Installing a furnace can be a huge chore, but in the end it is well worth it when you consider your improved efficiency versus your heating and cooling costs.
The first thing to consider is what kind of furnace you are buying. There are two basic varieties depending on the source of your heating energy. There are electric furnaces and gas furnaces. Gas furnaces still need electricity to power the motor, but the heating elements are heated with natural gas or propane.
Consider how efficient an electric furnace will be versus the cost of heating gas for the winter. Is a gas furnace worth the efficiency if your gas costs have gone up? This is probably the biggest consideration for purchasing a new model. Some models are also listed as more efficient than others.
Check with your local supplier to see if your new furnace qualifies for new government incentives for home improvement projects. A newer furnace will probably be included, but your hardware store should know.
You also need to consider how it will fit in the old nook that your old furnace will be leaving behind. You may have to expand the space to make room or add some flexible ductwork so the unit will be able to reach existing ducts already connected to your old furnace.
Before removing your old furnace, make sure the switch is thrown on your circuit breaker panel so that no electricity runs to the unit while you are working. This will prevent an injury due to suddenly activation or electric shock.
Completely remove the old unit. The only thing you should save from it is any connecting duct work in case you need it for the new furnace.
Unpack the new furnace and read the instructions thoroughly. Make sure the measurements on your new furnace will fit into the space you have set aside for it.
Place your new furnace in place as much as possible. Make sure the correct ducts for incoming and outgoing air are in the proper places.
Install all the doors, latches, wires, and switches. This will probably take the most time of all. This is work that should be internal to the furnace itself. After everything on the inside is done, you can hookup the duct work from both ends.
Make sure everything is connected via the instructions, but take a step back and make sure it looks right. If anything looks off-kilter to you, consult the illustrations on your instructions.
When everything looks right, it’s time to connect wires and hook up the gas line if you purchased a gas furnace as per the instructions. When everything’s hooked up properly and sealed up with duct work, turn on the circuit panel and see if it runs.
If you don’t feel comfortable taking on such a huge project, trained professional installers can assist you and do the job in one or two days. This should be included in a government tax incentive package. You can write off 30% of the cost of a new furnace up to $1,500. If you want to get all $1,500 of the write off on your taxes, the new system will cost $5,000 installed including labor.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#c3
http://video.bobvila.com/m/21320733/installing-a-new-gas-furnace.htm
http://www.galttech.com/research/household-DIY-tools/replacing-a-furnace.php
