Getting a new furnace is a big step!
It means your home is going to be warm, cozy, and safe for your family, even when it’s freezing outside. Because this is a big job, it’s normal to feel a little worried about the process.
This guide is here to tell you exactly what happens on the day your furnace is installed.
We’ll walk through the whole day, from the moment the experts arrive until your house is warm again. It’s an easy-to-follow plan, so you know what to expect and can feel calm and ready.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Getting Ready for the Big Day
The hard work for you starts before the crew even gets there! Being ready helps the installation go quickly and smoothly.
A. Clear the Way
The furnace is usually in a small room, a closet, or a basement. The workers will need space to work, move tools, and carry the old furnace out.
- Move It: Please clear away anything stored near the furnace. Move boxes, toys, cleaning supplies, and anything else that might be in the way.
- A Clear Path: Make sure the path from your front door to the furnace area is clear. They will be walking back and forth with tools and the new unit.
- Protect Your Things: It’s a good idea to cover anything you can’t move with an old sheet or plastic to keep dust off.
B. The Paperwork Check
Your contractor should have already taken care of important things like getting a permit. A permit is like a permission slip from the city that says it’s okay to do the work. If you live near Denver, for instance, a company specializing in furnace installation arvada co will make sure all the local permits are confirmed before they start.
- Be Ready to Talk: Have your phone handy. The crew might call when they are close to your house.
Step 2: The Crew Arrives and the Plan Begins
When the friendly installers arrive, they will have a plan for the whole day.
A. The Welcome and Walk-Through
The installation team leader will knock on your door and introduce the crew.
- Quick Check: They will ask you to show them the old furnace and where the new one will go. They will check the main power switch and the gas line. This only takes a few minutes.
- Ground Rules: This is a good time to ask any last questions you have. For example, “Where can you park your truck?” or “Where is the best place to leave your tools?”
B. Protecting Your Home
The crew will put down plastic or drop cloths on the floors and stairs where they will be walking. This keeps your floors safe from dirt and scratches. They want to keep your house just as clean as they found it.
Step 3: Removing the Old Furnace (The Tear-Out)
This is the first major piece of work. They need to safely disconnect and remove the old furnace.
A. Turning Things Off
The most important step is safety! The crew will:
- Turn off the power to the furnace at the breaker box.
- Turn off the gas line that feeds fuel to the furnace.
B. Disconnecting and Dismantling
The old furnace is heavy, dusty, and connected to several things:
- They will carefully disconnect the gas line.
- They will disconnect the electrical wires.
- They will disconnect the ductwork (the large metal tubes that carry the air).
- They will take apart the old furnace and carry the pieces outside to their truck. Don’t worry about getting rid of the old unit; the company handles that whole process.
Step 4: Installing the New Furnace (The Main Event)
Now it’s time for the new, shiny, efficient furnace to go in! This is the longest part of the day, where the installers use their skills to make sure everything is perfect.
A. The Base and Connections
The crew will place the new furnace on a level pad or stand. Then they will begin connecting everything back up, only better:
- Ductwork: They connect the new furnace to the existing air ducts. They might need to cut some new metal pieces to make sure the fit is tight and air doesn’t leak out.
- Gas Line: They safely connect the gas line. This requires special tools and must be done perfectly to prevent leaks.
- Wires: They connect the low-voltage wires that talk to your thermostat and the main power line.
B. The Big Difference: New Venting (For High-Efficiency Units)
If your old furnace was very old, it probably vented hot, dirty air up a chimney made of metal. Most new furnaces are high-efficiency, which means they are much smarter and cleaner.
- New Pipes: High-efficiency furnaces need special PVC pipes (white plastic pipes) for venting. This venting usually goes straight out the side of your house, not up the chimney.
- Why the Change? These furnaces pull out so much heat from the gas that the air they push out is cool enough to use plastic pipes. They also create water (condensation) which needs a little drain line to drip outside or into a floor drain. The crew is trained to install all of this correctly.
Step 5: The Final Checks and Test Drive
The work is almost done, but this step is the most important for safety and efficiency.
A. Powering Up and Testing
The installers will turn the gas and power back on. They will do a home safety check of the gas line to make sure there are no leaks, they use a special soap solution that bubbles if there’s a leak.
- First Start: They will turn the furnace on for the very first time. You might hear some strange noises at first, but that’s just the unit warming up.
- Test Run: They will let the furnace run for a while to make sure it heats the air correctly and that the fan is working well.
B. The New Thermostat
The crew will install your new thermostat.
- Programming Lesson: The team leader will show you how to set the temperature, how to program a schedule (like having it turn down at night), and how to use any special features. Don’t be shy—ask them to show you again if you don’t understand!
Step 6: Cleanup and Saying Goodbye
The crew’s job isn’t done until your home looks just as tidy as it did when they arrived.
- Cleanup: They will sweep, pick up all the small pieces of metal and plastic, and remove all their drop cloths.
- Final Inspection: The crew leader will walk through the furnace area with you one last time to make sure you are happy with the work.
C. The Paperwork
Before they leave, you will get an important packet of papers:
- Warranty: This paper proves your new furnace is protected for many years.
- Manuals: Instructions for the furnace and the thermostat.
- Registration: The team will make sure your warranty is registered with the furnace company. This is very important!
How Long Does It All Take?
A typical furnace replacement, going from an old one to a new one in the same spot, usually takes about 4 to 8 hours. You can expect the crew to arrive in the morning and be finished sometime in the afternoon.
If they have to do extra work, like completely changing the ductwork, adding new lines, or installing a new chimney liner, it might take a full day, or sometimes even a bit longer. They will let you know ahead of time if it’s going to be a long job!
Caring for Your New Furnace: Keeping It Running Smoothly
The installation team has finished, and now your house is wonderfully warm! The furnace is new, but it still needs a little bit of care from you to keep it running perfectly for many years. Think of it like a new car. It runs best when you take good care of it.
Here are the three most important things you need to do after your furnace is installed:
1. Change the Air Filter (Your Furnace’s Lungs)
The air filter is the number one thing you can check yourself. It keeps dust, dirt, pet hair, and other tiny things from getting into the furnace motor.
- Where is it? The crew showed you where the filter slot is. It’s usually a long, thin slot near the bottom of the furnace or in the return air duct.
- When to Change it: The general rule is to check it every month and change it every 1 to 3 months. If you have pets or do a lot of cleaning, you should change it more often.
- What Happens if I Don’t? A dirty filter makes the furnace work too hard. It has to pull air through all that grime, which uses more electricity and can make the furnace overheat.
2. Keep the Area Clear
Remember how you cleared the area before the crew arrived? You need to keep it clear all the time.
- Give It Space: Do not store anything right next to the furnace. It needs room to breathe and pull air in.
- Check the Vents: If you have those new white PVC exhaust pipes sticking out of your house, make sure nothing blocks them outside. Snow, bushes, or toys must not block those pipes! The furnace needs them to safely push out exhaust gases.
3. Schedule a Check-Up (The Doctor’s Visit)
Your furnace is complex, like a small machine factory. Once a year, you should have a professional come out to give it a full check-up. This is called annual maintenance or a tune-up.
- When to Call: Call your HVAC company every fall, right before you need to use the heat for the winter.
- What They Do: The technician will clean the inside parts, check the gas pressure, oil the moving parts, and look for any small problems before they become big, expensive problems. This service keeps your furnace running safely and keeps your warranty valid.
By following these simple steps, you can relax and enjoy the comfort and savings your new high-efficiency furnace brings to your home!
