Frequently asked questions about furnaces in British Columbia

• How much does it cost to buy a new furnace in BC?

  The average price for a typical new natural gas or propane high-efficiency furnace in British Columbia ranges from $5,000 to $7,000+. This price includes standard installation by a fully insured, licensed company, a one-year warranty, and all required installation licenses.
  
  The cost of a new furnace depends on four factors:

  1. Environmental choices, including energy efficiency, humidification, air filtration sizes (which depend on allergies or other sensitivities), and comfort-enhancing options.
  2. Personal choices, including extended warranties, maintenance plans and guarantees.
  3. Technical requirements, including the size of the home, floor plan, number of stories, existing ductwork and BTU load.
  4. Code requirements, including safety, licensing and building code requirements.

• What is the lifespan of a furnace? When should a furnace be replaced?

  The average lifecycle of a furnace is 15 years, but age isn’t the only factor that determines when to replace a furnace. How often you experience breakdowns, the quality of the initial installation and a heating system that’s improperly sized for your home could all shorten the lifespan of your furnace.

• How much does it cost to have a furnace installed?

  The price we quote for your new furnace is the price you pay, including the installation.

• What size furnace do I need?

  Several factors affect the furnace size needed, including the size and age of your home, air flow, insulation, and how many windows and doors you have. To make sure you get the furnace size that best suits your needs, it’s crucial to have a professional visit your home to complete an evaluation to calculate heat loss and air flow. Incorrect sizing of a furnace may reduce the lifespan of the equipment and lead to higher utility costs because your home is not warming up correctly.

• How do I install a furnace? Can I replace my furnace myself?

  No, you should not replace a furnace yourself. Furnace installation requires specialized knowledge of electrical and gas systems and must be performed by a licensed professional to ensure safety, compliance with local codes, and proper system operation. Installing a furnace incorrectly runs the risk of gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, and voiding manufacturer warranties. 

• How does a furnace work?

  A natural gas or propane high-efficiency furnace works like this:

  1. The furnace starts up when the thermostat senses that the temperature had dropped below a pre-set level.
  2. The ventor motor does a safety check to ensure the venting is clear, as determined by the pressure switch. The ignitor then ignites the burners inside the furnace combustion chamber and starts creating heat. The heat is transferred to the primary heat exchanger, which heats the air as it flows through the furnace. The combustion gases are then passed through a secondary heat exchanger to further extract heat.
  3. The blower motor pushes the warmed air through the plenum and out into the house via the registers.
  4. The combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, are safely vented to the outdoors from the furnace.
  5. Outside fresh air is pulled into the burn chamber to provide a more efficient burn
  6. Any cold air left in the home gets circulated into the furnace to be heated up.