Heating is one of the costliest life support systems in a private house. However, if you’re lucky enough with the contractor, the initial investments are not sky-high. The Best Heating Cooling & Air Company knows perfectly how to reach maximum efficiency of equipment at minimal cost: you don’t have to freeze in the XXI century to save on heating!
Typical expenses
A central heating system with heat inflow from a single source (like a furnace, boiler, or heat pump) is the most popular option in the US. A heater is placed in an isolated room — in the attic, cellar, or utility room. The extracted heat from the burning fuel goes to the living premises through a system of piping, which is filled with water or antifreeze. The initial capital investments in the heating system vary from $3,000 to $22,000; the final cost is affected by a multitude of factors and the most significant of them are:
- floor number and floor planning
- the number of heated premises and their footage
- a type of a heating system
- length and availability of communications.
Every project is unique, so the heating installation cost is calculated individually based on the specificity of an object, wishes, and capabilities of a client. The reconstruction of a heating system using the previously installed piping contributes to the lowering of the cost to $4,000. In the houses with the ready communications, the heating installation prices vary between $2,000 and $12,000; for buildings of a middle size — between $6,000 and $8,000.
What must be included
A central heating system is installed in stages. In order to organize a work process, all chain links’ tight interaction is important. The turnkey solution is the most convenient option for many clients and so when all the stages of work on an object are made by one contractor, the cost would include the full-service pack:
- elaboration of a technical specification of the project
- marking the places of heat sources and heating devices
- purchasing a heating system and expendables
- installing, broadening, or reconstructing piping
- arrangement of exhaust air ducts and chimney
- paying the work of technical specialists
- uninstalling and removing old equipment (if a new central heating system is installed based on the old communications).
Additional expenses
In order to replace the furnace, one might need permission from regulatory bodies, which a contractor can do for an additional cost (from $50 to $300). One would also need to receive permission to uninstall an old chimney in such bodies. Refractory materials of an older generation might contain highly toxic asbestos so before any chimney is uninstalled, the air sampling is made, based on which, instructions are made on the technique of work and the qualification of the personnel working on the uninstalling.
The cost of installing a new central heating system
The installation of a completely new central heating system seems daunting: from $10,000 to $22,000 or even more. The same price would be for the large-scale reconstruction with the full replacement of all communications. However, practice shows that the expenses could be cut, for instance, by using a program of refinancing the expenses due to the acquisition of an energy-efficient furnace or heat pump.
Alternative options would be taking a purpose-built loan with a low interest rate or getting a subsidy for the implementation of resource-saving technologies. Many contractors help people buy equipment at preferential terms. For instance, the BHCAir Company buys licensed equipment at affordable prices through the Xcel Energy partner program.
New central heating installation cost
The new central heating installation cost is significantly affected by the choice of a heating device, the heating technology, and the type of consumed fuel. The cheapest are the systems with gas furnace heating ($2,700–$12,000) while projects with oil fuel and air heat pumps are costlier ($3,000–$20,000).
Central heating: a control list on the installation and cost
The cost of installation that one might find in different contractors is different. That’s why you should not get into the first best offer you see. The initial evaluation of the project doesn’t oblige you to anything. Before you choose a suitable contractor, make sure to order the initial estimate from at least 3-5 companies to be able to choose among them based on the best price. There are also other ‘tricks’, which help you rationally plan your budget and save on the installation of a heating system, not compromising quality:
- visit several salons of climatic equipment and try negotiating about a discount
- plan your installation task for spring or autumn. The thing is that in the off-season HVAC contractors have less work and they lower their prices while in the peak loads, they might increase their prices even by 30% or more
- prepare a reserve fund of 7-15% from the maximal calculated cost of the estimate in the case of unforeseen circumstances.
Finally, the price for central heating installation is negotiable — many contractors would like to meet halfway in cost and project optimization. So if you’re pondering a new house, then make the design of interiors, considering the convenience of placement of heating equipment and distribution of heating networks.
An average cost to install a central heating system
An average check to install a completely new central heating system is around $8,200 but that is only an abstract number: due to various reasons, a specific project might cost less or more than that. If you can’t alter the characteristics of a building, then you can use in your favor such factors as a type of heating system, labor, time, and complexity of work.
What affects the price of central heating installation
During the design of an estimate, the average price of central heating installation is not dogma but а guide, pointing at possible overpayments. The project cost might increase by $500–$2,000 if there are more heated areas and separately heated premises; automated control, sensor systems, and special equipment would also consume an extra budget. A programmable thermostat might add $250 more. And given the need for special devices for air purification, consider an extra $750 for every new air intake point.
Heating type system
Burning fossil fuels is not the only way to receive heat. Using electricity lowers the central heating installation prices and decreases energy resources consumption. For instance, a panel technology for heat transfer that would not demand laying pipes and installing a chimney cheapens the installation of a central heating system by $500–$2,000.
The average price of central heating installation (depending on the type of a system)
In the structure of cost for the installation of a traditional central heating system more than half goes to the source of heat — the furnace or boiler. The average cost to install a furnace working on natural gas is around $1,825–$5,500; the propane furnace costs from $1,400 to $3,750; oil furnaces are intermediary in the price here: from $1,500 to $4,000.
Electric furnaces are rarely considered independent heat sources and are used only additionally to devices, which use fossil fuels. Installation of an electric furnace is estimated at around $850–$3,000. An average investment volume in boiler heating is $3,500–$7,700; an air heat pump costs around the same: $4,100–$7,200. If you combine heat pumps with traditional boilers and furnaces, as people do in the cold regions, the cost of the project reaches $5,000–$25,000.
Work
The labor of the installation team is paid according to a fixed tariff (hourly rate). Various companies charge from $75 to $150 per 1 hour; the general labor cost, as a rule, is included in the estimate. Extra time (if any) is paid according to an hourly rate. For instance, the central air heat installation cost for a completely new system in an average-size house would be $2,000–$8,000. One needs to pay an extra $2,500-$5,500 for the integration of an air heat pump into an already existing system of furnace/boiler heating.
Time
Considering the cost of work, a contractor calculates an average time required for the installation of a central heating system with similar characteristics. If during the reconstruction of an existing system, more renovation work or broadening of the piping is required, then the installation consumes more time and increases the cost of the project.
How much time does it take to complete the installation of a central heating system?
Installation of a new central heating system into old communications is usually made within 1-2 days if there is no necessity for renovation or capital reconstruction. About a week or more is required to install a central heating system in a new house (depending on the heated area, floor planning, and the system’s configuration).
Is it expedient at all to install a central heating system?
If the installation and commissioning of a central heating system are done correctly, then the cost of central heating installation is recouped in several years. In addition to maintaining a comfortable temperature, a central heating system provides a healthy microclimate inside the premises: when fossil fuels are used, smoke exhaust systems with air filters are designed but when electric heating is installed, no ducts for exhaust gasses are designed, since such systems do not produce toxic emissions at all.
Receive a quote from the central heating system installation companies in my area
As a rule, the best heating installation costs are offered by local contractors who are maximally interested in clients in their region. Local contractors know the specificity of local weather and the well-being level of the population. Also, a reputation of a local company is easy to verify: you can make sure yourself how their beautiful portfolio on the website really matches the implemented projects by asking locals; the recommendations from friends are more trustworthy than some anonymous pieces of feedback on the Internet.
Find the central heating system installation contractor in my area
The BHCAir Company is well known in Denver and Colorado: the professionalism and conscientiousness of our specialists, friendly prices, and the readiness to walk an extra mile have long ago won the hearts of broad audiences. Our team is NATE certified and has all the necessary allowances. We have huge experience in the design and implementation of energy-saving solutions for private and commercial clients. To optimize the estimate, we offer you the best heating installation price with a 100% warranty so you don’t think of us badly in winter but only remember us with warmth in your heart when you get your new utility bills!
