Installation

Furnace Installation

A new furnace is one of the most important investments you'll make in your home, especially in the Montana climate, where your heating system runs hard for six months out of the year. ACT Heating & Cooling has been installing furnaces for Billings homeowners since 1992, with a thorough home assessment, honest guidance on what you actually need, and a firm written quote before a single tool comes out of the truck.

The Right Furnace for Your Home, Installed the Right Way

A furnace that's wrong for your home costs you before it ever fails. An undersized system runs constantly, struggles to maintain temperature on the coldest days, and wears itself out faster. An oversized one short-cycles, blasting heat and repeatedly shutting off, driving up energy bills and creating uncomfortable temperature swings rather than steady, even warmth.

Getting the sizing right requires more than square footage. It requires understanding how your home is built, how well it's insulated, how air moves through your ductwork, and what your family actually needs from a heating system. That's what ACT does before recommending anything.

Once we've identified the right system, everything is documented in our Homeowner Installation Proposal, a firm, itemized quote that covers exactly what's being installed, exactly what it will cost, and exactly what your warranty includes. No vague estimates. No invoice surprises. That standard has been in place since 1992, and it's what keeps Billings homeowners coming back year after year.

Is It Time for a New Furnace?

Sometimes the decision is made for you. The furnace stops working, and that's that. But more often, the signs build gradually. Here's when replacement typically makes more sense than another repair:

• Your furnace is 15–20 years old — Most gas furnaces have a service life in that range. An aging system that's starting to fail more frequently is usually telling you something.
• Repair costs are climbing — A useful benchmark: if a repair costs more than half as much as a new system, replacement is almost always the better long-term investment.
• Your heating bills keep rising year over year — A furnace losing efficiency has to run longer and harder to do the same job. That shows up on your gas bill before it shows up as a breakdown.
• Your home heats unevenly — If some rooms are always too warm while others never quite get there, your furnace may no longer be distributing heat effectively.
• The system short-cycles or runs constantly — Both are signs the system is struggling to maintain temperature and is likely past its prime.
• You've had multiple repairs in recent years — Recurring failures are a pattern, not a coincidence. At some point, repair costs exceed the value of keeping the system running.
• Your heat exchanger is cracked — A cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue — it can allow combustion gases to enter your living space. This one isn't optional. A new furnace is the right call.

Not sure which way your situation points? ACT will give you a clear-eyed comparison of what repair versus replacement actually costs for your system. No pressure in either direction.

Understanding Furnace Efficiency: What AFUE Means for Your Gas Bill

When you're comparing furnaces, the most important number is AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). It measures how much of the gas your furnace burns is converted into heat for your home.

A furnace rated at 96% AFUE converts 96 cents of every dollar of gas into usable heat. A furnace rated at 80% AFUE converts 80% of energy. The remaining percentage goes up the flue as exhaust.

For a Billings home running its furnace through a six-month heating season, that 16-point efficiency gap is not abstract. It compounds every month the system runs, and over the life of a furnace, the difference in fuel costs is significant.

What this means in practice:

• 96% AFUE — A high-efficiency condensing furnace. Maximum fuel savings, ideal for most Billings homes. Requires a condensate drain line for water vapor produced during the condensing process.
• 80% AFUE — A standard-efficiency furnace. Lower upfront cost, and the right choice for certain home configurations, particularly homes with existing high-temperature flue systems or specific venting constraints.

Not sure which efficiency tier makes sense for your home? That's exactly what the ACT home assessment is designed to answer. We'll walk you through both options, model the long-term fuel cost difference, and help you make a decision that fits your situation and your budget.

How Furnace Installation Works With ACT

1. Request an Estimate at No Charge

Start online or call us at (406) 248-5732. We'll schedule a home visit at your convenience, with no charge for the assessment.

2. We Assess Your Home

An ACT comfort advisor comes to your home to evaluate your heating needs in full — square footage, insulation, ductwork condition, existing venting, your current system's age and efficiency, and your comfort priorities. We don't recommend a furnace without understanding the home it's going into.

3. You Receive a Firm, Written Proposal

We present your options clearly, with firm pricing for each. The Homeowner Installation Proposal spells out exactly what's being installed, what it costs, and what's covered under warranty. The number on the paper is the same as the number on your invoice.

4. You Decide, On Your Timeline

No pressure, no countdown clocks, no manufactured urgency. Take the time you need to review your options and ask questions. We'd rather you make the right decision than a fast one.

5. Professional Installation

Our installation crew arrives on time, protects your floors and work areas, and completes the job to manufacturer specifications. If they find anything else that warrants attention during the installation — a gas line concern, a venting issue, anything — they'll tell you before proceeding.

6. Full System Test and Walkthrough

Before we leave, we run the system through a complete operational test. Then we walk you through your new furnace, how to operate it, how to maintain the filter, and what to expect in its first heating season. Your warranty documentation is registered and in order before we go.

What to Expect on Installation Day

Most furnace replacements are completed in a single day. Here's the general sequence:

• Removal of the existing furnace — Our crew handles full disconnection and removal of your old system, including responsible disposal.
• Inspection of existing ductwork and venting — Before the new system goes in, we verify that your ductwork and venting are compatible and in good condition. If anything needs attention, we'll discuss it with you before proceeding.
• Installation of the new furnace — Mounted, connected, and configured to manufacturer specifications, including gas line connection, flue venting, or condensate line as required, and electrical connections.
• System start-up and calibration — We run the system, verify proper ignition, airflow, gas pressure, and temperature rise, and confirm everything is operating within spec.
• Cleanup — We treat your home with care throughout and leave the work area clean when we're done.
• Walkthrough with you — We cover basic operation, filter maintenance schedule, and anything specific to your new system before we leave.

Financing Available

A new furnace shouldn't wait because the timing isn't perfect, especially when your current system has already failed heading into a Billings winter. ACT offers financing options to help you get the right system installed now, on terms that work for your budget.

Why Billings Homeowners Choose ACT for Furnace Installation

30+ Years Installing Furnaces in Billings — We've been doing this since 1992. We know Billings homes, Billings winters, and what it takes to install a furnace that performs reliably for the long haul.

A Home Assessment Before Any Recommendation — We don't quote over the phone based on square footage. We come to your home, evaluate what you actually need, and recommend a system that fits — in size, efficiency, and budget.

Firm Quotes, Not Estimates — The Homeowner Installation Proposal is a real commitment. What we quote is what you pay. There are no line items waiting to appear on your invoice.

Quality Equipment, Industry-Leading Warranties — Amana furnaces are built to last, backed by strong warranties, and available with Pacesetter upgrade coverage that protects both parts and labor for 10 years.

Installers Who Notice Things — Our installation crews are thorough. When one of our installers noticed and repaired a gas leak in a customer's water heater line during a furnace installation, that wasn't an accident; it's the standard we hold ourselves to.

Financing Available — Get the right system now, on terms that make sense for your budget.

Protect Your Investment With Annual Maintenance

A new furnace deserves maintenance. Annual tune-ups keep your system running at peak efficiency, extend its service life, and catch any developing issues before they become repairs — which matters especially when you're within a warranty window.

ACT's Complete Care Furnace Tune-Up covers a thorough inspection and servicing of your entire heating system. Or join the Membership Program, and your annual tune-up is scheduled automatically, with priority service and member pricing year-round.

Ready to Talk About a New Furnace?

Request an estimate, and an ACT comfort advisor will come to your home, assess exactly what you need, and give you a firm written quote. No obligation, no pressure.