Discussions

I am thinking on upgrading my furnace in a mobile home. It's 18 years old. Thinking on a more energy efficiency one. Anyone change out a older one for a new one and notice a change in their hydro bill. And how much did it cost for a new one.

furnace cost my neighbour over $6000.00 . Don't know if their hydro bill went down.

Ouch. 6000 for a furnace in a mobile.  
 
Well without knowing more if you upgrade to a more energy efficient one you will notice it but how much is hard to estimate. Just whatever you do don't use the same HVAC guy Dave's friend did...

I got mine in 2013 (?) from Lance Wagner. It may have been around 3000 - cant remember now and I have since moved. I paid half cash and the rest went as payments on my hydro account. My monthly hydro did go down but not hugely. But my mobile was not insulated as well as it shouldve been.  
One company that I asked for an estimate said they would put a furnace in but it would be upside down. I imagine that would be harder to service. They also charged 100.00 for the estimate. Lance Wagner had a furnace meant for mobiles and free estimate.

First of all your furnace is not that old. I assume it’s electric. A newer one won’t be much more efficient. Any savings would be minimal and would not pay for the upgrade. The technology hasn’t changed much compared to gas furnaces.

A couple different electricians have told me it would not be worthwhile to put in a new furnace-mine was installed in 1986. Yes, it was installed upside down, and that has caused no problem at all. Servicing it is no different than if it were right side up-you take the cover off and that is it.

The only changes to electric furnace since yours was put in, is the addition of ECM motors and sequencers are replaced with relays. Honestly, as an electrician, if you can get parts for your furnace still there is no benefit to upgrading. You won’t notice any difference on your hydro bill unless you are running your fan 24/7. Even if you do it won’t be much. Another thing to add is the newer furnaces use a circuit board for sequencing and operation and when it goes you have no heat. With your furnace (that I assume has sequencers) when one sequencer quits, you generally still have some heat.

That is outrageous price unless it comes with hot water tank and new a/c install as well.  
 
Even 3000 for a new electric is too much.  
 
Edited by Rural, 2021-03-10 16:23:37