New furnace installation cost in Malibu depends on four things you can see at the house: the fuel, the venting, the access and the ducts. The number comes from the visit and the written quote, which is built line by line. When you are ready to price your own house, ask for the written furnace quote.
What sets the price of a new furnace
The quote is written before work starts, and it is built from the house, not from a catalog. These are the items that move it:
- The fuel. Your furnace runs on natural gas or on propane, and the equipment and gas line work differ.
- The furnace itself, sized to the rooms after a load calculation.
- Venting, and the combustion air the furnace needs to burn cleanly.
- Where the furnace sits: a closet, an attic, a crawlspace or a garage.
- The thermostat, the disconnect and any electrical work.
- The permit, the inspection and the haul-away of the old unit.
Add them up and you get a quote with a line for each. That is the number to compare with any other bid. See our heating installation service.
Gas main or propane tank
Natural gas in Malibu is delivered by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). Some Malibu and canyon homes have no gas main and run on propane from a tank and a supplier.
If your house runs on propane, tell us at the start. We size the furnace to the house, lay out the venting and check there is enough combustion air, which matters in tightly built cliffside homes. If you are moving from a wall heater to a ducted system, that changes the scope and shows as its own lines.
Smell gas at any point? Leave the house first, then call SoCalGas or 911 from outside.
Venting, access and the ducts you already have
Venting is where a furnace job on the coast gets specific. The flue path, the clearances and the roof or wall exit all depend on where the old furnace sat and what the house allows.
Access is the next line. A furnace in a tight attic or a hillside crawlspace costs more labor to remove and set than one in a ground-floor closet. Long driveways and gated streets add trip time, and we ask about both so the quote reflects them.
Then the ducts. A new furnace on tired ducts moves less air than it should. Depending on the scope, California's Title 24 energy standard can require duct sealing and a duct leakage test, verified by a third-party HERS rater who is not the installer. If that applies to your job, it is a line on the quote. See our ductwork services for the duct side.
Furnace, heat pump or both
A heat pump heats and cools from one outdoor unit. Our heating installs lean toward heat pumps for that reason, and we also install furnaces where fuel and layout call for one. A dual-fuel setup pairs a furnace with a heat pump, an option for propane homes that also want cooling.
We write both options on the same page when you ask: the furnace job, and the heat pump job, each with its own lines. You decide with two totals in front of you. If you want cooling added at the same visit, see our AC installation service.
Permit and install day
Replacing a furnace in California is permitted work. The City of Malibu's own building and safety division issues the permit. We book the permit and the inspection for you.
On install day the old furnace comes out, the new one is set and vented, the gas or propane line is connected and tested, and the thermostat is wired. Before we leave, we check the carbon monoxide alarms. California law requires them in homes with a fuel-burning appliance.
FAQ
How much does a new furnace installation cost in Malibu?
It depends on the fuel, the venting, the access and the ducts. We write the quote before work starts, with a line for each item, so you see where your number comes from.
Is a furnace cheaper than a heat pump?
The two jobs are priced on different lines. A furnace job carries the gas or propane work and venting. A heat pump job carries the outdoor unit and electrical work. Ask for both and compare the totals.
My house runs on propane. Can you install a furnace?
Yes. We size the furnace to the house and lay out the venting before we price it.
Does a furnace install need a permit?
Yes. It is permitted work in California, and we handle the permit and inspection with the City of Malibu.
Can you repair my furnace instead?
Yes. If a repair is the fair answer, we quote it. If the unit has corroded past that, we show you and write the replacement next to the repair so you can pick.
Call for your furnace quote
Call (877) 716-8328 and tell Malibu AirCon Services the fuel and the house. We will set a visit and write the furnace quote before any work begins.
Need Professional HVAC Service?
Our HVAC-experienced technicians are ready to help with all your AC and heating needs. Contact Malibu AirCon Services today for expert service throughout the Malibu, Point Dume and Agoura Hills service area.
