Furnace Installation in Detroit Metro

Most new gas furnace installations in Detroit Metro range from $3,500 to $8,500 depending on size, efficiency rating, and brand:

• Standard 80% AFUE single-stage: $3,500–$5,000
• High-efficiency 95%+ AFUE variable-speed: $5,500–$7,500
• Premium 97%+ AFUE modulating: $6,500–$8,500
• Boilers and unit heaters: Varies by complexity

With DTE rebates ($150-$500) and the federal 25C tax credit (up to $600), you can knock $750-$1,100 off the cost of a high-efficiency install. Every estimate is free and includes Manual J sizing, old unit removal, permits, CO testing, and rebate processing.

Furnace sizing depends on home square footage, insulation quality, window count, and Michigan’s heating climate. General rules for Detroit homes:

• Older homes (pre-1980, average insulation): 40-50 BTU per square foot
• Newer or well-insulated homes: 30-40 BTU per square foot
• Typical 1,800 sqft Detroit home: Roughly 80,000-90,000 BTU

Proper sizing requires a Manual J load calculation — oversized furnaces short-cycle, waste gas, and wear out faster. Undersized ones can’t keep up on Polar Vortex days. We provide free Manual J calculations with every estimate.

Yes. DTE Energy offers furnace rebates based on AFUE (efficiency) rating:

• 92-94% AFUE: $150 rebate
• 95-96% AFUE: $300 rebate
• 97%+ AFUE: $500 rebate

To qualify, the furnace must be ENERGY STAR certified and properly registered. We handle the DTE rebate paperwork directly with your install — you don’t have to chase it down. Consumers Energy offers similar rebate programs for their service territory.

Rebate amounts and qualifications change periodically; we’ll confirm current programs when we provide your estimate.

Yes — the federal 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covers up to $600 on qualifying gas furnaces with 97%+ AFUE rating.

Combined with DTE rebates ($500 for the same units), you can get $1,100 back on a high-efficiency furnace install:

• $500 DTE rebate (claimed at install)
• + $600 federal tax credit (claimed when you file taxes)
• = $1,100 total savings on a 97%+ AFUE install

We provide the AHRI matching documentation required for the credit at no charge. For homeowners considering heat pumps instead, the federal credit jumps to $2,000.

AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) measures how much of your gas actually becomes heat versus going up the flue:

• 80% AFUE: 80 cents of every gas dollar becomes heat — 20 cents wasted up the chimney
• 95% AFUE: 95 cents of every dollar becomes heat — only 5 cents wasted
• 97% AFUE: 97 cents becomes heat — only 3 cents wasted

For a typical Detroit home spending $1,200/year on gas heating, upgrading from 80% to 96% AFUE saves roughly $200/year. Over a 15-year furnace lifespan that’s $3,000 in savings, plus DTE rebates and federal tax credits up front.

Spring through early fall (March–September) is the best time to install a new furnace:

• Off-season pricing is lower (demand drops after heating season)
• Scheduling is much easier than during a January cold snap
• You avoid emergency replacement pressure
• DTE rebates and federal tax credits apply regardless of season
• Plenty of equipment options in stock

That said, we install year-round and prioritize emergency winter replacements when older furnaces fail in February. If your furnace is on its last legs, get the estimate now and schedule before the next cold snap.

Most residential furnace replacements are completed in a single day — typically 6 to 8 hours of work. The job includes:

• Shutting off gas and disconnecting old furnace
• Removing old furnace and proper disposal
• Setting and leveling the new unit
• Connecting gas line and electrical
• Connecting plenum, ductwork, and venting
• Installing/configuring thermostat
• Performing combustion analysis and CO testing
• Startup verification and customer walkthrough

New installations in homes without existing ductwork (rare in Detroit) take 2-3 days. We schedule installs so your home isn’t without heat overnight.

If both systems are 12+ years old, bundling makes financial sense:

• Matched systems run more efficiently — furnace blower and AC coil designed to work together
• Save on labor — both installed during one job
• Stacked rebates — DTE offers rebates on both furnace and AC efficiency upgrades
• Federal 25C credit applies to both
• Single warranty registration — both systems covered together

If only one needs replacing, we can install a furnace that pairs properly with your existing AC — just be aware the AC may need to follow within a few years if it’s similar age. We offer bundle pricing when customers replace both at once.

Single-stage furnaces run at one fixed BTU output — full blast or off. Cheapest upfront, works well in smaller homes.

Two-stage furnaces run at high or low setting — low for mild days saves gas and creates more even temperatures.

Modulating furnaces continuously adjust output anywhere from 35-100% — quietest, most efficient option, easiest on your gas bill.

For typical Detroit homes, two-stage 95% AFUE is the sweet spot for cost vs comfort. Modulating 97%+ AFUE is worth it for larger homes or for homeowners who plan to stay 10+ years.

Yes — all Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland County cities require a mechanical permit for new furnace installation, plus city inspection after install. Permits typically cost $80-$250 depending on the city.

We pull all required permits as part of every installation — included in the quoted price, never an add-on. Big Mike’s is registered with all Wayne County cities for HVAC installations and handles final inspections and CO testing.

Three layers of warranty on every furnace install:

1. Manufacturer parts warranty — Typically 10 years on Carrier, Lennox, Bryant, and Trane (registered for you at install — most warranties default to 5 years without registration).

2. Heat exchanger warranty — Often 20 years to lifetime on premium models. The heat exchanger is the most expensive component, so this matters.

3. Big Mike’s labor warranty — 1 year on installation workmanship. If anything we did during the install fails in year one, we come back at no charge.

Extended warranty options available at purchase for additional labor coverage.

Yes — fully credentialed:

• Michigan Mechanical Licensed (required to install gas appliances in MI)
• EPA 608 Certified (required for refrigerant handling on AC and heat pumps)
• Registered for CO testing — required after gas appliance installs
• BBB Accredited Business
• Fully insured with general liability and workers comp
• Registered with all Wayne County cities for permits and final inspections

License numbers available on request — we’ll show them when we arrive.