96% vs 98% AFUE Furnace: Is the Upgrade Worth It in Minnesota?
What AFUE measures, the gas math from 80% to 96% to 98% using your own bill, and what a 98% furnace really buys you in a cold Minnesota house.
Read the guide
Furnace Replacement in Columbia Heights, MN
Columbia Heights furnace replacement runs $4,500–$9,500 installed with us, quoted flat-rate after a Manual J. Houses here are mostly 1910s–1950s with tight basements and masonry chimneys, so cabinet height, the vent route and any water heater liner are priced up front. CenterPoint Energy's heating system rebates cover high-efficiency furnaces.
Furnace replacement calls in Columbia Heights homes
Replacing a furnace in Columbia Heights usually means working in a tight basement. Low ceilings, the laundry and old stairs crowd the mechanical corner, so cabinet height and service clearance come first. Many houses have converted gravity ductwork, with oversized trunks and often one big central return, and a new furnace needs enough return air, so we may add a return or a second filter path while we're there.
Going to a 96–98% furnace means PVC through a foundation or rim joist on lots where the neighbor's house may be close, and the water heater left on the masonry chimney usually needs a liner. In some houses an 80% furnace on a relined chimney is the better fit. Postwar ramblers are simpler, though central air added as a coil on the old furnace may have to change if the new cabinet is a different height. The mechanical permit is in the quote.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new furnace cost in Columbia Heights?
An installed furnace from us runs about $4,500–$9,500 in Columbia Heights: 80% AFUE roughly $4,500–$6,000, 96–98% AFUE roughly $6,500–$9,500. Same prices in Columbia Heights as in every town we serve. See the furnace replacement cost guide.
Are there rebates for a new furnace in Columbia Heights?
Columbia Heights homes are on CenterPoint Energy for gas and Xcel Energy for electricity. CenterPoint's heating rebates cover high-efficiency boilers as well as furnaces, which matters in the older radiator houses, and you can use the dealer of your choice. Xcel's heat pump rebates, which include mini-splits and cold-climate mini-splits, work through its Trade Partner Network, so ask whether the rebate needs a registered contractor. CenterPoint's Home Energy Squad visit is a good starting point for air sealing. Rebate programs change every year, so check the utility's current terms before you buy.
Our guides: Xcel and CenterPoint rebates, heat pump rebates.
Signs it's time to replace your furnace
- A cracked heat exchanger on a furnace that's out of warranty
- The furnace is 20-plus years old and needs another major repair
- Rooms far from the furnace never warm up on sub-zero nights
- Gas bills climbing while your thermostat settings haven't changed
- Repair calls two or more winters in a row
- A burner roar or blower noise you can hear across the house
- Replacement parts for your model are getting hard to find
More detail on our furnace installation page.
Furnace replacement in Columbia Heights: questions
Can a new furnace work with the old converted gravity ducts in our Columbia Heights house?
Usually, with some changes. Gravity systems used large, gently sloped trunks that don't match a modern blower, and many have a single central return. We keep the ducts that work, seal the obvious leaks and add return air where the furnace would otherwise starve. A furnace with a variable-speed blower handles odd duct systems better than a single-speed one. We measure static pressure first, so the quote reflects what your ducts need.
Our Columbia Heights basement has old white wrap on the ducts. Can you still replace the furnace?
Yes, but have that wrap tested first. Ducts and gravity furnaces in houses from this era were often insulated with material that can contain asbestos, and cutting into it releases fibers. A licensed asbestos contractor tests it and, if needed, removes or encapsulates it before we open the ductwork. A furnace swap usually touches only the plenum connections, so the area that needs attention can be small.
More in Columbia Heights
- Furnace repair in Columbia Heights
- AC repair in Columbia Heights
- AC replacement in Columbia Heights
- All HVAC service in Columbia Heights
Furnace replacement near Columbia Heights
- St. Anthony, MN 2 mi
- Fridley, MN 3 mi
- New Brighton, MN 3 mi
- Robbinsdale, MN 4 mi
- Brooklyn Center, MN 4 mi
- Minneapolis, MN 4 mi
Brands we install and service
Guides on furnace replacement
The Quietest Furnaces for Minnesota Homes, and Why the Ducts Matter as Much
The quietest gas furnaces from Lennox, Carrier and Trane, the features that really cut noise, and the duct fixes that quiet any furnace in a Minnesota home.
Read the guideFrozen Furnace Vent Pipe? How to Clear It Safely in a Minnesota Winter
Furnace quit in a cold snap? How to tell if the PVC intake or exhaust is iced or drifted shut, clear it without cracking the pipe, and keep it from recurring.
Read the guideContact Us
Furnace replacement in Columbia Heights? Call or send a request.