Cost Guides (Twin Cities)
How much does furnace replacement cost in the Twin Cities?
The short answer
A professionally installed replacement furnace in the Twin Cities typically runs about $4,500–$10,000+. A standard-efficiency, single-stage unit sits at the low end; a high-efficiency (90%+ AFUE) condensing furnace with a variable-speed blower, plus any venting, gas-line, or ductwork changes it needs, lands higher. The right number for your home comes from a free in-home estimate.
What's the typical range to replace a furnace?
For most Twin Cities homes, a complete furnace replacement generally falls in the $4,500–$10,000+ range, installed. That spread is wide on purpose, a basic swap and a high-efficiency system are genuinely different projects.
A complete install typically covers:
- The furnace itself, sized to your home's heating load.
- New venting (a 90%+ condensing furnace vents through PVC and needs a condensate drain).
- Gas-line and electrical connections, plus a new thermostat if needed.
- Removal and disposal of the old unit, and the permit and inspection.
What drives the price up or down?
The big levers on a furnace quote are:
- Efficiency (AFUE). An 80% AFUE furnace costs less up front; a 90–98% AFUE condensing furnace costs more but burns far less gas every winter. In Minnesota's long heating season, that efficiency adds up.
- Staging and blower. Single-stage is the baseline; two-stage and modulating furnaces with variable-speed (ECM) blowers cost more but deliver steadier heat, quieter operation, and better airflow.
- Size (BTU input). Sized to a heat-load calculation for our climate, not just swapped like-for-like, since the old unit may have been oversized.
- Venting changes. Moving from an 80% to a 90%+ furnace often means new PVC venting and a condensate line, which adds labor.
- Brand tier and your setup. The equipment line, we install Heil and Goodman, plus the condition of your ductwork and gas line all factor in.
Rebates, financing, and saving money in Minnesota
High-efficiency heating is exactly where Minnesota rebates and financing pay off:
- CenterPoint Energy rebates. CenterPoint offers rebates on qualifying high-efficiency (high-AFUE) gas furnaces. Amounts change yearly, we'll point you to what's current and help with the paperwork. See rebates and savings in MN.
- Financing. Monthly payments can make the high-efficiency furnace, the one that's cheaper to run all winter, the easier yes. Explore financing options.
- Right-sizing and maintenance. A correctly sized furnace and annual tune-ups protect both efficiency and lifespan.
Want to understand the efficiency tiers before you decide? Read high-efficiency furnaces.
Why the cheapest quote can cost more
With heating, cut corners show up as cold rooms and early failures:
- No heat-load calculation, reusing the old, possibly oversized, size.
- Improper venting on a condensing furnace, which is a safety and reliability issue.
- Skipping the permit and the combustion-safety checks.
- Subcontracted installers instead of an accountable in-house crew.
Our written, itemized estimate lets you compare quotes honestly, and a furnace installed right is one you stop thinking about.
Repair or replace your furnace?
If your furnace is 15 years or older, needs a costly part like a heat exchanger or control board, or is running up your gas bills, replacement is usually the smarter long-term spend. A newer furnace with a minor issue is worth repairing. We'll give you the straight answer, see furnace repair vs. replace or learn about our heating service.
How Gray Duct does it
We've heated Minnesota homes the honest way: a proper heat-load calculation, a written estimate, and our own in-house technicians, never subcontractors. We're a veteran-owned team, licensed, bonded, and insured in Minnesota. We install Heil and Goodman furnaces and help you claim the CenterPoint Energy rebates you qualify for.
- Free, no-pressure in-home estimates
- Written, itemized diagnosis before any work begins
- Heat-load calculation and combustion-safety checks
- Licensed, bonded & insured in MN; veteran-owned, in-house team
Frequently asked questions
- What does AFUE mean, and does a higher number matter in Minnesota?
- AFUE is the percentage of fuel a furnace turns into usable heat, a 96% AFUE furnace wastes far less than an 80% one. In Minnesota's long heating season, that efficiency difference shows up on your gas bill every month, which is why high-efficiency furnaces are popular here.
- Is an 80% furnace ever the right choice over a 90%+ one?
- Sometimes, venting limitations or budget can make a standard-efficiency furnace the practical pick, and it's still a reliable choice. We'll lay out the long-term gas savings of a condensing furnace so you can decide with the full picture, not just the sticker price.
- How long does a furnace last?
- With annual maintenance, many furnaces run well for about 15 to 20 years. Skipped tune-ups, poor airflow from a dirty filter, or an oversized unit that short-cycles will shorten that.
- Should I replace my AC at the same time?
- If your AC is also aging, doing both together saves on shared labor and ensures the blower and coil are matched to the new equipment. If your AC is newer, the furnace can be replaced on its own.
Keep learning
Related & next steps
Get an honest furnace replacement quote
We'll size it to your home, explain the efficiency tiers, lay out CenterPoint rebates and financing, and give you a written estimate, free. See where we work.