How Much Does Furnace Replacement Cost in BC? (2026 Guide for Metro Vancouver)

A typical gas furnace replacement in BC costs roughly $5,000 to $7,000 or more for a new high-efficiency unit, installed, according to published pricing from Enercare BC. Other Metro Vancouver contractors list furnace replacement "from $5,000." That figure usually covers the furnace, labour, basic connections to existing ductwork and gas piping, and removal of the old unit.

The top of the range, and anything past it, usually comes from extras: new venting, duct changes, a tight crawlspace or attic install, a larger or variable-speed model, or a smart thermostat.

Treat these numbers as a starting point, not a quote. Costs vary with the home, and the final price comes from an in-person estimate.

Furnace size is measured in BTUs, and a bigger furnace costs more to buy. The right size comes from a heat-loss calculation, which looks at your square footage, insulation, windows, air leakage and the local design temperature. It should not come from copying the label on the old furnace.

Many older furnaces in Metro Vancouver were oversized when they went in, and houses have often been upgraded since with new windows or insulation. An oversized furnace short cycles, heats unevenly and wears out sooner. A correctly sized unit may actually be smaller and cheaper than what you have now, so ask every installer how they arrived at the size they are quoting.

If your current furnace is an older mid-efficiency model, the switch to a high-efficiency condensing furnace usually adds work beyond the unit itself. Mid-efficiency furnaces vent hot exhaust up a metal flue, often shared with a gas water heater. High-efficiency furnaces produce cooler, wetter exhaust that runs through plastic vent pipes, usually out a side wall, plus a separate pipe that brings in combustion air.

Those furnaces also make water as they run, so they need a condensate drain to a floor drain, a laundry sink or a small condensate pump. If the old chimney was shared with a water heater, the remaining appliance may need its flue checked or lined once the furnace stops using it. Each of these items adds labour and materials, and a good quote lists them separately so you can see them.

Beyond size and venting, these are the line items that most often move furnace replacement cost:

Ductwork. Connecting to sound existing ducts is part of a normal install. Replacing a damaged plenum, resizing returns or fixing badly undersized ducts is extra, and sometimes it is the reason a house never heated evenly.

Thermostat. A basic thermostat may be included. A smart or communicating thermostat adds to the price, and some variable-speed furnaces work best with a matched control.

Access and location. An open basement is the easy case. A furnace in a crawlspace, attic or tight closet takes more time, as do narrow stairs in older Vancouver or Burnaby houses.

Removal and disposal. Taking out and hauling away the old unit is usually included, but confirm it in writing.

Gas permit. In BC, gas work has to be done by a licensed gas fitter working for a contractor licensed by Technical Safety BC, and a furnace replacement normally needs a gas permit. The licensed gas contractor doing the install takes it out, and the permit fee is often built into the quote.

Timing. Replacing a failing furnace in the fall beats a January cold snap, when installers are booked solid.

A fair quote is specific enough that you can compare it line by line with another one. Before you sign, make sure it lists:

The furnace make, model, BTU input and efficiency rating, plus whether the blower is single-stage, two-stage or variable-speed. How the size was determined, ideally a heat-loss calculation. All venting work, including new vent pipes, wall penetrations and any change to an existing chimney or shared flue. The condensate drain plan and whether a pump is needed. Duct modifications, if any. The thermostat model. Removal and disposal of the old furnace. Who takes out the gas permit, and that the work will be done by a licensed gas fitter. The total price and what is excluded.

A single repair is almost always cheaper today. Published price guides from Metro Vancouver contractors put most furnace repairs at roughly $150 to $900 plus a diagnostic visit of about $90 to $150, depending on the part. Next to a $5,000 to $7,000 replacement, that looks like an easy call.

The math changes when the furnace is old and the repairs keep coming. A common rule of thumb: if one repair costs a large share of a new furnace and the unit is already near the end of its expected life, that money usually works harder toward replacement. A cracked heat exchanger on an older furnace is the clearest case, since it is a carbon monoxide risk. Costs vary with the home, and the final price comes from an in-person estimate. Our repair or replace guide covers lifespan and warning signs in more detail, and if you are weighing a completely different system, see boiler vs furnace vs heat pump.

Rebates in BC change often, so check the current FortisBC rebate pages and the CleanBC Better Homes program before you buy rather than relying on an amount you saw in an old article. Confirm whether pre-approval is needed before work starts.

One point that trips people up: FortisBC "Connect to natural gas" rebates are aimed at homes switching from oil or propane to natural gas. They are not for replacing an existing gas furnace with another gas furnace. If you already heat with gas, look at whatever efficiency programs are currently listed instead.

The only way to know your actual furnace replacement price is to have someone look at the furnace, the venting, the ducts and the access. Encano Plumbing and Drain is a family-owned plumbing and heating company in Richmond. Call or text (604) 764-2031 any hour, and you get one flat price in writing before any work starts. The team speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish and works across Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby and the rest of the areas we serve. You can also request an estimate online.