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 Wayzata, MN
In Wayzata's postwar houses up the hill, a furnace replacement often means moving from chimney venting to PVC. We quote it flat-rate in writing after a Manual J: $4,500–$9,500 installed, roughly $4,500–$6,000 for 80% AFUE and $6,500–$9,500 for 96–98%.
Furnace replacement calls in Wayzata homes
Furnace replacement in Wayzata covers a wide spread. In postwar and 1960s houses up the hill, it's usually a basement furnace moving from an 80% chimney-vented unit to a 96–98% condensing model, which means PVC through the rim joist, a condensate drain and a plan for the water heater left in the chimney. Near downtown, small older houses and cottages can have tight furnace spaces where the cabinet size decides the model, and condo buildings add association approval for any new wall or roof penetration.
Estate homes on the Ferndale shore may have several furnaces or air handlers, and replacing one is a chance to size it with a Manual J and tie its controls cleanly into the rest of the house. Gas is CenterPoint Energy, whose heating system rebates let you choose your own dealer; the application goes in the same calendar year as the install, and a proposal doesn't count as proof of purchase.
Updated September 23, 2026
How much does a new furnace cost in Wayzata?
An installed furnace from us runs about $4,500–$9,500 in Wayzata: 80% AFUE roughly $4,500–$6,000, 96–98% AFUE roughly $6,500–$9,500. Same prices in Wayzata as in every town we serve. See the furnace replacement cost guide.
Are there rebates for a new furnace in Wayzata?
Wayzata is on CenterPoint Energy gas and Xcel Energy electricity. CenterPoint's heating rebates cover high-efficiency boilers as well as furnaces, useful for the estate homes and older houses on hot-water heat, and you can use your own dealer. Xcel's rebates cover central AC, heat pumps and mini-splits, often through a registered contractor, so ask first. In condo buildings, check with the association before counting on a rebate, since some equipment is owned in common. 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 Wayzata: questions
Should we replace just one of the furnaces in our larger Wayzata home?
If the others are young and working, yes. Each system can be sized with its own Manual J for the area it serves, and the new furnace can often be smaller than the one it replaces if windows or insulation were upgraded. Where several systems are near the same age, replacing them together or over two seasons can make sense. We quote each one separately so you can decide.
Does a small older house near downtown Wayzata have room for a condensing furnace?
Usually. Condensing furnaces come in upflow, downflow and horizontal cabinets, so one can often fit a closet or low crawlspace where an older unit sat. The venting and condensate drain are the harder parts: the PVC has to reach an exterior wall with proper clearances, and the drain has to go somewhere it won't freeze. We work that out on the quote visit.
More in Wayzata
Furnace replacement near Wayzata
- Long Lake, MN 3 mi
- Plymouth, MN 4 mi
- Deephaven, MN 4 mi
- Minnetonka, MN 4 mi
- Orono, MN 5 mi
- Medina, MN 6 mi
Brands we install and service
Guides on furnace replacement
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Furnace replacement in Wayzata? Call or send a request.