Jacksonville, FL
Furnace and air handler installation for Jacksonville homes
Electric air handlers with heat strips, gas furnace replacements and furnace-to-heat-pump conversions, matched to the cooling system so the whole setup runs as designed.
Quick answer
What kind of furnace makes sense in Jacksonville, FL?
In Jacksonville most homes use an electric air handler with heat strips paired with a heat pump, because heating design temperatures sit around 27F to 32F and heat is needed only on cold nights. Gas furnaces still make sense where gas is already in the house, often as dual fuel backup.
Overview
In Florida the furnace is mostly the indoor half of the cooling system
Here, the unit people call a furnace is usually an air handler: the blower, the indoor coil and a set of electric heat strips in one cabinet. It moves air for cooling all summer and warms it on the few cold nights. That means replacing it affects cooling as much as heating, and it has to be matched to the outdoor unit.
Homes with gas get a gas furnace instead, with the AC coil sitting on top. Either way we size the blower to the duct system and the cooling load, choose heat strip or burner capacity from the heating load, and install it with the permit pulled and the inspection scheduled.
Cost factors
What drives the cost of a furnace or air handler install
- Electric or gasAir handlers with strips and gas furnaces have different equipment and installation costs.
- Blower typeVariable speed blowers cost more and run quieter with better humidity control.
- Heat capacityStrip kilowatts or burner size come from the heating load.
- Venting and gasGas installs may need new venting or gas line work.
- MatchingReplacing the outdoor unit at the same time keeps the system matched.
We price the install after a load calculation and a look at ducts, venting and electrical.
Options
Choosing the heat source
| Option | Heats with | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Air handler + strips + AC | Electric resistance | Simple systems, few heating hours |
| Air handler + heat pump | Heat pump, strips as backup | Most Jacksonville homes |
| Gas furnace + AC | Natural gas or propane | Homes already on gas |
| Dual fuel | Heat pump, gas as backup | Keeping a good gas furnace |
| Ductless heat pump | Heat pump per room | Additions and homes without ducts |
The heat pump with an electric air handler is the usual recommendation here unless the house is already on gas.
What is included
Every furnace or air handler install includes
- Heating and cooling load calculation
- Air handler or furnace matched to the outdoor unit
- Heat strips or burner sized to the heating load
- New or adapted plenums sealed with mastic
- Condensate drain with float switch
- Venting and combustion test on gas units
- Thermostat configured for the system type
- Jacksonville permit and inspection
What we fix
Electric air handler with heat strips
This is the most common setup here. The air handler holds the blower, the evaporator coil and electric resistance strips sized in kilowatts. We match the air handler to the outdoor AC or heat pump so the system's rated efficiency holds, size the strips to the heating load rather than the biggest kit that fits, and set the thermostat so the strips only run when needed. A variable speed blower is worth considering here for quieter operation and better humidity control. We also confirm the electrical circuit and breaker suit the new strip size.
Gas furnace replacement
Where a home already has natural gas or propane, a gas furnace can be the right heat source. We check the venting, the gas line and the combustion air, then install a furnace sized to the heating load with the AC coil matched on top. Every gas install ends with a combustion test and a check that the venting draws properly. Older atmospheric furnaces are often replaced with sealed-combustion models that draw outside air. You'll see the combustion readings, and we explain what each one means for safety and efficiency.
Furnace to heat pump conversion
Many homeowners with an aging gas furnace and an old AC choose to replace both with a heat pump and an electric air handler. In this climate the heat pump carries almost all the heating, and the strips cover the rare cold night. If the gas furnace still has good years left, a dual fuel setup keeps it as backup instead. We'll price both options so you can see the difference plainly before deciding. The gas line is capped safely at the appliance, and the old furnace and flue are removed so nothing is left behind in the closet.
Brands we service and install
Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Rheem, Goodman, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, American Standard, Bryant, Ruud, Amana, Honeywell, York, Heil
Heating needs in Jacksonville
Jacksonville's heating design temperatures sit around 27F to 32F, so most homes need modest heat capacity for a short season. That changes what a good install looks like: oversized heat strips cost more to run without adding comfort, and a heat pump paired with a correctly sized air handler usually covers the whole winter. With the federal 25C credit gone for 2026 installs, running cost matters more than any tax break when choosing the heat source.
How the job runs
How an install runs
- 1
Visit and load calc
Heating and cooling loads, ducts, venting and electrical checked.
- 2
Written quote
Equipment, matching and options in one itemized price.
- 3
Permit
We pull the Jacksonville permit.
- 4
Install
Old unit removed, new unit set, plenums sealed, drain and electrical connected.
- 5
Start up
Heating and cooling tested, thermostat set, inspection scheduled.
FAQ
Furnace installation questions
Do I need a gas furnace in Jacksonville?
Usually not. A heat pump with an electric air handler covers most homes; gas makes sense where it's already installed.
Should I replace the air handler and outdoor unit together?
Usually, so the system stays matched and keeps its rated efficiency.
How big should heat strips be?
Sized to the heating load. Bigger strips cost more to run without adding comfort.
Can I switch from gas to a heat pump?
Yes. We remove the furnace and install a heat pump with an electric air handler.
What about dual fuel?
If the gas furnace is in good shape, it can stay as backup to a new heat pump.
Is a variable speed blower worth it?
It runs quieter and helps with humidity, which matters here.
Is a permit needed for a new furnace?
Yes, on every installation.
Related services
Other work on the same system
Heat Pump Installation
Variable speed and standard heat pumps that cool all summer and heat on cold January nights.
Learn moreHeat Pump Repair
Heat pumps stuck in defrost, blowing cold on heat, or leaning on aux heat all night.
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Electric heat strips and gas furnaces that fail on the first cold night of the year.
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Pool heat pumps sized to the pool and plumbed into the equipment pad.
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Pool heat pumps that won't heat or show flow errors, diagnosed and fixed.
Learn moreSize the heat to the house
Call any hour to book a visit. We'll run the loads and quote the right setup in writing.