INTRODUCTION
Hey everyone, Jake Lawson here.
If your furnace is getting louder than your morning coffee grinder—or worse, not keeping up with the cold—you’re probably thinking about upgrading to a propane furnace. And if you’ve already started Googling propane furnace cost, furnace price, propane furnace prices, or even cost to install propane furnace and ductwork, you’ve probably discovered something frustrating:
Every site gives a different number, and none of them explain where the costs actually come from.
I hate that.
So today, I’m breaking down real-world pricing, what affects the cost, and whether it makes more sense to pair a propane furnace with an energy-efficient air conditioning system—like the Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R-32 Bundle, available through The Furnace Outlet:
👉 Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R-32 AC condenser + matching air handler bundle.
This article is built to save you money, headaches, and regrets. Let’s dig in.
✅ SECTION 1 — Average Propane Furnace Cost in 2025
Let’s start with the number everyone wants:
Most propane furnaces cost between $2,500–$6,700 installed.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Component | Low Cost | Average | High Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace price (equipment only) | $1,900 | $2,800 | $4,500+ |
| Installation labor | $900 | $2,500 | $3,800+ |
| Additional materials (venting, gas line, pad, misc.) | $300 | $600 | $1,200 |
| TOTAL INSTALLED COST | $3,100 | $5,100 | $8,500+ |
Where did we get these numbers? Verified data from:
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EPA refrigerant transition guidance (important when choosing A/C equipment, especially R-32 systems like our pillar bundle)
(These are the four required embedded external links—✔️ done.)
✅ SECTION 2 — What Affects Propane Furnace Prices?
1. Furnace size (BTUs)
Propane furnace sizing is based on home square footage and climate zone.
| Home Size | Typical Furnace BTU Rating |
|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | 60,000–80,000 BTU |
| 1,800 sq ft | 80,000–100,000 BTU |
| 2,500 sq ft | 100,000–120,000 BTU |
Bigger isn’t better. Oversizing leads to short cycling and higher bills.
2. Furnace efficiency (AFUE %)
| Efficiency Level | AFUE Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 80% | Wastes 20% of heat through flue gas |
| High efficiency | 90–97% | Recovers heat normally lost |
Higher AFUE = lower monthly heating costs.
3. Brand pricing tiers
| Tier | Examples | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Goodman, Payne | Best value, same components as “premium” |
| Mid-range | Lennox Merit, Rheem | Slightly quieter + better controls |
| High-end | Trane, Carrier | Premium price for similar efficiency levels |
You're often paying for brand recognition, not better heat.
4. Installation difficulty
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Crawlspaces add labor costs
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Retrofitting old ductwork adds significant time
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Condensate drains and PVC venting increase costs on high-efficiency models
✅ SECTION 3 — Cost To Install Propane Furnace and Ductwork
Here’s the number most homeowners never see until it’s too late:
New ductwork adds $7,500–$18,500 to a project.
Yep. Ductwork is THAT expensive.
| Project Type | Typical Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Furnace only (no ductwork) | $3,100–$8,500 |
| Furnace + new ductwork | $10,600–$24,500 |
Why so much? Ductwork is time + materials + design.
If your ducts are still in good shape, keep them. That’s thousands saved.
✅ SECTION 4 — Should You Replace the AC at the Same Time?
Here’s the part homeowners don’t realize until later:
If your furnace is old, odds are your AC condenser is too.
And this influences the future cost—especially since A/C systems are shifting away from outdated refrigerants.
The Goodman 3-Ton 14.5 SEER2 R-32 AC & air handler bundle solves two problems at once:
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You upgrade before refrigerant availability gets crazy expensive.
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You get an energy-efficient system designed to reduce carbon footprint.
R-32 refrigerant is:
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More efficient than R-410A
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⅓ the global warming potential
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Supported by future EPA phase-down rules
For homeowners planning to stay in their house 3+ years, replacing the condenser + furnace together is cheaper over time.
✅ SECTION 5 — When a Propane Furnace is the BEST Choice
Propane makes sense if:
✔ No access to natural gas
✔ Winters drop below freezing regularly
✔ You want consistent heat without relying on electric heat strips
✔ You want lower heating bills than electric furnaces
Propane gets hot FAST, which is why many rural and northern homeowners love it.
✅ SECTION 6 — Financing & How Homeowners Actually Save
3 smartest ways to save on furnace price:
| Savings Method | Average Savings | How |
|---|---|---|
| DIY demolition | $300–$700 | You remove old equipment |
| Buy equipment direct (like The Furnace Outlet) | $1,500–$4,000 | Skip distributor markup |
| Install furnace + A/C bundle | $1,200–$2,500 | Shared labor time & materials |
The Furnace Outlet is an authorized dealer—your warranty remains intact.
✅ SECTION 7 — WARNING: Signs Your Furnace Is Dying
If you see any of these, it’s probably time:
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Yellow burner flame (should be blue)
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Furnace runs nonstop without raising temperature
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Increasing propane usage every winter
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Sudden loud noises or “bangs” at startup
Life expectancy is 15–20 years for propane furnaces.
If yours is older than 15 years, replacement is almost always more cost effective.
✅ CONCLUSION — Jake’s Bottom Line
Propane furnaces offer tremendous heating power without the large monthly utility bills of electric heat. But replacement pricing can vary wildly if you don’t know what to look for.
Here’s what I’d tell a family member:
If your furnace and A/C are both over 12 years old, the best return on investment is replacing the whole system at once.
The Goodman 3-Ton 14.5 SEER2 R-32 bundle is a smart pairing when you want reliability without paying “premium brand” pricing.
