service to homeowners throughout the entire Knoxville, TN area. We can assist with all your heating, cooling, indoor air quality, duct cleaning, generator, ductless mini-split, ductwork, and emergency service needs. Contact our friendly staff today to book your next service appointment.
