The importance of regular maintenance on your heating and cooling equipment cannot be stressed enough. Not only does maintenance prolong the life of your equipment, but MillTown’s licensed technicians have the opportunity to identify issues before they become problematic. That’s exactly what happened to this Bedford customer. When MillTown Plumbing, Heating, AC, Drain Cleaning, and Electric was inspecting this customer’s heating system, making sure it was ready to go for this winter, it was noticed that there were issues. Specifically, the exhaust flue had begun rotting and was letting carbon monoxide (CO) into the client’s home. After discussing options, the solution was a 95% furnace replacement in their Bedford, MA home.

Furnace and Heat Pump Inspection

A heating system inspection won’t just identify issues with your furnace’s exhaust flue. These inspections are in-depth checks to make sure everything is working properly and safely. Here is a list of what is checked during a heating inspection:

• Gas lines
• Heat exchanger
• Exhaust vents
• Blower motor
• Condensate pump
• Condensate drain line
• Wiring
• Ductwork
• Air filters
• Evaporator coil

As you can see, this list is extensive. It is critical to your family’s safety and health to make sure your heating and AC system is working properly.

Symptoms of a Failing 80% Furnace and Heat Pump

Older 80% furnace and heat pump combinations are designed to last up to 15 years when properly maintained. If your 80% furnace is an older unit, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Reduced heat output
• Strange noises
• Discolored pilot light
• Frequent cycling on and off
• Increased heating bill
• Reduced airflow
• Refrigerant leaks

Benefits of a 95% Furnace Replacement in Your Bedford Home

With a new, replacement 95% furnace, there are several benefits you can expect, such as:

• Lower energy bills
• Increased comfort
• Better indoor air quality
• Longer lifespan
• Lower maintenance costs

Bedford, MA 95% Furnace and Heat Pump Replacement Process

This Bedford, Massachusetts client would be replacing their 80% furnace and unenclosed air conditioning system with a 95% furnace and Bosch heat pump. The furnace would net 15% more efficiency than the previous furnace (80% vs. 95%). The furnace is supported by the heat pump, utilizing the heat pump until outside temperatures dropped below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A 95% furnace is a great choice for Bedford homeowners due to its energy efficiency when temperatures are moderate, and its ability to still perform in the extreme cold.

80% Furnace and Heat Pump Removal Preparation

To begin the replacement process, the natural gas supply to the furnace was turned off. Electrical power to the furnace was also turned off. After that, refrigerant from the air conditioning condenser was reclaimed. Once the refrigerant had been reclaimed, the disassembly process began.

Disassembly and Removal

All remaining electrical, gas, and refrigerant connections to the furnace and heat pump were removed first. Next, the units were disconnected from any ductwork they were connected to, including the air ducts and intake and exhaust flues. Once everything was disconnected from the existing assembly, the heat pump was removed from the top of the furnace. Then, the furnace was removed, revealing the cinder block foundation it had been sitting on.

95% Rheem Furnace Installation

Moving the new Rheem furnace replacement into place within this Bedford client’s home required minimal modification to the existing ductwork. The intake duct was cut back to accommodate the new, larger filter housing.

The new 95% furnace was placed on the old bricks as a foundation to keep the unit off the ground. It was also set up facing away from the open area for ease of install when considering existing gas lines and connections. Once the furnace was in place, the new filter housing was installed. 

This involved simply drilling the housing to both the intake duct and the furnace. Both connections were then sealed with foil tape to prevent efficiency loss from escaping air.

The Bosch heat pump was installed on top of the furnace replacement in this Bedford home. The way this unit was set up is classified as cased coil, whereas the previous unit was uncased coil. Minimal modification of the hot side of the ductwork was needed, only a small transition for the long side of the furnace. Otherwise, the duct was joined to the heat pump with a simple slip.

When hooking up the gas supply lines, a new shut-off valve was installed. The valve was updated to current code requirements, those being that the valve needs to be able to be turned by hand without a wrench. A drip tee was also added to collect water and moisture from the natural gas.

New plumbing was run for the drain to the new 4Pro condensate pump. Included in the routing was a deliberate U-shaped pipe. This U-shaped pipe collects sediment and debris from the exhaust condensate so it doesn’t collect in the condensate pump.

The AC system was also recharged with refrigerant once the heat pump’s refrigerant lines were reconnected. New intake and exhaust flues were installed, per Massachusetts code.

Final Steps

To supplement the new furnace and heat pump, a new GFI outlet was installed along with a power switch controlling power only to the furnace.

Once everything had been installed, the electrician checked all the wiring while the HVAC technician checked all the plumbing connections. Since everything was installed properly, it was time to fire up the new unit to ensure everything was working.

Bedford, MA 95% Furnace Replacement Contractor

Here at MillTown, we provide cost-effective, permanent solutions to keep your home in tip-top shape. We commit to your satisfaction and offer high-quality, same-day service. Our technicians are clean, courteous, and respectful of your home. It is why Massachusetts and New Hampshire homeowners have trusted us for over 35 years. Contact MillTown today if you are a local Bedford homeowner interested in furnace replacement, repair, or maintenance!

Furnace Replacement Reviews

Milltown Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Drain Cleaning & Electrical

4.6

Based on 729 reviews

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Timothy M. Coy

14:57 20 Sep 22

My review is more for Pedro my tech, than Milltown. Pedro was amazing! He took the time to walk me through not only my issue, but also just general utility care I should know as a homeowner. He was personable, and really took the time. And it was greatly appreciated! I’d have him back for all my plumbing needs! I think nearly $600 was a little steep to replace a hose spigot… But I was willing to pay it because of the service Pedro provided.

Jan Young

19:23 09 Aug 22

Less than eight hours after I first called Milltown with a dead water heater and no hot water, I now have a brand new unit working perfectly. The technician, Jonathan, and the supervisor with him were wonderful. I am so grateful that I didn’t have to wait several days, and that these folks were so nice to work with. And the dispatcher, Ralph, was very helpful as well. I am very happy right now!

Lisa Silva

11:43 25 Jun 22

Our shower started leaking the week before I was having surgery. Milltown sent Darrin out to assess our situation . Darrin recommended we completely replace our shower unit . We agreed. He was able to get things expedited and was in our home working on it two days after my surgery. He was kind, knowledgeable, worked cleanly, and efficiently. His partner James was also very good. Thank you Milltown for sending such a good crew.

J S Doane

14:18 24 Mar 22

I was already a Milltown customer for both plumbing and water heater services, so I didn’t hesitate to contact them for some needed electrical work at my 100+ year old house. Based on my experience with this company, I expected good service. The service I received from the Electrical Team was OUTSTANDING!. Matthew H was so helpful during the estimating process, and in his recommendations, and patiently answered all of my questions. On the scheduled work days, Matthew and his team always arrived on time, and were as professional and courteous as they could possibly be. This is a two-family home, and the amount of work that they have completed on time, as promised, has been amazing. So organized, and informative every step of the way, and I’m thrilled with the results. The peace-of-mind I now have in knowing that the work was done correctly by licensed professionals like Matthew and his team is so important, especially for electrical services. I highly recommend Matthew H and the whole Milltown electrical crew!March 23rd: For the last package of work, Matt and Dan came back to install all of the new ceiling light fixtures, all NINE of them. Each new fixture was replacing a really old one that was not LED compatible. The installation was fast, and perfect, and they even cleaned up each area as they went!. Service doesn’t get any better than this. Milltown is the best!!

Nicole Fox

22:25 17 Mar 22

Customer service was good. They set up an appointment for the day after my call, even though it was not an emergency request. Technicians Pedro and James were friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful in explaining the repair and costs. I decided not to wait on getting another quote, since the price was within the range I expected. They had their tools right there. After struggling to fix the clog myself for months, the drain finally flows again! I definitely recommend this company for their professional team and quick response.

By Milltown Plumbing