OT: Gas Furnace Replacement Contractor/Brand suggestions ??

[AM ClocksPF]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

 

[Scarlet Craig]

I don’t live near there but I can tell you that it was about that much for me with installation as I recall.

 

[rutgersal]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

Bought from Blue Dot, which was acquired by Reiner Group

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Also got a quote from Home Depot for a Trane System

 

[RobertG]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

3 years ago I paid around 17k to replace an oil burner and hot water heater with a high efficiency gas fired combi unit ( on demand hot water and hot water baseboard heating).

 

[jayman]

I just replaced my combo air/heat high efficiency until and it was 17k. If in NJ work with PSEG contractor and PSEG gets you a few credits. It dropped around $3k off my bill, so end of day it was a little higher than $14k.

 

[RCBeta79]

That is an insane price.
Harmony Heating - York (Gas and Gas with A/C systems)
129 Hibernia Ave, Rockaway, NJ · (973) 627-0044
I live in Morris County and have no relationship with this business.
Our system was installed about 6 years ago....no problems.

 

[Knight Shift]

Don't use Home Depot. Should get a manual J calculation done with each quote to determine if your furnace system is properly sized. People assume the system is properly sized but if you had additions or other work done or if the existing system was installed without a manual J calculation, it could be oversized or undersized.

Consider getting a humidifier with the system. Most modern systems have variable speed motors. Make sure when comparing quotes the efficiency and sizing are the same between quotes. There are a lot of hacks out there that do shoddy work and take short cuts.

 

[bethlehemfan]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

If it just the indoor unit that seems high. Total system it’s not crazy. Buy good brands to keep the noise down.

 

[bethlehemfan]

If it just the indoor unit that seems high. Total system it’s not crazy. Buy good brands to keep the noise down.

Also get multiple quotes. For the heat I would recommend you get a system that has a variable speed furnace that way the heat doesn’t “bang” on and off. It’s more comfortable and efficient

 

[AM ClocksPF]

That is an insane price.
Harmony Heating - York (Gas and Gas with A/C systems)
129 Hibernia Ave, Rockaway, NJ · (973) 627-0044

RCBeta79, have you had work done by them (new unit) or service or are you promoting their company due to some relationship with them? Please elaborate.

 

[RUskoolie]

Don't use Home Depot. Should get a manual J calculation done with each quote to determine if your furnace system is properly sized. People.assume the system is properly sized but if you had additions or other work done or if the existing system was installed without a manual J calculation, it could be oversized or undersized.

Consider getting a humidifier with the system. Most modern systems have variable speed motors. Make sure when comparing quotes the efficiency and sizing are the same between quotes. There are a lot of hacks out there that do shoddy work and take short cuts.

A board filled with people bragging about redeeming a free shake shack voucher are not going to spend the money to do this. However, this is the correct answer 100%.

Signed a guy who builds and renovates houses

 

[Knight Shift]

A board filled with people bragging about redeeming a free shake shack voucher are not going to spend the money to do this. However, this is the correct answer 100%.

Signed a guy who builds and renovates houses

Any competent HVAC contractor will do a manual J as part of the quote, but most will just spitball it and size the same as existing system, which may or may not have had a manual J, or may have had few windows/doors and lower efficiency windows.

We always have gone with Rheem/Ruud or Lennox. Have heard good things about Trane.
Years ago, research indicated to avoid Goodman, but that may be different now.
But the contractor is much more important than the brand. Years ago, we had a Rheem installed in a very expensive house, went with a local Rheem supposed top contractor listed from their website, and it was a disaster. Shoddy work that we had to have reworked for significant $$$.

One of the best sites to get HVAC advice, but it can get very complicated is hvac-talk :

AOP Residential HVAC and Refrigeration (Beenthere Zone)

The #1 HVACR Community

hvac-talk.com

 

[fg7321]

Get at least 5 quotes and try to get someone from Middlesex Cty. quotes will be lower than from up north. I have a Lennox system since 2009 95 % efficient. I used Alpine from East Brunswick.

For the Hot water system I used NJ Natural gas was $1700 they had a deal check with your Gas company. I replace my hot water heater every 12 years even if still working. That way you can shop and get the best price Also not worth pushing your luck because it will burst on xmas eve and then your screwed

 

[RC1991]

We used Ryan in Union to replace our furnace about 10 years ago before we moved out here. It was about $12k back then so seems like your quote so far is in the ballpark. But definitely get multiple quotes and see if there are any rebates available. I remember we got about $1k in rebates.

 

[retired711]

You definitely should get a humidifier with your furnace -- forced air heat (which is what I assume you have because you speak of a furnace rather than a boiler) is dry. A humidifier will keep the house more comfortable and there will be fewer electric sparks when you touch a metal object on a cold day.

I have twice had Carriers. I do *not* recommend the brand because they have maintenance problems and do not last. I have heard good things about the reliability of Trane's furnaces.

Furnaces have greatly increased in price due to all of the electronics that promote energy efficiency. Unfortunately, the added complexity adds to maintenance issues. The electronic control boards that come with today's units are particularly prone to failure and often are not in stock.

Energy efficiency credits are available whether you contract with PSE &G or not. Only hire a company that will do the paperwork. I have never used PSE & G, but I have heard that they are pricey.

Finally, are you sure you need to replace your furnace? The company that does our HVAC maintenance claimed we had a cracked heat exchanger. That turned out to be wrong. We saved $20,000 by finding that out.

Good luck!

 

[retired711]

But the contractor is much more important than the brand. Years ago, we had a Rheem installed in a very expensive house, went with a local Rheem supposed top contractor listed from their website, and it was a disaster. Shoddy work that we had to have reworked for significant $$$.

This is a good point. Twice I have had the furnace replaced, and twice the code inspector failed the work and the contractor (a very well-known one in my area) had to come back. Contractors have a bad habit of rushing at the end.

 

[Knight Shift]

RCBeta79, have you had work done by them (new unit) or service or are you promoting their company due to some relationship with them? Please elaborate.

Check their reviews on Google. Have no knowledge of them, but 334 reviews 4.9 stars. Sometimes companies have fake reviews, but if you parse through enough of them, you can generally figure out which ones are real.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[TRU2RU]

look into your gas company we had NJNG install our new furnace & also our whole house generator

 

[RCBeta79]

RCBeta79, have you had work done by them (new unit) or service or are you promoting their company due to some relationship with them? Please elaborate.

I had a York High Efficiency Heating System with Central Air installed in my house.
I have no relationship with the company. Very happy with a clean install and no problems.

 

[DHajekRC84]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

I second the reco to look into rebate and incentives offered by whatever gas company you have. This is the one I used for JCPL 11 years ago and got the 10 year interest free loan plus about $6k in rebates processed and paid direct to contractor. $18k but paid $12k.
Saving and investing the $10k loan @4% is worth about another $2k (pre-tax) alone.

https://residential.energysavenj.com/jersey-central/home-performance/

 

[retired711]

I want to replace my current Gas Furnace and am hoping to get some recommendations from the board.

I had 1 contractor come in yesterday and said a 'Standard' 80% efficiency unit would cost 12k (cost and labor) and a High efficiency unit would be 18k. To me this seems high compared to the expected costs when I do an internet search (4k-10k cost and installation).

Does anyone have an suggestions on a Contractor and brand that has done work for them in the past. I live in the Roxbury/Morris county area and the house is ~2800 SQ ft..

Thanks in advance.

You are lucky. There are contractors who won't quote anything other than a "high efficiency" unit. I'm not stunned about the huge cost difference between "standard" and "high efficiency." I had a similar experience shopping for a water heater. When I checked the energy efficiency ratings, the estimated annual savings from the high efficiency unit were not nearly enough to cover the difference of cost.

As everyone says, check out what rebates and financing would be available with either kind of unit. It might be that the rebates and financing options on the high efficiency unit make it worth the additional cost. I doubt it, but it's possible and so you should check it out.

 

[DHajekRC84]

You are lucky. There are contractors who won't quote anything other than a "high efficiency" unit. I'm not stunned about the huge cost difference between "standard" and "high efficiency." I had a similar experience shopping for a water heater. When I checked the energy efficiency ratings, the estimated annual savings from the high efficiency unit were not nearly enough to cover the difference of cost.

As everyone says, check out what rebates and financing would be available with either kind of unit. It might be that the rebates and financing options on the high efficiency unit make it worth the additional cost. I doubt it, but it's possible and so you should check it out.

Yeah..very true. But you need to also include the energy savings as well in the math over whatever life span is appropriate.
I was promised a certain ,% reduction in my contract otherwise yet another give back from the contractor. I actually tracked my usage for 2 years by month to confirm.

 

[retired711]

Yeah..very true. But you need to also include the energy savings as well in the math over whatever life span is appropriate.
I was promised a certain ,% reduction in my contract otherwise yet another give back from the contractor. I actually tracked my usage for 2 years by month to confirm.

You're certainly right that energy savings have to be factored into the equation. In the case of the water heater, I was being asked to spend $1000 extra for a unit that (even if the numbers on the labels were correct) would take a long time to pay back. And, unfortunately, you also have to factor in the increased likelihood that an "advanced" unit will fail prematurely because of the complexity of its controls. Along those lines: a heating guy told me it's *very* important to check the warranty on anything you buy -- it's worth it to spend a little extra for a longer warranty because of the high chance of failure.