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Gas furnace replacement cost in San Jose, CA

Installed, 80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency

Low$4,650
Typical$5,150
High$6,450

Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Wages: BLS, May 2025. Permit notes checked October 2026.

A typical furnace (80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency) costs about $5,150 installed in the San Jose area, 6% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $39 an hour against $29 nationally.

Gas furnace (80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency), installed

Prices for: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Low$4,650
Typical$5,150
High$6,450

Unit $1,700 (online list price, middle of 9 listings) plus installation about $3,450 for this area. Permit fees and code extras are listed below the table.

How this estimate is built

Prices by size in San Jose

SizeLowTypicalHighNational typical
60,000 BTU, 80% efficiency$3,850$4,400$5,900$4,100
60,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency$4,550$5,050$6,300$4,750
80,000 BTU, 80% efficiency$3,900$4,350$5,500$4,050
80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency$4,650$5,150$6,450$4,850
100,000 BTU, 80% efficiency$4,100$4,500$5,950$4,250
100,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency$4,750$5,250$6,550$4,950

Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here

Hourly wageSan Jose metroUnited States
25th percentile$31$23
Median$39$29
75th percentile$51$37

The San Jose market

San Jose's current permit rules for replacing a water heater, furnace, AC or heat pump, including fees and who may pull them, could not be confirmed from official sources for this page. Check with the City of San Jose's building division before work starts; Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and other valley cities run their own permit counters. DOE's Building America guide puts Santa Clara County in climate zone 3C, a marine region with mild winters and modest cooling needs. Statewide, 64% of California homes heat with natural gas and 62% use a furnace, while just 54% have central air, per EIA's 2020 survey. California law requires every water heater to be braced or strapped against earthquakes, and statewide heat pump incentives run through TECH Clean California.

Mild valley winters keep heating loads light, so a San Jose furnace may run only a few months a year and last a long time. If yours still works but the AC is failing, you can often keep the furnace. When replacement is due, compare a gas furnace with a heat pump, which can carry these mild winters on its own. Ask what is failing before agreeing to a full replacement.

Permits in San Jose

We couldn't confirm all of San Jose's rules from official pages. Check with the building department before work starts.

Permit for this jobNot stated on the city pages we checked
FeeNot stated on the city pages we checked
Who can pull itNot stated on the city pages we checked
InspectionNot stated on the city pages we checked

Rebates in California

HEAR: paused. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: California Energy Commission, checked October 13, 2026.

  • TECH Clean California: Statewide heat pump HVAC and heat pump water heater incentives via contractors; also administers HEEHRA (fully reserved)
  • Golden State Rebates: Instant rebates on efficient appliances at retailers

What these programs cover, and other states

Other systems in San Jose

Gas furnace cost in other metros

Sources