Selecting a location for your furnace is a critical step that can impact the cost of your installation and the difficulty of long-term maintenance. Location selection tends to be straightforward for many homeowners, but may be reasons to consider moving your new furnace to a different location from your old one. Your choice of location is also worth thinking about for new construction homes.

Fortunately, it's relatively easy to understand the factors that will influence your installation costs for different locations. This guide will explain three aspects your contractor will consider when providing you with an installation estimate.

1. Available Space

Furnaces are relatively large appliances, and they require space for supporting equipment, as well. At a minimum, you'll need space for the furnace itself, an air handler unit, plenums, and associated ductwork. Experienced HVAC contractors know how to fit furnaces into relatively tight spaces, but more room will always make for a less challenging (and often cheaper) installation process.

Keep in mind that you'll also need room to access the furnace in the future for maintenance tasks. Squeezing your furnace into a tight utility closet may make simple jobs like filter changes more painful than they need to be. Tight spaces also tend to increase repair costs, since your technicians will have less access and may need more time to complete their work.

2. Access to Appropriate Plumbing

If you have a gas furnace, then you'll need access to a gas line. Relocating any existing furnace usually means installing lines to the new location. Depending on your current gas plumbing design, this can be a simple job or a significant headache. If your home uses a central air conditioner, your contractor will also need to reroute your existing AC line set to the new location.

3. Ductwork

Ductwork will always be the most significant concern when choosing a location for your furnace. If your home already has ductwork in place, then moving your furnace to another room or another floor can be extremely expensive. This process could be incredibly costly if your home uses zoned heating, since there may be no convenient way to route ductwork for each zone to the furnace's new home.

Because there are so many variables involved in choosing a furnace's location, it's best to consult with an experienced contractor before making plans. You may discover that a small move will require thousands of dollars of work, or your contractor may be able to suggest another, more cost-effective location. For more information about residential heating, contact a local HVAC contractor.