How Long Does a Furnace Replacement Take?
A straight furnace swap is usually done in one day. Venting changes, a chimney liner, gas line or duct work, and the permit inspection add time. What to expect.
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Furnace Replacement in River Falls, WI
A replacement furnace in River Falls costs $4,500–$9,500 installed with us: about $4,500–$6,000 for 80% AFUE or $6,500–$9,500 for 96–98%. Quotes are flat-rate, in writing, and based on a Manual J. St. Croix Gas and River Falls Municipal Utilities both take part in Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide efficiency program.
Furnace replacement calls in River Falls homes
In the older houses near downtown and the campus, a new furnace usually means a venting decision. A 96–98% furnace vents through PVC out a side wall and leaves the water heater alone in a chimney built for more, which calls for a liner or a power-vent water heater. In a rental with several furnaces sharing one chimney, taking one of them out of that chimney changes the venting for the rest, and the remaining appliances have to be rechecked.
Newer ramblers and two-stories often already have PVC, and the question becomes whether the old pipe size and run length meet the new furnace's instructions. Townhome associations may have rules about new wall penetrations. Focus on Energy is the program to check for furnace incentives; it requires service from a participating gas utility and a participating electric utility, and both River Falls utilities participate. Its rules change during the year, so we check the current version before quoting. We pull whatever permit the City of River Falls requires.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new furnace cost in River Falls?
An installed furnace from us runs about $4,500–$9,500 in River Falls: 80% AFUE roughly $4,500–$6,000, 96–98% AFUE roughly $6,500–$9,500. Same prices in River Falls as in every town we serve. See the furnace replacement cost guide.
Are there rebates for a new furnace in River Falls?
River Falls Municipal Utilities, the city-owned electric utility, partners with Focus on Energy and runs its own programs as well, which have included incentives for air-source heat pumps, smart thermostats and central AC tune-ups. Gas comes from St. Croix Gas, also a Focus on Energy participant, so high-efficiency furnace and boiler incentives run through the statewide program. Focus on Energy's income-qualified HEAR rebates require an IRA Registered Contractor; ask before planning around one. Check both programs' current offers before buying. 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 River Falls: questions
Does Focus on Energy have a rebate for a new gas furnace in River Falls?
Focus on Energy offers incentives on qualifying high-efficiency heating equipment, including furnaces, but eligibility depends on the program rules in effect when you buy. The home has to be served by a participating gas utility and a participating electric utility, and the two River Falls utilities, the gas company and the city's electric utility, both participate. Amounts and requirements change, so check focusonenergy.com before you commit. We help with the paperwork where the program allows.
Our River Falls rental has three furnaces in one basement. Do they all have to be replaced together?
No. Each furnace is judged on its own age and condition. The catch is venting. If all three vent into one chimney and one is replaced with a PVC-vented 96% furnace, the chimney now carries a different load, and the remaining furnaces and water heater have to be checked against the venting tables. Sometimes that means a liner or a connector change. We look at the whole basement before quoting even one furnace.
More in River Falls
- Furnace repair in River Falls
- AC repair in River Falls
- AC replacement in River Falls
- All HVAC service in River Falls
Furnace replacement near River Falls
- Town of Oak Grove, WI 7 mi
- Hudson, WI 10 mi
- Prescott, WI 12 mi
- Bayport, MN 13 mi
- Hastings, MN 14 mi
- Oak Park Heights, MN 15 mi
Brands we install and service
Guides on furnace replacement
Frozen Condensate Line on a High-Efficiency Furnace
Furnace quit in a cold snap and the drain line froze? How it trips the pressure switch, how to thaw it safely, and fixes that keep it from freezing again.
Read the guideFurnace Limit Switch Tripping? What It Does and What to Check First
Why a furnace high-limit switch keeps tripping, a symptom-to-cause table, the checks to do yourself, the order a technician follows, and what the fix costs.
Read the guideContact Us
Furnace replacement in River Falls? Call or send a request.