Repair is the right call for most furnace problems. For Des Moines homeowners, a new furnace installation starts to make more sense in four situations:
- The furnace is past 15 years old and needs a major part.
- It has needed two or more repairs in one heating season.
- A technician has found a cracked heat exchanger.
- Your heating bills keep climbing, even after a tune-up.
If one of those sounds familiar, you don’t have to decide anything yet. The next step is a free quote, so you can compare real numbers for both paths.
Aspen Aire has handled furnace installation in Des Moines, Ankeny, and Central Iowa since 2006. Here’s how to sort a repair from a replacement and what installing a new furnace involves. You’ll also see how to plan one on your own schedule.
Repair or Replace? How to Sort It
No single number settles this question. Age, repair history, safety, and comfort all count, and they count together. The table below shows where each situation usually lands.
| Your situation | Usually leans toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years old, first repair | Repair | Most of the furnace’s working life is still ahead, and the fix is usually a single part. |
| 10 to 15 years old, minor repair | Repair | A furnace that has been maintained often has several good seasons left at this age. |
| Past 15 years old, major component | Replacement | A large repair bill on an aging furnace is worth weighing against the cost of new equipment. |
| Two or more repairs in one heating season | Replacement | Repeat repairs usually mean several parts are wearing out together. |
| Cracked heat exchanger | Replacement | This one is a safety issue, not a maintenance item. |
| Bills still climbing after a tune-up | Compare both | The furnace may be losing efficiency, or the cause may be ductwork. A visit sorts out which. |
Age alone is never the reason. An older furnace that heats evenly and has a clean service history has earned its repair. ENERGY STAR suggests 15 years as the point to start considering replacement, and plenty of well-maintained furnaces run past it. Not sure how serious a symptom is? Our guide to furnace repair warning signs sorts them by urgency.
Whichever way it leans, our technicians explain what’s wrong and what each option costs before any work starts. That’s part of the commitment we make to every customer: no sales pressure, and no recommending equipment you don’t need.
Why a Planned Replacement Is Easier Than a Rushed One
A furnace replacement tends to happen one of two ways. Some are planned in the fall. Others get decided in a hurry when the heat goes out. Both end with a warm house, because Aspen Aire answers heating calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The planned version is simply easier on you:
- You have time to compare. Efficiency levels, comfort features, and price all vary. It’s a choice worth making without a deadline.
- You can line up the savings first. Utility discounts and financing are both easier to sort out before installation day.
- You pick the day. The work gets scheduled around your week.
- The heat stays on. Your current furnace keeps running until the new one goes in.
Has your furnace been flagged during a fall tune-up or a repair visit? November is a good time to get the quote. There’s no obligation to act on it, and you’ll know your options before the coldest part of an Iowa winter.
What Furnace Installation Involves
The process is the same whether you’re getting a gas furnace or an electric one.
- A visit to your home. We look at your current furnace, take measurements, and ask about anything that’s been bothering you. That might be rooms that run cold, dry air, noise, or rising bills.
- Options that fit your house. You get a list of furnace models that are the right size for your home, with the differences between them explained. The quote is free and comes with no obligation.
- Installation day. Removing the old furnace and installing the new one usually takes four to eight hours. It can run longer when the ductwork, gas line, or electrical needs changes. The same is true when you’re replacing the air conditioner too.
- Registration and upkeep. After the install, register your new equipment with the manufacturer. Then plan on a tune-up each fall. Manufacturers commonly require proof of annual professional maintenance to honor a warranty claim.
Installation day is also the easiest time to fix what the old system never got right. A smart thermostat, a whole-house humidifier for dry winter air, or an indoor air quality upgrade can go in while the work is already underway.
Choosing the Right Furnace: Size, Efficiency, and Fuel
Size
Bigger isn’t better. A furnace that’s too large heats the house in short bursts and shuts off. That wears on parts and leaves some rooms cooler than others. One that’s too small runs constantly on the coldest days. That’s why the visit starts with measurements.
Efficiency
AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. It’s the share of fuel a furnace turns into heat over a season. A 96% AFUE furnace puts about 96 cents of every heating dollar into your home.
The Carrier, Amana, and Rheem furnaces we install range from 80% to more than 98% AFUE. Higher efficiency costs more up front and uses less gas every winter after that. Whether the difference pays off depends on your home, your gas bill, and how long you plan to stay.
Comfort Features
A single-stage furnace is either on or off. Two-stage and modulating furnaces can run at a lower output most of the time. As a result, temperatures stay more even from room to room, and the system tends to run quieter. Variable-speed blowers do the same for airflow.
Gas or Electric
We install both. A gas furnace typically costs more to install because it connects to a gas line, while an electric furnace usually costs more to operate. Some homeowners also use a replacement as the moment to look at a heat pump.
What a New Furnace Costs, and How to Bring It Down
The price of a new furnace depends on your home, so an honest number comes from a visit rather than a web page. These are the factors that move it:
- The heating capacity your home needs
- The efficiency level you choose
- Comfort features such as two-stage heat or a variable-speed blower
- Gas or electric
- Any changes to ductwork, venting, the gas line, or electrical
- Whether the air conditioner is being replaced at the same time
Two things can lower what you pay or spread it out:
- Utility discounts. MidAmerican Energy offers instant discounts on qualifying natural gas furnaces through participating providers. Aspen Aire is a MidAmerican EnergyAdvantage Trade Ally, so we can tell you which models qualify.
- Financing. Aspen Aire partners with Synchrony to offer financing for HVAC equipment replacement. That currently includes a limited-time offer with no monthly interest until paid in full. Financing is subject to credit approval and Synchrony program terms, and Synchrony services loans on behalf of lenders.
One change is worth knowing about. Until recently, a federal tax credit applied to qualifying high-efficiency furnaces. It covered equipment installed through the end of 2025, so it doesn’t apply to a furnace installed now. The IRS has the details, and a tax professional can speak to your own situation.
Furnace Installation in Des Moines, Ankeny, and the Surrounding Metro
Aspen Aire is locally owned and has handled furnace installation in Des Moines and across Central Iowa for 20 years. We work in Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ames, and the rest of our service area. Comparing companies? Our list of questions to ask an HVAC contractor is a fair test for any installer, including us.
Once the new furnace is in, upkeep is simple. Club Membership includes a fall furnace check and a spring AC tune-up every year, along with priority scheduling.
Furnace Installation FAQs
How much does a new furnace cost in Des Moines?
It depends on the size your home needs, the efficiency level, the comfort features you choose, and whether the ductwork, venting, or gas line needs changes. Those vary from house to house, so Aspen Aire provides a free furnace replacement quote with no obligation. MidAmerican Energy discounts on qualifying equipment can lower the cost. Financing through Synchrony, subject to credit approval, can spread it out.
How long does furnace installation take?
Most furnace replacements take four to eight hours, so the work is usually finished in a day. It can take longer if the ductwork, gas line, or electrical needs to be modified. Replacing the air conditioner at the same time also adds to the job.
How long does a gas furnace last?
Gas furnaces commonly last 15 to 20 years, and a well-maintained one can run longer. ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement once a furnace is more than 15 years old. Age by itself isn’t a reason to replace a furnace that still heats evenly and hasn’t needed frequent repairs.
Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
You don’t have to, though many homeowners do. The two systems share a blower and ductwork, so replacing them together means one installation visit and equipment designed to work together. If your air conditioner is newer and running well, replacing only the furnace is a reasonable choice. Our guide to AC repair vs. replacement covers the cooling side of that decision.
Are there rebates or financing for a new furnace?
Yes. MidAmerican Energy offers instant discounts on qualifying natural gas furnaces through participating providers, and Aspen Aire is a MidAmerican EnergyAdvantage Trade Ally. Financing is available through Synchrony, subject to credit approval and Synchrony program terms. The federal tax credit for qualifying furnaces covered equipment installed through the end of 2025.
The Bottom Line
Most furnace problems are repairs, and we’ll tell you when yours is one. Replacement earns a serious look when an older furnace needs a major part, when repairs start repeating, or when safety is in question. Either way, a free quote costs nothing and gives you real numbers to plan with.
If furnace installation is the better path for your Des Moines area home, getting that quote in the fall keeps the decision yours, on your schedule.