STOP Getting Ripped Off By HVAC Companies. Replace Your Gas Furnace Yourself

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⚠️ Disclaimer:
This video is for educational purposes. Any and all HVAC repair work is done at your own risk. The DIY HVAC Guy channel is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.

00:00 Introduction
00:16 SAFETY
00:27 Turn off power and gas
01:04 Disconnect gas
01:50 Disconnect electrical (MAKE SURE BREAKER IS SWITCHED OFF)
03:51 Disconnect thermostat wire
06:55 Disconnect exhaust venting
07:09 Disconnecting return duct from furnace
08:40 Disconnecting upper ductwork from furnace
11:05 Sliding old furnace out
11:24 Making return air opening in new furnace
12:02 Installing new filter rack
17:11 Attach new furnace to ductwork
18:00 Connect thermostat wiring
21:39 Connecting 110v electrical
25:55 Reconnecting gas line & flex
28:50 Connecting supply ductwork
30:20 Re install exhaust venting

[pmichaelhayes]

HVAC owner here, and I do not hate anyone for doing their own work. If you are mechanical and competent by all means it is your home do what you wish. I would say that MOST HVAC companies are not going out to rip you off. What people don't realize is that it costs thousands of dollars in overhead to operate an HVAC business. With high wages for experienced tech's, building lease, Office help, Sales men, managers, service vehicles, insurance, medical, benefits, licensing, and countless other overhead costs.

The point I am trying to making is it is dishonest to say you are getting "Ripped off by HVAC companies". Consider the average HVAC company makes a profit margin of about 2.5-3.5%. McDonalds makes a 28% profit margin average and Apple's is around 25%. I don't feel that a burger joint or a tech company deserves more profit margin that a trade company. Trade companies keep our homes warm or cool, running water, sewer, electricity, and the roof over your head. These trades people deserve to make good living wages for the amazing work they do keeping our infrastructure working so you can live in comfort.

Do your do diligence get 3 estimates, and select the company that you feel most comfortable. OR save some money and do it yourself. Don't get half-way into the job and then start calling around to get the equipment installed. A business must make enough money on a job to pay our employees and make the profit they deserve. Most times that profit comes from the markup of equipment. I would just caution homeowners as you can cause a gas leak, get electrocuted or carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you install carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors outside of your sleeping areas, as a mistake installing your own furnace can be dangerous.

[TwilightxKnight]

As an electrician, if you are replacing an existing piece of equipment, he is right to take a picture, but assuming there is plenty of slack in the wire, don't take the wire off the terminal, cut it slightly back, leaving the colored insulation on the terminal for reference when you install the new one. It is also a good idea because you want to use a fresh connection in the new device. Old exposed wire at the terminal is often deteriorated over time. It can be higher in impedance/resistance and can be more brittle than a fresh connection, especially for particularly old connections like ones on a furnace.

[rickdaystar]

Never thought I'd be watching a furnace installation Sunday morning. LoL. I would like to comment on the gas line connection. I always add a Tee on the drop and a 4-5 inch capped drip leg after the gas shutoff and before furnace to catch crud from the gas line. It's suprised the rust and grit ends up in the bottom of the drip leg over time keeping it out of the gas valve. All in all it was fun to watch someone else doing the work 👍

[brianshaw]

Great video. Now I really know what my HVAC guy did when he rightfully charged me lots of money installing a new system. Thee is no way I’d do this myself and appreciate knowing what he was doing.

[pancuroniumpete]

Great video. Knowledge is power for a home owner. Last year I had a big Reno project going on in my home and one day I fired the carpenter who was also the general contractor, I fired the electrician, who did really nice work, but was charging way too much, and I fired the plumbers who were doing some of the ugliest work that I have ever seen anywhere. I took two weeks off work and finished everything myself, saved a ton of money and everything passed inspection.

[Tanneritefilledfido]

As an hvac professional, ive honestly gotta say you did a good job like most companies would but you did two major mistakes. One was the flex line is not upto code and not having a drip leg voids the warranty on that gas valve. Two that coil needs separation from the heat exchanger. It will melt over time and you’ll end up with water all over the floor when the A/C runs. Everything else is golden. Good job. I wish more homeowners were as skilled as you

[andrewlopez]

As an HVAC professional I wanted to tell you how much I find your videos helpful to share with may people that didn't realize just how capable they are. I did service for 6 months and was heartbroken with the big company's and how they pushed sales and over priced equipment and un needed service to all there customers. Now I work in house at a large manufacturing company maintaining and repairing there equipment and don't have to worry about being a salesman first, technician second.

[deanmartin]

Just a few more things I would recommend. The manufacturer suggests about a 6 inch gap between the heat exchanger and evaporator coil. I've seen too many plastic drain pans melted by the heat exchanger. Of course the drip leg, especially for propane. Although for natural gas they've eliminated the drip leg in my state. I still put them in. Also I don't think its code to put two wires together on the service switch. A pigtail would be better. Your wire connections would be better off inside the metal box in the furnace. You do need some type of bushing connecting the electrical box to the furnace to prevent the wires from developing a short. I always change the gas shutoff on every change out. Not a big fan of the appliance connecter. Would rather see hard pipe ran all the way to the gas valve. I realize its not code in every state. Always check the temperature rise of the furnace after the install, just in case you need to change the blower speed. I also would of cut a piece of metal for the gap near the filter rack. I would also recommend furnace blocks on the bottom of the furnace. Its just a nice added feature for floods. I think the hardest part for diyer's would be the plenum transition. That takes some skill. I also change out the thermostat with every install. Always and I mean always, install a carbon monoxide detector. Other than those few things, good video.

[borshardsd]

Our company is slow, as a field tech, they gave me a solo furnace replacement. Good stuff and fun to watch it done by another.

I have no comment on encouraging people without hvac experience to take on a task with electricity, gas, & metal work. I hope you're encouraging them to confirm everything during commissioning: flue analysis, gas pressure, co in the space <3 i trust you are

I read the other opinions shared. I respect the experience you have that led you to make this video.

Ty for the hard work and great content.

[eladiomontalvo]

I’m sure many HVAC companies hate you for divulging all this info, in reality your videos are very valuable too many including myself. Keep up your professionalism and honesty😊

[jimreitenbach]

I've done 2 furnaces and AC units in the past 10 years or so. Had duct work fabricated to make it a little easier. I thank God for what talent I've aquired.

[robertvosburgh]

I actually did just that. The hvac guys quoted me from 5k to 9k to replace my furnace and air conditioning system. The air conditioning system wasn't broken. Yes old, but not broken. The furnace had a bad heat exchanger. So for $775 with shipping and taxes. It took me 5 hours to get the old one disconnected and removed. And then installing the new one. Saved myself a ton. And because of your video, I now can replace my air conditioning system this summer. I had no idea that you could use the compressor to seal in the refrigerant. I know I can weld the lines together, and I can handle the power connection. So simple. Your videos are great.

[jeffdean]

Nice install but you need a drip leg before your flexable stainless connection and you absolutely need to change the vent pipe to type B- vent, it is a fire hazzard as well as a carbon monoxide leak source. The company before your install did not use the correct vent pipe upon their initial installation.
I really like this video you did a great job with your explanation and showed good practices that a diy person may want to try and install their own furnace.

[sandymilne]

With my first house purchase (a long time ago) I had to remove an old gas octopus with 8” pipes going everywhere. I found a furnace guy that gave me a $3k price. I asked if he showed me how the sheet metal work was to be done, what would he charge me? $1, 500, so I said let’s do it. In the end, he hooked up the gas and electrical and I did everything else. That included getting ducting into the upper floors. When the inspector came by, he hummed and hawed then asked. “Who installed this?” I replied that his card was wired to the gas pipe, and asked why did he ask - whereby the inspector said that it was the best installation he’d seen. Finally, the furnace guy called me back asking if I’d install a couple of furnaces for him. I said Yes, and ended up installing 2 for him around the city. A collaborative process can work and in my case it did. 😊

[Sightthrough]

A few things to add regarding the condensate pump. GFCI protection of the pump is required in our state by code. Also be sure to check the insulation temperature rating of any wire inside the gas furnace cabinet. I see the condensate wiring traversed the inside of the furnace before terminating in the box, if the temperature rating of that cable is less than the insulation rating of the wires used by the manufacturer inside the cabinet then they shouldn't be there (inspectors here will fail for that). In addition The 120v connections you made to extend the condensate pump wiring need to be inside a junction box to pass code.

[danwake]

A local hvac charged me $7k for a new lennox gas furnace and 2.5T outside unit (they were 40 years old, outside unit didnt work and furnace was loud and burning a ton of gas). New lines, haul away, 10 year parts and labor warranty. He said if i need something adjusted call his cell and he would come over and do whatever was needed. Heck the guy even added a water shutoff inside for an outside hose bib for $0 with a spare he had in his truck. Very nice guy, good company to work with. It's been 9 years and I haven't needed any work on it. He put in a filter housing that takes 5 inch filters and he told me to ignore the '1 year' on the filter and replace them twice a year. Even told me which ones would work from Amazon to save money.

I don't regret it a bit.

[JeffMiller-cfej]

When it comes to DIY HVAC installs or repairs you have to be aware that wherever or however you find someone or business that will sell you a furnace or A/C unit that you will probably not receive a warranty with it since the major manufacturers of these units require installation by a certified installer to honor the warranty. I know this for a fact since I work for a wholesaler for 34 years and we run into this situation a lot from people who buy the equipment online.

[masterniloc]

FYI neutral is blue in this colour coding. The plug that comes off of a condensate pump has been cut off but you should see the cord end has a larger prong that ends up on the white or neutral side. Previous HVAC installer screwed that up.

[BleedGreenNation]

As a small hvac and plumbing business owner this is great info for diy’ers if ur mechanically inclined and have the proper tools for a furnace swap but even then remember gas can blow up and kill you and electric can cause fires so be very cautious, the ac if you never installed one before I highly recommend not doing it because ur gonna have issues, and one more thing find a local small business they will be thousands cheaper than the big local busines i alway beat my big competitors by thousands and still make decent money and I’m very reputable in my town

[theinspectionco]

I'd like to see the sediment trap/drip leg. Drip legs are required to be installed in a manner that meets or exceeds fuel piping codes and manufacture requirements for appliances and devices