Propane furnace installation cost in Malibu is not one number, because no two homes on the coast or up the canyons are laid out alike. The price follows the house: where the furnace sits, how the exhaust gets out, whether ducts exist and how far the gas line runs from your tank. This page shows what moves the price so you can book a visit and get a real figure in writing.
What a propane furnace installation costs in Malibu
We do not print one flat price for a propane furnace, and you should be wary of anyone who does without seeing the house. We have no published propane figure to quote you here. What we do is walk the property, measure, run a load calculation and write the full quote before any work starts.
The quote itemizes the work so you can read it line by line:
- The furnace itself, sized to the house and not to the old unit.
- Venting and the roof or wall penetration.
- The gas line from the tank or regulator to the furnace.
- Duct connections, repairs or new runs.
- The permit and any inspection.
- Removal of the old furnace.
If you already have a quote from another contractor, send it over. Comparing line by line is the quickest way to see what is missing.
What moves the price: venting, location, ducts, the gas line from the tank
Four things decide most of the number.
| What changes | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|
| Venting | A new furnace may need a different vent path than the old one. A longer run or a tighter chase means more material and labor. |
| Location | A closet, a crawl space, an attic and a garage are not the same job. Tight access and canyon driveways add handling time. |
| Ducts | Good ducts take the new furnace as is. Damaged or undersized ducts need repair or replacement, which is its own line. See ductwork services. |
| Gas line from the tank | The distance from the tank, the pipe size and the regulator setup all change the scope. A furnace built for natural gas also needs the right propane setup. |
The tank and the fuel come from your propane supplier, not from us. Your supplier owns the delivery side of the system and fills the tank. Our work starts at the furnace and the line that feeds it. If the tank sits far from the house or needs to move, talk to your supplier as well so the two jobs line up.
Propane furnace or heat pump: comparing two quotes
Homes with no gas main sometimes ask for both options on paper. That is a fair request, and we write both.
A heat pump runs on electricity, and in Malibu that service comes from Southern California Edison. It removes the tank from the heating picture. Costs for a heat pump installation in Malibu typically run between $5,800 and $12,500, depending on whether ductwork exists and how accessible the install site is. That range is for a heat pump, not a propane furnace, so keep the two quotes side by side and read what each one includes.
Questions to put next to each quote:
- Does the quote include the permit?
- Does it cover the vent or the refrigerant line set?
- Are the ducts reused, repaired or replaced?
- What happens to the old furnace and, if the tank is no longer used, who deals with it?
Our heating installation team can price either one, or both, from the same site visit. If the propane furnace you have now is failing and you are not sure it is worth fixing, heating repair callers are welcome too, and we will tell you plainly which way the numbers point.
Permits
Replacing a furnace or heat pump in California is permitted work. In Malibu, the city's own building and safety division issues the permit. We list it on the quote so you can see it was counted. When ducts are touched, Title 24 can require duct sealing and a duct leakage test, verified by a third-party HERS rater who is not the installer, depending on the scope. That test shows up as a line on the quote too, so it is not a surprise on install week.
Scheduling the install
The process is short:
- You call or send the form with the address, the current furnace and where the tank sits.
- A technician visits, measures and checks the vent path, the gas line and the ducts.
- You receive the written quote with each item priced.
- You pick the install day. Permit and inspection are scheduled with it.
Canyon access can change the schedule, since equipment sometimes has to be carried to the site. We ask about the driveway and the path up front.
FAQ
Do you give a price over the phone?
We can talk through the options on the phone, but the written price comes after a site visit. Venting, the gas line and the ducts cannot be judged from a description.Who fills and maintains the propane tank?
Your propane supplier. The tank, the delivery and the fuel come from them. We handle the furnace and the line that connects to it.Can you convert a natural gas furnace to propane?
The furnace has to be built or set up for propane, and the regulator and orifices must match. Tell us what you have, and the quote will say whether the existing unit can stay or needs replacing.Can I compare a propane furnace and a heat pump in one visit?
Yes. Ask for both when you book, and you get two written quotes from the same visit.What if I smell gas?
Leave the house first, then call SoCalGas or 911 from outside. Do not switch anything on or off on your way out.Call to book
Ready to see real numbers for your Malibu home? Call (877) 352-4408 and Malibu Coast AC Repair will set up the site visit.
Need Professional HVAC Service?
Our HVAC-experienced technicians are ready to help with all your AC and heating needs. Contact Malibu Coast AC Repair today for expert service throughout the the Malibu coast and canyons service area.
