96% vs 98% AFUE Furnace: Worth the Upgrade in Minnesota?
A 98% AFUE furnace saves only about 2% more gas than a 96% model. Our condensing furnaces run $6,500–$9,500 installed. See what the extra buys.
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Furnace Replacement in Forest Lake, MN
We replace furnaces in Forest Lake for $4,500–$9,500 installed, with a written flat-rate quote sized by Manual J. If your road is due to get Xcel Energy gas, we can install a propane furnace that converts later with the manufacturer's kit.
Furnace replacements in Forest Lake homes
Furnace replacement in Forest Lake depends on where the house sits. In town and the newer subdivisions, it's a basement job on Xcel Energy gas: Manual J sizing, PVC venting through the rim joist, a condensate drain and a permit.
Lake homes are harder. A cabin winterized piece by piece may have a small furnace in a crawlspace, ducts that never reached the additions and a lot of heat loss through old walls, so the load calculation has to cover the house as it stands now. In a crawlspace, the new furnace and its condensate line need protection from freezing, and the PVC terminations need to clear the snow. On propane acreage, a 96% furnace saves more fuel dollars per season than it would on natural gas, since propane usually costs more per unit of heat.
Updated November 10, 2026
What affects the price of a new furnace in Forest Lake?
By efficiency: 80% AFUE roughly $4,500–$6,000; 96–98% AFUE roughly $6,500–$9,500. See the furnace replacement cost guide.
Are there rebates for a new furnace in Forest Lake?
For a home moving off propane, look at Xcel's Make the Switch to Natural Gas program along with its heating equipment rebates for high-efficiency gas furnaces. Ask us which rebates apply when we quote. Rebate programs change every year, so check the utility's current terms before you buy.
Our guides: Xcel and CenterPoint rebates, heat pump rebates.
Furnace replacement in Forest Lake: questions
Can the new furnace go in the attic of our Forest Lake lake cabin?
We'd avoid it. A Minnesota attic drops well below freezing, which puts the condensate line of a 96% furnace at risk and loses heat through any duct leak, and service access is poor. A closet, a utility room or an insulated crawlspace is usually a better home for the furnace, and in a small cabin a ductless heat pump can skip the furnace question entirely. We look at the floor plan before recommending a spot.
Our Forest Lake lake home sits empty part of the winter. Does that change the furnace we should buy?
It changes the controls more than the furnace. A Wi-Fi thermostat that alerts you to low indoor temperatures, or a separate freeze alarm, is worth more in an empty house than a higher efficiency tier. A two-stage furnace is still a good fit, and the condensate path should stay in heated space so it can't freeze while nobody's there. Set a minimum temperature that protects the plumbing, and have the furnace checked before you leave in fall.
More in Forest Lake
Signs your furnace needs replacing
- Furnace repair in Forest Lake
- AC repair in Forest Lake
- AC replacement in Forest Lake
- Heat pumps in Forest Lake
- Mini-splits in Forest Lake
- Tune-ups in Forest Lake
- All HVAC service in Forest Lake
Furnace replacement near Forest Lake
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Brands we install and service
Guides on furnace replacement
Trane or Carrier Furnace? A Minnesota Buying Guide
Trane or Carrier furnace? How the lineups match up, warranty registration windows, quote checks and Minnesota install costs of $4,500–$9,500.
Read the guideHow Long Does a Furnace Replacement Take?
Most furnace replacements take one day; venting, a chimney liner, gas line or duct work can add a second. Ours run $4,500–$9,500 installed. Call 612-429-3465.
Read the guideContact Us
Heat out? AC quit? Call or send a request.