A furnace installation is mostly decided before anyone picks up a tool. The size of the unit, how it's vented, whether the existing ductwork can carry the air it produces, and how it's configured for our elevation all get settled during the planning, and those choices determine whether the system runs quietly for twenty years or becomes the thing you call about every winter. Number One has been installing heating systems across the Albuquerque metro since 2005, and we do the calculation work up front rather than matching whatever was there before.
The right size comes from a load calculation, not from the capacity of the furnace being replaced. That calculation accounts for the square footage and layout of your home, insulation levels, window area and orientation, ceiling height, air infiltration, and our design temperature, then adjusts for elevation.
Matching the old unit is the most common way homes end up oversized, because the old unit was frequently oversized too. An oversized furnace satisfies the thermostat quickly, shuts off, and restarts a few minutes later. That short-cycling wears out igniters and blower components early, leaves rooms unevenly heated because the air never circulates long enough to balance, and burns more fuel than a correctly sized unit would. Bigger does not mean warmer.
Older Albuquerque homes in particular tend to defy assumptions. Adobe and masonry hold heat differently than frame construction, additions are often insulated to a different standard than the original structure, and a house that ran a swamp cooler for decades may have ductwork that was never sized for heating loads at all.
Everything from evaluating the existing ductwork through commissioning the finished system, with setting the new unit being only the visible part in the middle. A correctly sized furnace connected to undersized ducts will still struggle and will still trip on high limit, so the duct system and returns get assessed before equipment is ordered rather than after.
From there the work covers gas line sizing and connection, combustion air and venting appropriate to the furnace category, condensate drainage on high-efficiency models, electrical connections and a properly rated disconnect, thermostat wiring and configuration, and permitting with inspection. We finish by commissioning the system: verifying manifold gas pressure, measuring temperature rise across the heat exchanger against the manufacturer's specification, confirming the altitude configuration, and running the unit through a full cycle before we leave.
We install natural gas, propane, and electric furnaces, along with heat pumps and dual-fuel systems where they suit the home, working with the major manufacturers including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Ruud, Goodman, American Standard, and Heil.
It reduces the heat a furnace actually delivers, which means the capacity printed on the box is not the capacity your house receives. Thinner air carries less oxygen for combustion, and manufacturers respond with high-altitude specifications that may call for derating the input, changing orifices, or fitting a conversion kit depending on the model.
The practical consequence is that a furnace chosen without accounting for elevation can end up genuinely undersized for the home it was picked for. This is the difference between a system specified for Albuquerque and one that was simply ordered.
It also shapes the efficiency conversation. A high-AFUE unit is still worth having here, but the payback depends on the derated output and on how the system is configured, not on the rating alone. Our winters are milder than much of the country while the daily swing is wide, and clear nights drop temperatures fast even after mild afternoons. A system sized for the average rather than the design condition will feel adequate in November and inadequate in January.
We install all major residential and light commercial furnace brands:
Yes, and most manufacturer warranties assume it. Coverage on a new system generally depends on the equipment being maintained and on that maintenance being documented, which is the part homeowners most often discover too late.
The Uno Care Club covers seasonal maintenance on your heating and cooling equipment, priority scheduling, and repair protection. It keeps the paperwork in order and catches small problems while they are still small, on the largest mechanical purchase most homeowners make for their house.
Members earn up to $600 annually and can bank up to $3,000 in credits. No other cooling company in Albuquerque offers anything like it.
Real people, real results
"Cory was great! He went out of his way to perform extra tasks that no one else has done! He's been working on cooler's for a lot of years and is very knowledgeable."
"It's been 4 years now. I've never had a bad experience or been disappointed. Had my swamp cooler closed and heater turned on. He was was on time, polite and professional. He did a great job! I can't imagine using another company!"
"Nate G did an excellent job of servicing our heater and AC unit! He was on time and was very thorough in his diagnostics. He is knowledgeable and professional and took the time to explain to me what he was doing to ensure everything runs smoothly."
With a look at the house rather than a number over the phone. We evaluate the space, the ductwork, and the venting, walk you through what the load calculation shows, and lay out the options that actually fit your home. Call (505) 999-9567 to arrange a visit. Every installation is backed by our Satisfaction Pledge.
A straightforward replacement in an accessible location is usually a single day. Work that involves relocating the unit, modifying ductwork, altering venting, or upgrading a gas line runs longer, and we will tell you which situation you are in before scheduling rather than after.
Often, but the math is specific to the house. Higher AFUE units recover their cost through lower fuel use, and our heating season is shorter than in colder regions, so the payback period is longer than national figures suggest. High-efficiency models also require different venting and condensate drainage, which affects what is practical in a given home.
Yes. Replacing a gas appliance requires permitting and inspection, and we handle that as part of the installation. An unpermitted install can create problems at resale and can complicate warranty and insurance claims later.
Frequently, but it should be evaluated rather than assumed. Ducts sized for a swamp cooler, or for a furnace that was oversized, may not carry the airflow the new system needs. Undersized returns are especially common in older Albuquerque homes, and connecting a correctly sized furnace to a restricted duct system produces airflow problems from the first week.
Yes, including dual-fuel configurations that pair a heat pump with a gas furnace and switch between them based on outdoor temperature. Whether that makes sense depends on the home, the existing equipment, and how the ductwork is laid out.
En Number One Plumbing, AC, Solar & Electric, todo lo que hacemos está respaldado por nuestro compromiso inquebrantable con su satisfacción. Como empresa centrada en el cliente, priorizamos su experiencia por encima de todo. Su satisfacción es crucial para nosotros, y nos esforzamos por asegurarnos de que esté completamente satisfecho con nuestro trabajo, nuestra profesionalidad y nuestro servicio en general.
Si, por cualquier motivo, no está satisfecho, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros. Estamos ansiosos por escuchar y entender sus inquietudes y nos comprometemos a resolverlas. Como empresa local profundamente arraigada, nuestro objetivo es mantener la confianza y el respeto de cada cliente y cada hogar al que prestamos servicio.
Háganos saber cómo podemos hacer las cosas bien. Su satisfacción es nuestra promesa y haremos lo que sea necesario para lograrlo.
Number One Plumbing, AC, Solar & Electric facilita el pago de nuevos modelos de los mejores y más eficientes hornos y aires acondicionados de la industria desde el punto de vista energético. Póngase en contacto con nosotros hoy mismo para obtener más información sobre nuestro programa de financiación.
