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AfterHow Much Does Furnace Replacement Cost in San Antonio?
A full furnace replacement in San Antonio typically runs between $4,500 and $8,500, with most homeowners paying around $6,300 for a mid-efficiency unit installed. On the low end, a basic 80% AFUE furnace in a smaller single-story home can be done for about $3,500. High-efficiency models (95%+ AFUE) with variable-speed blowers and upgraded filtration in larger homes run $9,000 to $14,000.
These numbers include equipment, labor, permits, and removal of the old unit. They reflect what we see across San Antonio neighborhoods from Alamo Heights to Stone Oak to Helotes, not national averages.
Furnace Replacement Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what you’re actually paying for when you replace a furnace in San Antonio. We show this breakdown on every written estimate we give:
| Cost Component | Typical Range (San Antonio) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace unit (80% AFUE, single-stage) | $1,800 – $2,800 | Basic models from Goodman, Rheem, Bryant |
| Furnace unit (95%+ AFUE, two-stage or variable) | $3,200 – $5,500 | Carrier, Trane, Lennox higher-efficiency lines |
| Installation labor | $1,200 – $2,500 | Half-day to full-day job, 1-2 technicians |
| Sheet metal, duct transitions, flue venting | $400 – $1,100 | Higher if your plenum or flue needs reworking |
| Electrical, gas connections, condensate drain | $250 – $600 | City of San Antonio permit required |
| Old furnace removal and disposal | $100 – $250 | Usually included in our written quote |
| Permit | $75 – $150 | COA mechanical permit, pulled by the installer |
| Thermostat (if replaced) | $80 – $350 | Basic programmable to smart/Wi-Fi models |
What moves the final number up or down? Equipment efficiency is the biggest lever. A jump from 80% to 96% AFUE adds $2,000 to $4,000 in equipment cost, but it cuts your gas bill by roughly 16% over the life of the furnace. For San Antonio’s relatively mild winters, that payback takes longer than it does in, say, Minneapolis. We’ll walk you through the math before you commit, not after.
Access is another real factor. Furnaces in San Antonio are often in attic spaces that get dangerously hot from March through October. An attic install in August takes longer, and crews schedule accordingly. Closet-installed furnaces (common in older homes around Monte Vista and Government Hill) sometimes require additional flue work, which adds $150 to $400.
If your existing ductwork needs sealing or modification, that’s outside the furnace replacement itself. We price it separately and in writing, so there’s no surprise line item at the end.
What Affects Furnace Replacement Pricing in San Antonio
- Home size and layout. A 1,500-square-foot single-story near Woodlawn Lake needs a 60,000 to 80,000 BTU furnace. A 3,500-square-foot two-story in The Dominion may need 100,000 to 120,000 BTUs, plus zoning considerations. Bigger equipment costs more, but so does better airflow design.
- Efficiency rating (AFUE). An 80% AFUE furnace is the base model; 92% to 96% AFUE condensing furnaces cost more up front. San Antonio’s climate means your annual heating hours are modest compared to northern markets, so the upgrade decision is about comfort and quieter operation, not just payback.
- Venting changes. If you’re switching from an 80% to a high-efficiency condensing furnace, you’ll need new PVC venting instead of a metal flue. In older homes around Olmos Park and Alamo Heights, that can mean running new vent lines through finished space, adding $400 to $900.
- Blower type. Single-speed blowers are the budget option. Variable-speed ECM blowers are quieter, move air more evenly, and cost $500 to $1,200 more. If you have a two-story home with uneven temperatures between floors, variable-speed is worth the money.
- Brand and parts availability. We service and install all major residential brands: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. Parts availability in San Antonio is generally strong for all of these, but specialized components on premium lines can add a day to a warranty repair.
- Season and demand. The busiest time for furnace work in San Antonio is November through February, especially during cold snaps like the February 2021 freeze. Scheduling in spring or early fall often gets you more flexibility, and some manufacturers run seasonal rebates that knock $200 to $500 off equipment costs.
How to Save on Furnace Replacement
You don’t have to pay top dollar to get a dependable furnace in San Antonio. Here’s what we tell our own customers when they ask how to keep the price reasonable:
- Replace before the emergency. If your furnace is 15 to 20 years old and making noises it didn’t make last winter, get a quote now. Emergency replacements during a cold snap almost always cost more, and you’ll be choosing from whatever’s in stock, not what’s best for your home.
- Keep the 80% AFUE if your home doesn’t need more. In San Antonio, an 80% AFUE furnace is perfectly adequate for most winters. If your attic is well insulated or your home is under 2,000 square feet, spending $2,000 more on high efficiency may not pencil out.
- Ask about manufacturer rebates. Carrier, Trane, and Lennox frequently run rebates on qualifying systems, typically $300 to $600 off. We check current rebates on every quote and show you the net price, not just the sticker price.
- Bundle with AC replacement if your AC is also aging. If your air conditioner is 12-plus years old, replacing the furnace and AC together saves $800 to $1,500 in labor and shared components. That’s the single biggest money-saver we see in San Antonio, where the AC works a lot harder than the furnace.
- Get a written quote that includes everything. At Brandt HVAC, every job starts with a written price before any work begins. That includes equipment, labor, permit, disposal, and any sheet metal work. What you sign is what you pay. No work starts until you see the number in writing and approve it.
Call (361) 470-8872 for a free furnace replacement estimate. We’ll come out, measure your home, inspect your ductwork, and give you a written quote with no obligation.
Furnace Replacement vs. Furnace Repair: Which Makes Sense in San Antonio?
Furnace repair in San Antonio runs $150 to $700 for most jobs: igniters, flame sensors, gas valves, blower motors, and control boards. A replacement runs $4,500 to $8,500. The decision usually comes down to three things:
- Age of the unit. If your furnace is over 15 years old and the repair involves a major component (heat exchanger, blower motor, control board), replacement is usually the smarter money, especially when you factor in the next repair six months later.
- Cost of the repair as a percentage of replacement. A $500 igniter swap on a 12-year-old furnace makes sense. A $650 blower motor on an 18-year-old furnace is harder to justify when a new furnace starts at $3,500.
- Safety considerations. A cracked heat exchanger is a serious carbon monoxide risk. If your technician flags it, replacement isn’t an upsell, it’s the responsible recommendation. We’ll show you photos and explain exactly what we found before recommending anything.
How Furnace Replacement Works: Step by Step
Here’s how a typical furnace replacement goes at Brandt HVAC in San Antonio, from first call to final walkthrough:
- Call and schedule your free estimate. A live person answers at (361) 470-8872. We’ll ask about your home size, current furnace age, and what’s been going wrong. Then we’ll schedule a visit that fits your schedule.
- Home assessment. A technician comes to your home, measures square footage, inspects the existing furnace, checks ductwork and venting, and looks at your thermostat. This takes about 45 to 90 minutes, depending on attic access and home layout.
- Written quote with options. You’ll get a written price before any work starts. We typically show two or three equipment options at different efficiency levels, each with a complete line-item breakdown. No pressure, no “sign today” pricing games.
- Permit pulled. Once you approve, we pull the City of San Antonio mechanical permit. It’s included in your quote.
- Installation day. You’ll know exactly who’s coming before they arrive. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and sent to you by name and photo before every visit. They’ll show a photo ID badge at the door. Installation takes 4 to 8 hours for most homes. Gas lines are pressure-tested, the flue is checked, and the system is started up and tested for proper operation.
- Final walkthrough. We show you the new furnace, explain the thermostat, point out the filter location, and confirm the old unit has been removed. You’ll get a copy of the permit sign-off and your written guarantee.
Every furnace replacement we install includes a written guarantee. If something’s not right, we make it right under the 365-Day Done Right Promise. That means if the repair or installation fails within the guarantee period, we return at no charge. No argument, no fine print.
San Antonio-Specific Considerations for Furnace Replacement
San Antonio winters are short, but they’re not gentle. The February 2021 freeze pushed temperatures into the single digits for days and exposed how many home heating systems in this region were undersized or poorly maintained. Since then, we’ve seen more homeowners in San Antonio replacing aging furnaces before the next hard freeze, and we’ve seen a shift toward equipment with better cold-weather reliability.
One thing that’s unique to this market: many San Antonio homes run heat pumps or dual-fuel systems with a furnace as backup. If you have a heat pump and an older furnace, replacing just the furnace can still make sense, but we’ll check how the two systems are wired together so the transition between heat pump and gas heat works properly.
Attic installations dominate in newer San Antonio construction, from Cibolo to Castroville. Attic furnaces need proper insulation around the unit and accessible service clearance. We check both on every quote. In older neighborhoods like Tobin Hill and Dignowity Hill, some homes still have floor furnaces or wall heaters. Converting those to a modern central furnace is a bigger project involving ductwork, and we’ll give you a realistic picture of that cost on-site.
Why Homeowners Choose Brandt HVAC for Furnace Replacement in San Antonio
The name Brandt comes from an old word for a firebrand, a fitting name for the work of keeping a home warm. But what our customers in San Antonio tell us matters most isn’t the name. It’s knowing exactly who’s walking through their door.
We’re part of the Threshold Group family of home-service companies, established in 2003, and every Brandt HVAC location is independently owned and operated. Being part of Threshold Group means we hold our technicians to a standard most HVAC companies don’t have a name for. We call it the Threshold Verified standard. Every technician is background-checked and identity-verified. You get their name and photo before the visit. When they arrive, they show a photo ID badge. If anyone shows up who you were not told to expect, that visit is on us, and we make it right.
Phones are staffed by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nights, weekends, holidays. You’ll talk to a human, not a voicemail box. And every repair and replacement includes a written guarantee on what it covers and for how long.
Led by Devin Marlowe, our San Antonio team installs and services furnaces from every major residential brand, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. We’re upfront about what each brand costs and what you get for the difference, and we’ll never steer you into equipment you don’t need.
FAQs – Furnace Replacement Cost
How much does it cost to replace a furnace in San Antonio in 2026?
A full furnace replacement in San Antonio costs $4,500 to $8,500 in 2026, with most mid-efficiency installations landing around $6,300. Budget replacements start at $3,500. High-efficiency units in larger homes run $9,000 to $14,000. Call (361) 470-8872 for a free written estimate on your specific home.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a furnace?
If the repair costs less than 30% of replacement cost and your furnace is under 12 years old, repair usually makes sense. Most furnace repairs in San Antonio run $150 to $700. When a compressor-level failure appears on an older unit, replacement is typically the better long-term value. We’ll show you the numbers for both options in writing before you decide.
Can you replace a furnace the same day?
In many cases, yes. We keep common furnace sizes and configurations in stock in San Antonio, and we can install same-day if your situation requires it. Emergency replacements during cold snaps are a priority for us. Call (361) 470-8872 and a live person will tell you what’s possible today.
How long does a furnace replacement take?
Most furnace replacements in San Antonio take 4 to 8 hours from start to finish. Attic installations, flue reconfiguration, or converting from a closet furnace to an attic unit can add a few hours. We’ll give you a clear timeline with your written quote.
Do I need a permit to replace a furnace in San Antonio?
Yes. The City of San Antonio requires a mechanical permit for furnace replacement. We pull the permit for you, and it’s included in your written quote. We also handle the final inspection sign-off. You’ll get a copy of the signed permit with your paperwork.
How much does a high-efficiency furnace save on gas bills in San Antonio?
Upgrading from an 80% AFUE furnace to a 95%+ AFUE model typically saves 10% to 16% on your gas bill during heating months. For the average San Antonio home, that’s $50 to $150 per year. The bigger benefit is quieter, more even heating and better airflow, especially in two-story homes.
What brands do you install for furnace replacement?
We install furnaces from Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. Each brand has good options at different price points, and we’ll match the equipment to your home’s size, your budget, and your comfort priorities rather than pushing one brand over another.
Get a Free Furnace Replacement Estimate in San Antonio
Call (361) 470-8872 for a free, no-obligation furnace replacement estimate. We’ll come to your home, measure, inspect, and give you a written price before any work starts. That’s how we do business: written price, verified technicians, and a guarantee that if it’s not done right, we make it right. You can also learn more about our Furnace Replacement in San Antonio services or return to our home page for more information.
Pricing reflects the San Antonio market as of 2026. Brandt HVAC Co San Antonio offers free estimates – call (361) 470-8872.
What Our Customers Say
"Good work on the heat pump. The first visit missed the real problem, but he came back and found the reversing valve issue. No charge for the return trip."
- Priscilla N."Thermostat was reading wrong and the upstairs never cooled. They moved the sensor and rebalanced the dampers. Even temps now."
- Kevin O."Good diagnostic and honest quote. Had to order a blower motor, which took three days, but they gave me a fan to get through the wait."
- Dwight S.