There are some jobs that are too daunting for even the most enthusiastic of DIYers. While they may be comfortable unclogging pipes and replacing fixtures around the house, something like performing your own heating system installation can prove to be a real challenge, no matter how many resources you have or how experienced you are.

For that reason, installing a new heating system in your home should be something that you leave to a professional. When that's mentioned though, inevitably, one of the first things that people ask is, how much does it cost?

The answer? It depends.

How Much Room do You Need to Heat?

If you're buying a furnace for a detached garage that you're converting into an office, you should expect to spend a couple thousand for either a ductless mini-split that can integrate into your system or a few hundred for a portable furnace that can be moved anywhere in the space that you want. If you want to install a geothermal heat pump for a brand-new single-family home, you should expect to spend at least $10,000 on just the parts alone, with several more thousand for the installation. While this may sound like a lot, you have to measure these costs against the energy savings and expected maintenance and repairs over the life of the unit. In some cases, savings on that end may make up for the initial installation costs.

How Involved Is the Installation?

There's no doubt that one of the biggest costs associated with any heating system installation is labor. An HVAC contractor will have to run ductwork throughout the space, or drill a hole in the wall to install boiler pipes or a hose for the ductless mini-split. Both of those pale in comparison to what is required with the geothermal heat pump, however, since you'll literally need to drill into the ground and run pipes deep into the heart of the earth to allow for this type of installation. Naturally, those costs can be quite substantial, but as a rule of thumb, the less involved your installation process is, the cheaper it will be.

How Important Is Energy Efficiency?

As mentioned above, energy efficiency can have a huge impact on your utility bills moving forward. That being said, not everyone agrees that you need the most energy-efficient system on the market in order to heat your home. Central air furnaces, for example, do a remarkable job of balancing installation costs and energy efficiency, creating a nice middle-of-the-road option for many homeowners. If cutting down your carbon footprint is important, however, you should look for furnaces that are Energy Star approved to not only save you money but to protect the environment as well.

For more information, reach out to a local heating installation service.