by Deborah Percy

Created on: October 30, 2009

Installing a furnace for a forced air heating system, or a boiler for a wet central heating system, is not a job for a 'do-it-yourself' enthusiast but must be carried out by a qualified and licensed heating engineer. The process begins with choosing the right model for the building, then there is the physical work and finally registering with relevant organisations if necessary.

Before a furnace is purchased a qualified HVAC installer should inspect the home and existing system to calculate the size of furnace required. It is not as simple as guessing that it will be the same size as the old one, it most likely will not be. In line with A.C.C.A. guidance or similar, the assessment will take account of the size and construction of the house, including the levels of insulation. If insulation upgrading, replacement windows or repairs to ducting are planned these should be done prior to the calculations.

The installer will consider the proposed position of the furnace, whether it meets safety guidelines, pipework and electricity supply, how flue gases will be vented and how condensate will be drained from a condensing model. The position of the old furnace might not be suitable for its replacement.

The manual installation could take two men a full working day, it is not unusual for it to take two days. It will include the following activities, depending on the type of furnace and heating system:

* Test the gas, is the current system sound or are there problems with gas pressure?

* Turn off gas & power

* Secure the ducting

* Disconnect and remove an old furnace

* Connect new furnace to ducting, to fuel, to electricity supply

* Install new flue ventilation system

* Drainage

* Test system, gas pressure, leaks, etc.

* Connect thermostat

In some parts of the world, including the U.K., it is necessary to register an installation of a gas appliance and major electrical work with the local authority. This will usually be done by the professional installer. Furthermore, in the U.K. it would be illegal for this kind of work, involving a gas appliance, to be carried out by someone who was not a registered gas installer.

Installing a new furnace is not a simple job for a handyman, enthusiast to undertake. It requires knowledge, skills and tools. The many problems that could arise are simply not worth the money that might be saved. The job may well cost more if parts are damaged due to ignorance and a skilled professional has to be called in to rectify a substandard installation.

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