Furnace and air conditioners have a limited age. And with new technology advancements, better ac and furnaces are introduced in the market. So replacing an old ac and furnace unit can be a better option.

If you’re thinking about replacing your ac and furnace but don’t know how much it will cost you? Yeah, it can be troublesome for someone who barely knows about ac and furnaces.

I have been an HVAC technician for about 6 years now and it takes years to finally become a seasoned HVAC technician. So In this guide, I’ll share every detail possible about the ac and furnace combo cost and buying guide.

Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo Cost Tiers

Tier	Basic	Better	Best
Furnace AFUE	80% to 93%	94% to 97%	97% to 98.5%
Furnace Type	Single- Stage	Single or Two Stage	Variable – Capacity
AC SEER	13 to 15 SEER	16 to 20 SEER	19 to 26 SEER
AC Type	Single Stage	Single or Two Stage	Variable – Capacity
Installed Cost	$3,600 to $6,000	$4,500 to $8,250	$6,300 to $ 11, 750

AC and furnaces can be divided into three groups based on efficiency and performance: Basic, Better, and Best.

1. Basic AC and Furnace Level

Basic is the most affordable ac and furnace combo for any buyer. The basic single-stage furnace has an AFUE rating of 80% to 93%.

AFUE is the ratio of the furnace’s/boiler’s annual heat output compared to the total fuel energy consumed by a furnace or boiler.

AFUE of 80% means that 80% of the energy in the fuel becomes heat for the home, and the other 20% escapes from chimneys or elsewhere.

In the basic, the SEER rating of an air conditioner is 13 to 15 SEER. For those who don’t know about SEER, it stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.

This SEER rating signifies the ac/heat pump energy efficiency. The higher the number, the lesser electricity ac uses.

The installation cost of the basic pack is between $3000 to $6000. The basic ac unit does not cost that much, but the operating cost is much higher due to lower efficiency.

Basic furnaces have a single-speed blower motor that runs at a maximum speed when it’s on.

2. Better AC and Furnace Level

In the better AFUE rating of the single or two-stage furnace is between 94% to 97%, which is really impressive. The AC SEER ratings are around 16 and 20 SEER. These types of SEER ratings can make a huge difference in energy bills.

A two-stage air conditioner and furnace offer better performance and moderate cost, which appeals to homeowners. A two-stage ac and furnace can run on lows up to 65% of the time to maximize efficiency and climate control.

However, a two-stage ac and furnace run on high when they detect that a significant boost is required in heating/cooling. The installation cost is around $4500 to $8250, which is relatively higher than the basic.

3. BEST AC and Furnace Tier

A Variable-capacity system is the most expensive out of all three. The BEST tier ac and furnace installation cost is around $6300 to $11,750. Due to their highly efficient nature, the cost of heating and cooling is really low.

Best-tier furnaces provide 97% to 98.5% AFUE ratings. The SEER rating of the air conditioner is around 19 to 26 SEER.

The initial installation cost is a variable capacity system's only less attractive factor, but they tend to save more in the long run. These systems perform with super efficiency and deliver the best climate control.

Factors Affecting Price Of Furnace and AC Combo

Capacity

The bigger the unit, the more it will cost it is as simple as that. Central air conditioners range from 18000 BTU (1.5 tons) to 60000 BTU (5 tons). The 5-ton ac will always cost more in both installation and efficiency. The furnace range from 45,000 BTU To 1,50,000 BTU.

Efficiency and Performance

The better the heating or cooling system, the more it will cost. Honestly, I don’t recommend getting a super-efficient system if you use it for a personal home.

The cost you’ll save on the energy bills will be much lesser than the part replacement. Superefficient system parts cost way high and are very expensive to maintain.

Ease of Installation:

If the place of installation is complex, then the installation cost will go higher.

Cost of Living In Your City:

Some cities will have a higher cost of living so that the overall installation cost can go way higher. You need to consider that you can also try getting quotes from the other city’s companies. You must always compare different packages from your neighboring cities.

Sizing Your AC and Furnace System:

This is one of the most critical steps while buying or replacing the ac or furnace unit. You must know what capacity ac and furnace you need.

If you get an undersized unit, it’ll have to overwork to keep the cooling or heating. And if you bought an oversized ac or furnace unit, you’ll have high maintenance and energy bills.

You must check your house's square feet and the areas you want cool and other things like the climate of your region, how many persons you have in the house, how tall your ceiling is, and other things. Then calculate how many BTUs you need and then proceed to buy.

Types Of AC and Furnace Combos and Their Cost

Apart from the air conditioner and furnace, there are other choices like heat pump and air handler, and heat pump, and gas furnace.

The average replacement cost of a basic heat pump is between $3,850 and $6,400, whereas the replacement cost of a better heat pump is between $4,925 and $8,785. The high-efficiency heat pump can cost between $6,775 and $12,100.

The dual-fuel system replacement can cost between $4,150 and $6,825 whereas the better dual fuel system can cost between $5,250 and $9,100. The high-efficiency dual fuel system replacement can cost between $7,150 and $12,450

Equipment Tier	Basic	Better	Best
Furnace & AC	$3,600 to $6,000	$4,500 to $8,250	$6,300 to $11,750
Heat	$3,850 to $6,400	$4,925 to $8,785	$6,775 to $12,100
Pump	$4,150 to $6,825	$5,250 to $9,100	$7,150 to $12,450