We started as a sheet metal shop, which is why we care about this
The industry’s dirty secret is that most furnaces underperform their rating because of what happens around them, not inside them. Oversized equipment that short-cycles. Return ducting too small to feed the blower. A plenum transition that strangles the airflow six inches off the top of a brand new ninety-six percent furnace.
Snazzy began in 1992 fabricating duct, and that is still how we think about a furnace replacement. Before we quote, we calculate the actual heat loss of your house, room by room, with your windows, insulation and orientation, rather than reading the nameplate off the old unit and matching it.
That calculation usually lands smaller than what is currently there. Houses across Central Connecticut are full of furnaces sized for the coldest hour of the century, running in short bursts, wearing out early and leaving the far bedrooms cold anyway.
The right-sized system runs longer, quieter cycles, keeps temperatures even, and costs less to run. That is the whole point of replacing it.
At a glance
- Load calculation firstRoom-by-room heat loss, not a nameplate match.
- Ductwork assessedStatic pressure measured and transitions corrected as part of the job.
- Usually one dayMost straightforward replacements are out and running the same day.
- Permits and inspectionWe pull them, we meet the inspector, you do not call the town.
When replacement beats another repair
We repair far more furnaces than we replace. These are the situations where the maths genuinely flips.
Fifteen-plus years old
Past fifteen, major component failures start clustering. Each repair buys less time than the last.
Cracked heat exchanger
Not repairable in any meaningful sense, and a genuine safety issue. This one is not a judgement call.
Repair approaching replacement cost
When a single repair reaches a meaningful share of a new system on an old unit, the money is better spent forward.
Rooms that never balance
If the far bedrooms have always been cold, the system is likely oversized or badly ducted, replacement is the chance to fix both.
Bills climbing every year
An eighty percent furnace against a modern ninety-six percent unit is a meaningful annual difference in a Connecticut winter.
Repairs every season
Two or three service calls a winter, year after year, is a system telling you something.
How an installation runs
From first visit to inspection, with no surprises in the middle.
Get a written quoteSurvey and load calculation
We measure the house, look at the ductwork, test static pressure and calculate the real heat loss. Not a five-minute walkthrough.
Written, itemised quote
Equipment, labour, sheet metal, permits and disposal, all listed. Usually two or three options at different efficiency levels, with running costs.
Install day
Old unit out, new unit set, plenum and transitions fabricated to fit, venting run, gas and electrical connected, condensate handled properly.
Commission and register
Airflow and temperature rise set to spec, combustion tested, thermostat configured, warranty registered, permit closed with the inspector.
What is included
The line items that separate a proper installation from a swap.
Equipment & sizing
- Room-by-room heat loss calculation
- Single-stage, two-stage and modulating options
- Efficiency comparison with real running costs
- Variable-speed blower sizing
- Matched thermostat and controls
- Manufacturer warranty registered for you
Sheet metal & airflow
- Custom plenum and transition fabrication
- Return air capacity assessed and corrected
- Static pressure measured before and after
- Duct sealing at the equipment
- Filter rack sized for the airflow
- Balancing across every register
Compliance & finish
- Permits pulled and inspection scheduled
- Venting to code, including high-efficiency PVC
- Gas line sizing and leak testing
- Condensate drainage and neutralisation
- Old equipment removed and disposed
- Full walkthrough before we leave
What a new furnace costs
Furnace replacement in Central Connecticut spans a wide range, and anyone who quotes you a number over the phone is guessing. The equipment is only part of it, venting changes, gas line sizing, duct corrections and the condensate route all move the total.
What we can promise is that the quote is itemised and flat. You see the equipment, the labour, the sheet metal and the permit separately, and the number on install day is the number you agreed.
Our current $250 installation special applies, financing runs to sixty months on approved credit, and high-efficiency equipment frequently qualifies for Energize Connecticut incentives that we prepare the documentation for.
What moves the price
- Efficiency and stagingA single-stage eighty percent furnace and a modulating ninety-eight are different products at different prices.
- Venting requirementsCondensing furnaces need PVC to an exterior wall, easy in some basements, involved in others.
- Ductwork conditionIf the return is undersized, fixing it is part of doing the job right.
- Fuel conversionsMoving from oil to gas, or adding a gas line, changes the scope considerably.
Furnace installation questions
How long does a furnace replacement take?
Most straightforward replacements are done in a day, old unit out in the morning, new one running by the afternoon. Jobs involving new venting routes, duct corrections or a fuel conversion can run to two.
Do I need the same size furnace I have now?
Usually not. Most existing furnaces in this area are oversized. We calculate the actual heat loss of your house, and the correct unit is often a size smaller, which runs longer, quieter cycles and heats more evenly.
Is a ninety-six percent furnace worth the extra money?
In a Connecticut heating season, usually yes, provided the ductwork can support it. We give you the running-cost comparison for each option rather than pushing the top of the range.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
Yes, always. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection and meet the inspector. You should be suspicious of any contractor who suggests skipping it.
What happens to my old furnace?
It leaves with us on install day and is disposed of properly. That is included in the quote, not a line item added later.
Can I finance a new furnace?
Yes, up to sixty months on approved credit through the Carrier card, or an Energize Connecticut Smart-E Loan for qualifying high-efficiency equipment. Current specials come off before the financed amount is calculated.
On the job
Real crews, real Connecticut houses, no stock photography.
Need help today?
Whether it's an emergency repair or you're planning your next home upgrade, our friendly team is ready to help.
Call 860-245-1986Book heating service online
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll call to confirm your appointment window.