How Much Does a New Furnace Cost in BC? (2026 Pricing Guide)

For most Lower Mainland homes, replacing a gas furnace runs somewhere between about $5,000 and $12,000, installed. A straightforward swap in a townhouse sits near the bottom of that range. A detached house that needs new venting, a gas line upgrade, or duct work can go past the top of it.

That's a wide range, so here's what actually moves the number.

What you're paying for

A furnace quote has three main parts: the furnace itself, the labour to install it, and whatever the house needs to make the new one work properly. The third part is where quotes from different companies start to look very different.

In Canada, new gas furnaces have had to meet a 95% efficiency minimum since 2019. So if you're replacing an old mid-efficiency unit from the 90s, you're not choosing between "standard" and "high efficiency" anymore. Every new gas furnace is high efficiency. The real choices are about how the furnace runs.

Single-stage, two-stage, or modulating

• Single-stage furnaces are either fully on or fully off. They're the cheapest option and they work fine, especially in smaller homes.

• Two-stage furnaces run on low most of the time and kick up to high on cold days. Expect to pay roughly $800 to $1,500 more. They're quieter and the heat is more even.

• Modulating furnaces adjust their output in small steps to match what the house needs. They're the most comfortable and the most expensive.

For a lot of Lower Mainland homes, where it rarely gets very cold for long, a two-stage furnace is the sweet spot. A modulating unit makes more sense in a larger home or one with rooms that never seem to heat evenly.

The extras that change the price

These are the line items that turn a $6,000 quote into a $10,000 one:

• Venting. High-efficiency furnaces vent through plastic pipe, usually out a side wall. If your old furnace vented up a chimney, the venting has to be redone. If your water heater shared that chimney, it may need a liner too.

• Condensate drain. High-efficiency furnaces produce water. It needs somewhere to go, which sometimes means a condensate pump.

• Gas line. Older homes sometimes have a gas line too small for the new setup, particularly if you've added a range, fireplace, or BBQ line over the years. Upgrades commonly run $500 to $2,000. That work has to be done by a licensed gasfitter (here's how that differs from a plumber).

• Ductwork. Leaky, undersized, or poorly laid out ducts can make a new furnace work just as badly as the old one. Duct repairs or changes can add $1,500 or more.

• Thermostat. A basic one is cheap. A smart thermostat adds a few hundred dollars.

• Permits. Gas work in BC needs a permit, and it should be pulled by the gasfitter doing the job. Budget a few hundred dollars. If a quote doesn't mention a permit, ask. We cover the details in Do You Need a Permit for Plumbing or Gas Work in BC?

Repair or replace?

Most gas furnaces last somewhere around 15 to 20 years, and the ones that get serviced every year tend to land at the long end. A rough rule we use: if the furnace is past 15 and a repair is going to cost more than about a third of a new one, it's usually time to start pricing replacement.

Some repairs are cheap and worth doing on any furnace, like a flame sensor, an igniter, or a thermostat. A cracked heat exchanger on a 17-year-old furnace is a different conversation. Our furnace repair cost guide has typical prices for the common fixes, so you can do the math on your own unit.

Rising gas bills, rooms that never get warm, and a furnace that needs a service call every winter are all signs the replacement conversation is coming.

What about rebates?

This is where BC has changed a lot in the last few years.

There's currently no general rebate for replacing an old gas furnace with a new gas furnace. Most of the money has moved toward heat pumps, including "dual fuel" setups where a heat pump does most of the heating and a gas furnace takes over on the coldest days.

A few things that are worth checking when you get a quote:

• FortisBC maintenance rebates. FortisBC offers rebates of up to $150 for having gas appliances serviced by a licensed contractor. Here's what furnace maintenance costs in BC before the rebate.

• Dual fuel rebates from FortisBC. If you're adding a heat pump alongside a new furnace, there may be money available. Amounts and rules change, so check FortisBC's site for what's current.

• CleanBC heat pump rebates. These are larger, but many of the biggest amounts are income-qualified. Our heat pump installation cost guide covers what those systems run.

• Connecting to gas for the first time. If you're converting from oil or propane, FortisBC has had rebates for new gas furnaces and boilers.

Rebate programs change often, sometimes mid-year. Confirm what you qualify for before you sign anything, and keep every invoice.

Is a gas furnace still a safe bet in BC?

Nothing is forcing anyone to remove a working gas furnace. The province has been consulting on future efficiency standards that could limit sales of new gas-only heating equipment around 2030, but existing furnaces aren't affected, and a furnace you install now can run out its normal life.

If you're replacing anyway, it's reasonable to ask about a dual fuel setup, or at least make sure there's room to add a heat pump later.

How to get a quote you can trust

A few things a good quote should do:

• Come from someone who actually looked at your furnace, venting, ducts, and gas line in person

• List the furnace model and its warranty

• Say clearly what's included: removal of the old unit, venting, condensate drain, thermostat, permit

• Be written down, with no "we'll see when we get there" items left vague

If two quotes are $3,000 apart, the cheaper one is usually leaving something out. Ask what.

Get a furnace quote from Ark

Ark Plumbing & Heating installs, services, and repairs furnaces across the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Surrey, Langley, Delta, and New Westminster. Our licensed gasfitters handle the permit, and every quote is written out up front with no hidden fees.

Call 604-441-3411 or request a free quote, and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

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