Furnace Installation & Replacement in Morrison

Gas furnaces lose about 4% of their input for every 1,000 feet of elevation. At the town's 6,368 feet, that's about 25%, so a furnace rated 80,000 Btu input at sea level fires at roughly 60,000 after a correct high-altitude conversion. Homes up Turkey Creek or Kerr Gulch sit higher still and need more derate. We set orifices and pressure from the manufacturer's table for your actual elevation, not the town's.

Capacity comes from a Manual J. Foothill homes have large window walls, exposed decks and cathedral ceilings, and the design load can be higher than the square footage suggests. Mid-century canyon homes may have the opposite issue: little insulation, so better attic insulation can shrink the furnace you need.

Many properties around Morrison are on wells and septic, and outside the gas mains propane is common. A propane furnace uses different orifices and pressure than natural gas, and the tank supplier may need to inspect the line when equipment changes. Some foothill homes heat with a boiler and baseboard or radiant floors instead of a furnace. If yours does, replacing it with a forced-air furnace means adding ductwork, so we usually price a new boiler alongside any alternative.

When propane prices are high, a cold-climate heat pump paired with a propane furnace can cut fuel use. Our dual-fuel guide explains how the switchover works.

Since January 1, 2026, gas furnaces sold in Colorado must meet 14 ng/J NOx or the current ENERGY STAR version, and that applies to propane-fired furnaces as well. An ultra-low NOx 80% furnace can use an existing metal flue. A 97% condensing furnace vents in PVC. Some ultra-low NOx models need a separate high-altitude kit, so we confirm it ships with the furnace. On a canyon lot, we also keep vent terminations above expected snow depth and away from decks.

Morrison's historic district has late-1800s sandstone buildings with thick walls and tight interiors. Routing a new PVC vent through stone takes care, and the old chimney may be the better path for an 80% unit if it can be lined. Along Bear Creek, equipment in basements or crawlspaces is at risk in a flood, and the floodplain checklist may affect where a new furnace can go. We'll discuss raising it if there's a practical spot.

We don't know which gas utility serves every Morrison-area address. Check your bill to confirm the supplier before planning around any utility rebate.