Residential Furnace Installation
Furnace Installation and Replacement in Southeast Michigan
A furnace is a fifteen-to-twenty-year decision. It deserves a real consultation, a correctly sized system, and an installation done without rushing.
Quick answer
Kern Mechanical installs and replaces gas and propane furnaces across Southeast Michigan. We size every furnace to the house rather than to the old unit, explain your efficiency options in plain language, and give you a free, written quote before anything is scheduled. Call 248-714-6563, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Signs it is time for a new furnace
Most furnaces tell you before they quit for good. These are the signs we take seriously.
Past fifteen to twenty years
Gas furnaces in Southeast Michigan typically last 15 to 20 years. Past that, every repair is money spent on borrowed time.
Repairs every winter
One repair is normal. A service call every season is a pattern, and the pattern usually ends with a no-heat night in January.
A cracked heat exchanger
This is a safety issue, because it can let combustion gases into your home's air. On an older furnace, replacement is the answer.
Rising gas bills
Same comfort, higher bill. Older furnaces lose efficiency as they age, and you pay for it every month of a long heating season.
Rooms that never get warm
A furnace that cannot keep up on the coldest nights, or leaves part of the house cold, is doing its job poorly even if it has not failed.
A big repair on an old unit
Multiply the furnace's age by the repair cost. When the number passes $5,000, replacement usually makes more sense.
Sized to your house, not to the old furnace
The most common mistake in furnace replacement is matching the new furnace to the size of the old one. Homes change. New windows, added insulation and finished basements all change how much heat a house actually needs, and many older furnaces were oversized to begin with. An oversized furnace short cycles, wears out faster and leaves rooms uneven. We size the new furnace to the house using a heat load calculation, and we look at the ductwork, returns and venting before we recommend equipment. Our article on furnace short cycling explains why size matters so much.
Your efficiency options, in plain language
Standard-efficiency furnaces, around 80 percent AFUE, vent through a metal flue into a chimney. They cost the least to install and make sense in some homes.
High-efficiency condensing furnaces, around 90 percent AFUE and higher, turn more of every dollar of gas into heat. In a heating climate as long as ours, that difference adds up every winter. They vent through PVC pipe out a side wall and produce condensate water that needs a drain, so the installation is different. Our guide to why a furnace leaks water explains the drainage side.
Single-stage, two-stage and modulating furnaces differ in how they run. A single-stage furnace is either fully on or off. Two-stage and modulating furnaces run at lower output most of the time, which means longer, quieter, more even heating cycles and fewer cold spots. We will explain which makes sense for your home and budget, without pushing the most expensive option.
What happens when you call
- 1
We come out, look at the furnace, the ductwork, the venting and the house, and listen to what is and is not working for you.
- 2
We size the furnace to your home and explain your options, with the trade-offs, in plain language.
- 3
You get a free, written quote. Nothing is scheduled until you decide.
- 4
We install the furnace, start it up, check it under real operating conditions, and walk you through it before we leave.
Gas or propane
We install furnaces for natural gas and for propane. If your home sits outside the gas mains, as many do in parts of Milford, Highland and the surrounding townships, your furnace runs on propane, and it has to be set up correctly for that fuel. We handle both.
Rebates and tax credits
The federal 25C tax credit for high-efficiency furnaces ended for equipment installed after December 31, 2025. Utility rebates from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy may still be available for qualifying equipment, and we confirm current programs with every quote. Our furnace repair or replace guide covers rebates and typical installed costs in more detail.
Replacing your air conditioner at the same time?
If your central air conditioner is also twelve to fifteen years old or more, replacing both together usually saves on labor, makes sure the indoor and outdoor equipment are properly matched, and avoids a second disruption a year or two later. If your AC is newer, there is no need. See our AC repair service.
Where we install furnaces
Kern Mechanical installs furnaces across Oakland, Livingston, Genesee, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties — including Milford, Highland, Commerce Township, White Lake, Wixom, South Lyon, Brighton, Howell, Novi, Walled Lake, Waterford, Northville, Plymouth, Ann Arbor and Fenton.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a furnace last in Michigan?
Gas furnaces in Southeast Michigan typically last 15 to 20 years. Annual maintenance and regular filter changes push a furnace toward the longer end of that range.
How do I know what size furnace I need?
Not by matching the old one. The right size comes from a heat load calculation that looks at your home's square footage, insulation, windows and layout. An oversized furnace short cycles and wears out faster.
Is a high-efficiency furnace worth it in Michigan?
In most homes, yes. Our heating season is long, so the fuel savings from a 95 percent furnace over an 80 percent furnace add up every winter. The installation is different because of PVC venting and a condensate drain, and we will tell you honestly if your home is an exception.
Can I still get a tax credit for a new furnace?
The federal 25C credit ended for furnaces installed after December 31, 2025. Utility rebates from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy may still apply; we check current programs with every quote.
Do you install propane furnaces?
Yes. We install furnaces for both natural gas and propane, and we make sure the furnace is set up correctly for the fuel your home uses.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes. Every replacement starts with a visit, a full consultation and a free, written quote. Nothing is scheduled until you decide.
Emergency service available
Heat out? Cooling down? Call us now.
Whether it is a planned replacement or an emergency HVAC repair, Kern Mechanical is available to handle all of your heating, cooling, and ventilation needs.