Furnace installation and replacement in Kyle, TX

When a furnace gets replaced rather than repaired

Ignitors, flame sensors, pressure switches, inducer motors and blower motors are repairs on a furnace of any age. A cracked heat exchanger usually means the end of the furnace, and on a furnace of twenty-odd years a failed control board or inducer often leads to the same conversation. About 38% of Kyle's homes were built in 2000–2009 (Census ACS 2020–2024), and a house that still has its original furnace is at that age now.

What a furnace replacement involves

Getting it into the attic. Horizontal furnaces in Kyle usually sit on a platform reached by a pull-down ladder or a garage attic hatch. The new unit has to fit through the same opening, and the platform has to carry it.

The coil. The AC coil sits on the furnace outlet. A new furnace may fit the old coil, or the coil may need replacing at the same time, especially if the outdoor AC is also near the end of its life. Ask whether the quote includes it.

Venting. A high-efficiency furnace vents through plastic pipe and makes condensate; a standard-efficiency furnace vents through metal flue pipe. Switching from one to the other changes the vent run and adds a drain.

Gas. The contractor connects the gas line and tests it. When the City of Kyle inspects gas work, it notifies the gas company to release the meter once the system passes.

Permit

The City of Kyle requires a permit for installing or replacing heating equipment. The contractor must be registered with the city and licensed by TDLR, and Kyle has adopted the 2021 International Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. Ask who pulls the permit and when the inspection is scheduled.

Gas furnace or heat pump

About 48% of Kyle households heat with gas and 51% with electricity. Winter here is short, with about 20 nights a year at or below 32°F at the San Marcos station (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), which is why some owners ask about a heat pump when the furnace fails. Switching changes the gas line, the electrical circuit and the outdoor unit, so raise the question before the quote, not after.

Questions to ask on the quote

• What efficiency and venting type is proposed, and does the vent run change?
• Does the quote include a new coil, or reuse the old one?
• What size is proposed, and what was it based on?
• Who pulls the permit, and who arranges the gas release if one is needed?
• What is your TDLR license number?

Common questions

How long does a furnace replacement take? A like-for-like attic furnace is usually about one day of work. A change of venting type, coil or platform adds time.

Can the furnace be moved out of the attic? Sometimes, into a closet or the garage, but that changes ducts, venting and gas piping. Ask the contractor whether it makes sense for your floor plan.