Heating replacement
Furnace replacement in Bakersfield
A furnace in the southern valley runs fewer hours a year than one in a snowy state, so many last a long time. When one does need replacing, the job ties into the air conditioner above it.
Signs a replacement is near
Age alone does not settle it. The usual triggers are a cracked heat exchanger, a failed control board or blower motor on a unit that is already old, or a furnace that has needed several repairs in a few winters.
A technician who finds a crack in the heat exchanger will often shut the furnace off and tag it, because of the risk of combustion gases leaking into the airstream.
The furnace carries the cooling coil
In most local homes the evaporator coil for the air conditioner sits directly on top of the furnace. The blower in the furnace moves air for both heating and cooling. So a new furnace affects cooling too: its blower has to suit the coil and the outdoor unit.
If the air conditioner is also near the end of its life, replacing both at once saves taking the coil off twice. The AC replacement page covers the cooling side.
Venting and location
Standard-efficiency furnaces vent through a metal flue. High-efficiency condensing furnaces vent through plastic pipe and produce condensate that needs a drain. Switching from one type to the other can mean new venting and a drain line, which changes the scope.
Where the furnace sits matters too. An attic unit needs safe access for the crew, and a closet unit has to fit the space it is in. Your contractor will explain what applies to your house.
Permit and paperwork
A furnace replacement is an alteration under the state energy code, and the Energy Commission says a permit is required when an HVAC unit is replaced. In the city that means the Bakersfield Building Division; elsewhere in the county, Kern County Building Inspection.
- Make and model of the new furnace, and its efficiency rating
- Whether the coil, venting or gas line changes are included
- Who pulls the permit and arranges the inspection
- The contractor's license number
Common questions
Can a furnace be replaced in one day?
A like-for-like swap often can. A change in venting type or location takes longer.
Should I switch to a ducted heat pump instead?
It is worth asking about. A ducted heat pump heats and cools through the same ducts, which can replace both the furnace and the air conditioner at once. The contractor can compare the two for your house.
Talk it over with a contractor
Say what the system is doing and where the house is. You will be speaking with an independent HVAC contractor who works in Bakersfield and the towns around it.