We need a new furnace?

Question

We purchased our first home about a year ago and late spring our furnace went out, we got it repaired but broke again that week. It's very old and not efficient, we don't have alot of money so we're trying to figure out how much we are going to have to save. We have also been trying to decide if we would want to go with a wood burning stove, we've got the log splitter and chainsaws we would need, but we don't really have the time. I'm just trying to find out about how much a new furnace is going to cost for out 1,800 sq ft home. Thanks

Answer 1

A new 3 and 1/2 ton 14 SEER gas indoor unit would be around 3500$ installed

A new 3 and 1/2 ton 14 SEER electric indoor unit would be around 3000$ installed.

Answer 2

You don't say where you are located, but if its anywhere in the northern part of the country, you need a lot of wood to heat a house.  If you don't have ready access to free dead trees very near your home for the foreseeable future, I'd definately relegate wood burning to a secondary source of heat at most.  But if you are in the south, or have a woodlot on your property, then maybe its more practical.  Still, it is time consuming, and you've indicated that is a concern, so I'd forget that option, at least as a primary source.

If you have ready access to natural gas, its hard to go wrong with a high efficiency gas fired furnace.  They cost about $4,000 installed, but check with your local utility company for information on rebates and incentives.  A substantial portion of that cost may be offset by incentives to get you onto a higher efficiency model.  

If you are not on a natural gas line, I'd look at a propane furnace.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Best way to find out how much it will cost is to call 3 HVAC companies and have them give you an estimate for the work. Be sure they give you information about the new unit they plan to install.