If you need a new furnace installation, one of the first things you'll probably want to know is how long the installation will take. You'll probably want to take off work and be home during the process and you may need to confine kids and pets, so knowing how long it will take helps you plan for it.

The furnace installation contractor will examine your system beforehand and give you an estimate of how long they'll be working in your home. It could take several hours or as long as a few days. Here are a few things that affect how long a furnace installation takes.

If Extra Components Are Added

When you get a new furnace, it's a good time to get the extra components you've been thinking about. You might want a whole-house air purifier added to your furnace or a humidifier. Installing these doesn't take a whole lot of time, but they do add to the overall time for your furnace installation.

When New Gas Lines Are Needed

If you're getting a new gas furnace and your old furnace was gas, you may not need to add any new gas lines. If you're switching to gas from electric, or your old lines don't reach the new furnace, then the installation contractor has to add new gas lines, and that adds to the time needed to get your furnace put in.

When A Lot Of Sheet Metal Work Is Done

The furnace installation contractor has to do a certain amount of work with sheet metal to get the furnace installed. The more they have to do, the longer the installation takes. They need to cut open the side of the furnace so they can attach the filter and the return air duct. They also need to join the plenum to the furnace, and all this requires cutting and joining sheet metal.

If you'll keep your existing ducts, that cuts down on the time needed for installation. If you're getting new ducts and opting for metal rather than flexible ducts, that adds a lot of time if the installation crew makes the metal ducts out of sheet metal as they're added.

When General Assembly Is Required

Many of the parts of the furnace may be installed already, but the furnace installation contractor needs to allow time to hook up all the wiring your furnace needs. In addition, they'll need to hook up electrical power. The basic assembly of your new furnace could take several hours depending on the type of furnace you buy.

For more information on furnace installation, contact a professional near you.