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.
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Furnace Replacement in Oakdale, MN
We replace Oakdale furnaces for $4,500–$9,500 installed, quoted in writing at a flat rate after a Manual J. The 80% or 96–98% AFUE choice sets most of the price. In townhome closets, the decision often comes down to how a new furnace can vent through a wall or roof the association controls.
Furnace replacement calls in Oakdale homes
Oakdale furnace replacements split between townhome closets and split-entry basements. In a closet, the new furnace has to fit the same footprint with required clearances, and going from 80% to 96% means routing PVC intake and exhaust through an exterior wall or roof that the association controls, with terminations it will approve. Some closets can't take that run cleanly, and an 80% replacement into the existing flue is the practical answer; we price both when both fit.
Split-entries have more room but often share a chimney with the water heater, and that flue may need relining once the furnace moves to PVC. Many of these homes are on their second furnace, installed in the 1990s and often oversized for a house that has since gained insulation and windows, so a Manual J usually changes the size. Gas comes from Xcel Energy; before buying, ask Xcel whether the furnace rebate you want requires one of its participating contractors. We pull the permit.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new furnace cost in Oakdale?
An installed furnace from us runs about $4,500–$9,500 in Oakdale: 80% AFUE roughly $4,500–$6,000, 96–98% AFUE roughly $6,500–$9,500. Same prices in Oakdale as in every town we serve. See the furnace replacement cost guide.
Are there rebates for a new furnace in Oakdale?
Xcel Energy is the only utility on Oakdale bills, and its current Minnesota rebate list covers gas furnaces and boilers, central AC, air-source and cold-climate heat pumps, mini-splits, heat pump water heaters, and smart thermostats enrolled in AC Rewards. Several of those rebates require an Xcel-registered contractor, so ask whether yours does before you sign a quote. Saver's Switch, which cycles the AC on peak afternoons in exchange for bill savings, is open to Oakdale customers too. 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 Oakdale: questions
Does our Oakdale townhome association have to approve a new furnace vent?
Often, yes, if it goes through an exterior wall or roof, since those are usually common elements. Ask the manager what the rules say about new wall penetrations, termination location and paint color. We supply the vent kit specs and a sketch of where the pipes will exit. If a new penetration isn't allowed, an 80% furnace venting into the existing flue may be the way to go.
Can a furnace upgrade even out the levels in our Oakdale split-entry?
Partly. A two-stage or modulating furnace paired with a variable-speed blower spends most of the winter at low fire, and those longer cycles narrow the gap between the lower level and the upstairs. The rest is air distribution: supply and return balance, and where the thermostat sits. We look at both during the quote, since a new furnace is the right moment to add a lower-level return or fix dampers.
More in Oakdale
Furnace replacement near Oakdale
- Maplewood, MN 2 mi
- Woodbury, MN 3 mi
- Lake Elmo, MN 4 mi
- North St. Paul, MN 4 mi
- South St. Paul, MN 6 mi
- Saint Paul, MN 6 mi
Brands we install and service
Guides on furnace replacement
What Does the Blinking Light on My Furnace Mean?
The blinking light on a furnace is a fault code from the control board. How to read it safely, what common codes mean, and when a reset is fine or not.
Read the guideWhy Is My Furnace Leaking Water? Find the Source, Then Fix It
Water around your furnace? Find the source by where and when it drips: condensate trap, pump, frozen line, humidifier or AC coil, and what can't wait.
Read the guideContact Us
Furnace replacement in Oakdale? Call or send a request.