Furnace installation
A new high-efficiency gas furnace installed in Metro Vancouver typically runs $5,000–$9,000, including removal of the old unit, permits and commissioning.
Before you buy one, it's worth asking whether a furnace is still the right answer for your home — because for a lot of Vancouver houses, a heat pump or a dual-fuel setup now makes more sense. We install all three and we'll tell you which we'd put in our own house. Dual-fuel systems
When to replace rather than repair
Over 15–20 years old · Repair costs approaching a third of replacement · Repeated breakdowns in consecutive seasons · Rising gas bills with no change in use · Uneven heating between rooms · A cracked heat exchanger — this is a carbon monoxide risk and the furnace should be shut down, not repaired
Sizing — and why bigger is worse
An oversized furnace is a genuinely common problem and it feels counterintuitive. Too much capacity means the furnace short-cycles: it blasts to temperature, shuts off, cools, restarts. That means uneven temperatures, more wear, worse efficiency and a shorter life.
Correct sizing comes from a heat loss calculation — floor area, insulation, window area and type, air sealing, ceiling height, orientation. Not from what was there before, and not from a rule of thumb per square foot.
We do the calculation. If someone quotes you a furnace size over the phone without asking about your insulation, they're guessing.
Efficiency
Modern gas furnaces are rated by AFUE. Mid-efficiency runs around 80%; condensing high-efficiency units run 95–98%. In BC, high-efficiency is effectively the standard for new installs and the difference shows up on every bill.
High-efficiency units vent differently — PVC through a sidewall rather than up an existing chimney — which occasionally means venting work an old furnace didn't need. We check before quoting.
What's included
Heat loss calculation and correct sizing · Supply and installation · Removal and disposal of the old unit · New venting where required · Gas connection by a licensed gas fitter · Condensate drain on condensing units · Permit and municipal inspection · Thermostat, or integration with your existing one · Commissioning, combustion testing and airflow balancing · Warranty registered in your name
What it costs
Moving the number: unit capacity and efficiency · venting route · ductwork condition · access to the furnace location · whether the gas line is adequate · thermostat and controls.
- High-efficiency gas furnace
- $5,000–$9,000
- Heat pump instead
- $12,000–$20,000 before rebates
- Dual-fuel (furnace + heat pump)
- $14,000–$24,000 before rebates
Timing
Book replacement in spring or late summer if you can. Availability is better, scheduling is easier, and you're not making a five-figure decision in a cold snap with no heat in the house. If your furnace is 15+ years old, this autumn is the time to plan rather than react.
