Furnace Installation & Replacement
Furnace Installation and Replacement in Kansas City and Lenexa, KS
A new furnace is a significant investment, and getting it right means more than picking a brand. Proper sizing, correct AFUE selection for your home and utility costs, and quality installation work are what determine whether that system performs for 20 years or needs attention in three. Lutz has been installing heating systems in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro for over a century. Our process starts with a load calculation, not a square footage guess.
We install and service all major residential furnace brands. All installations comply with current Kansas and Missouri efficiency standards. Financing is available for qualifying homeowners.
To schedule a no-pressure installation consultation, call (913) 631-2667 or contact us online.
When Is It Time to Replace a Furnace?
Most homeowners replace a furnace because it has failed beyond practical repair, or because ongoing repair costs have accumulated to the point where continued investment no longer makes sense. Some specific indicators:
- The heat exchanger is cracked. Replacing the exchanger on a furnace over ten years old is rarely economical, and a cracked exchanger is a safety issue that makes continued operation inadvisable.
- The furnace is over 15 to 18 years old and has needed multiple repairs in recent seasons.
- Heating costs have risen consistently without a corresponding change in energy rates or usage patterns, indicating declining efficiency.
- The system cannot maintain set temperature on the coldest Johnson County nights, suggesting it was undersized or has significantly degraded.
- A single major repair estimate exceeds roughly one-third of what a new system would cost installed.
When repair still makes more sense, we will say that directly. See our furnace repair page for how we approach those decisions.
Sizing: The Most Important Decision in a Furnace Installation
An oversized furnace short-cycles: it heats the space quickly and shuts off before completing a full heating cycle. The result is uneven temperatures, excessive humidity swings, and accelerated wear on the heat exchanger, inducer, and igniter. An undersized furnace runs continuously on the coldest days and still cannot maintain the set temperature.
Before recommending any system, we perform a Manual J load calculation accounting for your home’s square footage, insulation levels, window area and orientation, ceiling height, infiltration characteristics, and the local heating degree day base for the Lenexa area. Johnson County homes vary widely: a 1,200-square-foot postwar ranch in Merriam and a 1,200-square-foot townhome in the Lenexa City Center area have very different heating loads. We calculate for your specific home.
AFUE Ratings and What They Mean for Your Utility Bills
AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, measures what percentage of fuel a furnace converts to usable heat. The current federal minimum for new gas furnaces installed in the Northern region (which includes Kansas) is 80% AFUE. Most systems we install are in the 80% to 96% AFUE range, with high-efficiency two-stage and modulating furnaces at the upper end.
A 96% AFUE furnace converts 96 cents of every dollar of natural gas into heat, compared to 80 cents for an 80% AFUE unit. For a home that spends $1,200 per year on gas heating, that gap is roughly $200 per year in savings. Over a 15-to-20-year system life, a high-efficiency furnace often recovers its premium cost in utility savings, particularly in homes with above-average heating loads. We will walk through the numbers with you at your consultation.
What Happens During a Furnace Installation
A standard furnace replacement typically takes four to six hours. Here is the general sequence:
- The existing furnace is shut down, disconnected from gas and electrical, and removed. If the system has a humidifier or electronic air cleaner, we verify compatibility before removal.
- The new furnace is set in place, connected to the existing duct system, and piped to gas and electrical. If the installation is a high-efficiency condensing unit, PVC flue pipes replace the existing metal flue.
- We perform a startup and commissioning procedure: checking gas pressure at the manifold, verifying proper ignition and flame sensor operation, measuring temperature rise across the heat exchanger, and confirming proper airflow.
- Before leaving, we walk you through the new system controls, thermostat programming, filter location and change schedule, and what normal operation looks and sounds like.
Lutz Loyalty Club: Protecting Your New System
All manufacturers require documented annual professional maintenance to maintain warranty coverage. The Lutz Loyalty Club provides scheduled annual fall tune-ups, priority scheduling, and member pricing on any future service calls. Enrolling at the time of installation is the easiest way to ensure your new furnace stays under warranty and enters each heating season in full operating condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new furnace cost installed in the Kansas City area?
A complete furnace replacement in the Kansas City metro typically ranges from $3,000 to $7,000 installed, depending on system size (BTU output), efficiency rating (AFUE), brand, and installation complexity. High-efficiency two-stage and modulating furnaces run toward the higher end. We provide a specific written quote after the load calculation and home assessment.
What AFUE rating should I choose for a Kansas City home?
For most Johnson County homes, we recommend a minimum of 80% AFUE and often suggest 96% high-efficiency if the home has above-average heating loads or if the homeowner plans to stay for ten or more years. The payback calculation depends on current natural gas rates, home size, and insulation quality. We run the numbers at the consultation so you can decide with real data rather than a sales pitch.
How long does furnace installation take?
A standard replacement installation takes four to six hours for most residential systems. Installations that also involve new thermostat wiring, duct modifications, or changes to the flue configuration may take a full day. We will give you a specific time estimate during scheduling.
Do I need to replace the air conditioner at the same time as the furnace?
Not necessarily. If the air conditioner is in good condition, it can typically remain in service when a new furnace is installed. If the AC is also aging or showing problems, replacing both systems at the same time can reduce labor costs and ensures the two components are matched correctly in capacity. We will assess both systems and give you a straightforward recommendation.
What furnace brands does Lutz install?
We install all major residential brands including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Ruud, Goodman, American Standard, Bryant, and York. Brand selection matters less than proper sizing, correct AFUE for your home and budget, and quality installation. We will discuss options that fit your specific situation.
Is financing available for a new furnace?
Yes. Financing is available for qualifying homeowners. See our financing page for current options, or ask during your installation consultation.
What is the difference between a single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnace?
A single-stage furnace operates at full capacity whenever it runs, cycling on and off to maintain temperature. A two-stage furnace has a low fire setting (typically 65-70% capacity) and a high fire setting, allowing it to run longer at lower output on mild days and only engage full capacity when needed. A modulating furnace adjusts output continuously across a wide range. Two-stage and modulating furnaces provide more even temperatures, better humidity control, and quieter operation. They cost more upfront but deliver a noticeably more comfortable living environment in a climate with significant seasonal temperature swings like Kansas City.
My home is in Prairie Village and still has a boiler system. Can I replace it with a forced-air furnace?
Yes, though it is a more involved project than a straightforward furnace swap. Converting from a boiler to forced-air heating requires designing and installing a ductwork system throughout the home, which adds cost and scope. Some homeowners in older Prairie Village, Merriam, and Fairway homes choose to maintain their boiler systems because radiator heat is comfortable and the systems have long service lives. We can assess both paths and give you a realistic comparison of cost and outcome. See our boiler installation page for information on high-efficiency boiler replacement as an alternative.