“Once it’s unplugged, it’s going to break.”

One homeowner said their furnace would not start, only for the service call to end with a $26,035.22 proposal that included a new furnace, air conditioner, water heater, and electrical panel.

What to know

In a Reddit post, the homeowner said the furnace had “been running fine” until they tried to switch it on and saw no green indicator light. According to the post, the HVAC company said the attached AC and the larger existing cabinet meant there was “no way to just do the furnace.”

The quoted total came to $26,035.22, including $9,000 for a York AC, $6,850 for a York furnace, $3,495 for a water heater, and $7,995 for an electric panel. The technician also warned, “Once it’s unplugged, it’s going to break.”

Replies in the thread mostly urged the homeowner not to rush. One commenter said, “You should absolutely get 3 quotes.” They also advised collecting multiple estimates quickly and confirming that any independent contractor is licensed.

Because heating and cooling upgrades can help lower utility bills and cushion the impact of rising energy prices, Palmetto says it can help homeowners review HVAC options and cut bills with newer, more efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps. Its Comfort Plan network is designed to help readers find efficient heating and cooling solutions and connect with vetted installers.

More context

In a follow-up comment, the homeowner said the non-HVAC items seemed especially suspicious. “The panel and the water heater seem priced high,” the poster wrote, adding that those parts of the job might be subcontracted.

Another user said the air conditioner did not necessarily need to be replaced at the same time, though replacing both could still make sense if the units were about the same age. That commenter also wrote, “Also don't understand what a new furnace has to do with replacing an electrical panel.”

For comparison, one commenter shared local pricing: about $2,000 to $2,400 for a plumber-installed gas water heater and roughly $6,000 to $8,000 for a gas furnace and AC condenser package. They noted that prices vary by location, but those figures help explain why the $7,995 panel and $3,495 water heater stood out.

When older equipment fails, homeowners can suddenly be faced with several expensive decisions at once. It can be difficult to tell which replacements are truly necessary and which may be bundled together for convenience.

What can be done?

Several replies recommended pricing each job separately instead of accepting one bundled offer. As one commenter put it, “No requirement for you do have an HVAC shop do all of it,” noting that a homeowner could send a panel photo to a referred electrician for an estimate rather than folding every task into one HVAC contract.

The original poster said the water heater might be one item worth handling separately, writing that they could do it themselves for about “$800 the price of the same water heater with $100 rebate from energy company.” Breaking out the $3,495 water heater and $7,995 panel from the HVAC work could make the comparison much clearer.

For homeowners facing quotes like the $26,035.22 estimate in this thread, a Comfort Plan may offer another route. Palmetto says its Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 50% and comes with 12 years of free maintenance, making a high-efficiency upgrade easier to budget for.

If a homeowner decides a new AC and furnace are the right choice, combining solar panels with electric appliances, including efficient HVAC, can reduce utility costs further. EnergySage says it makes it easy to compare solar options and find the best solar system and installer for a home and budget, helping homeowners save up to $10,000 on solar installations.

Where can I learn more?

These stories reflect the same challenge: homeowners facing major HVAC decisions and even larger quotes. They cover expensive replacement bids, suspected sales pressure, and questions about whether alternatives such as heat pumps make more sense.

• One homeowner was shocked after an HVAC technician pushed a nearly $30,000 mid-tier replacement.
• Homeowners said “trust me” sales tactics were used to steer them toward costly systems.
• New Jersey homeowners received quotes above $20,000 and asked whether a heat pump made financial sense.
• A sudden breakdown left one Ohio homeowner weighing ultra-modern HVAC options under pressure.
• In Texas, a 7-year-old system led to a $35,000 service quote that drew skepticism.