Furnace replacement, Arvada, Q3 2026
Prices verified September 2026| Furnace | Best fit | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| 80% AFUE, single-stageStandard metal flue | Budget replacement, existing flue in good shape, smaller homes | $3,500 - $5,500 |
| 80% AFUE, two-stage, ECM blower | Better comfort without the venting work of a condensing furnace | $4,500 - $6,800 |
| 95 to 96% AFUE, single-stagePVC venting, condensate drain | Most Arvada replacements. Qualifies for Xcel rebates | $5,000 - $7,800 |
| 96 to 97% AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed | Even rooms, quiet, lowest gas bills of the gas options | $6,000 - $9,200 |
| 97 to 98% AFUE, modulating | Larger homes, whole-house comfort priority | $7,500 - $10,400 |
| Cold-climate heat pump, replacing furnace and ACBefore rebates | Electrification, rebate stacking, replacing both systems at once | $6,000 - $15,000 |
| Compiled from published Denver-area contractor pricing and national cost guides, Q3 2026. Includes equipment, labor, City of Arvada mechanical permit, and haul-away of the old unit. Excludes duct modifications, electrical upgrades, and flue lining, which are quoted separately when needed. Written price before any work starts. | ||
What sets the number
Efficiency and venting
The jump from 80 percent to 95 percent is not only the furnace. A condensing furnace vents through PVC out a sidewall or the roof and needs a condensate drain, so the install includes new venting. On an Arvada ranch with a basement furnace near an exterior wall, that is straightforward. On a furnace closet in the middle of a split-level, the vent run is the expensive part of the quote. One more thing: if you go from 80 to 95 and leave a gas water heater on the old chimney alone, the chimney may need a liner. A good quote flags that up front.
Size, and the altitude derate
At about 5,300 feet, a gas furnace loses roughly four percent of rated output per 1,000 feet of elevation, so an 80,000 BTU nameplate furnace delivers closer to 63,000 to 64,000 BTU here. Sizing has to account for that and for what the house actually needs, which is why a replacement quote from a tech who works this side of Denver starts with a load calculation, not a copy of the old nameplate. Oversizing is the most common installation mistake in Arvada, and it causes short cycling for the life of the furnace.
Stages and blower
Single-stage furnaces are on or off. Two-stage furnaces run at about 65 percent most of the time and step up when needed, which means longer, quieter cycles and steadier rooms. Modulating furnaces adjust in one percent steps. The variable-speed ECM blower that comes with the higher tiers also helps AC performance in summer. Comfort is the reason to step up; the gas savings alone rarely justify the top tier on an Arvada bill.
The rest of the system
A 2026 variable-speed furnace pushed through 1962 ductwork whistles, starves, and dies young. Static pressure gets measured on every replacement quote. If the return is undersized, adding a return or upsizing the filter rack is $300 to $1,200 and worth doing at the same time.
Rebates and credits that apply in Arvada
- Xcel Energy rebates apply to qualifying high-efficiency gas furnaces and to heat pumps. Amounts change; the quote lists the current figure.
- Colorado state heat pump tax credit stacks with Xcel for heat pump installs. Together they commonly reduce installed cost by $3,500 or more in 2026.
- Federal credit (25C) for qualifying equipment, subject to current federal rules at the time of install.
The quote lists every rebate you qualify for, and the paperwork is handled for you.
What a replacement day looks like
Most furnace swaps in Arvada are done in one day, five to eight hours. The old furnace comes out, the plenum and return are adapted, the new unit is set, gas and electrical are reconnected, venting and condensate are run if needed, and the system is fired, tested for gas leaks and combustion, and balanced. The City of Arvada mechanical permit is pulled before install day and the inspection is scheduled for you. It matters when you sell the house.
The fastest way to a real number: send a photo of the current furnace and the sticker through the photo quote. A tech can tell the size, the venting situation, and the likely options before the visit.