Most Greater New Orleans homes run their furnace only a handful of weeks each year, which means a worn-out system can quietly decline for months before anyone notices. In a city where heating needs are minimal most of the year but critical during those sharp December and January cold fronts, that kind of slow decline is especially easy to miss. By the time temperatures really drop across Orleans, Jefferson, or St. Tammany Parish, what looked like a minor issue can become a full breakdown. Keefe’s Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical, Generator, & Plumbing has been helping homeowners across the region make smart furnace decisions since 1979: from historic Uptown shotguns and Garden District doubles to Lakeview ranches and Metairie split-levels. Whether you’re weighing a repair against a replacement or you already know it’s time for a new system, every decision starts with honest written options and a five-phase installation process that protects your home from the moment we arrive until the moment we leave. See our full heating services to learn more about everything we offer.
Not every struggling furnace needs to be replaced and Keefe’s will always tell you that honestly. But these are the signals worth watching, especially heading into New Orleans’ short but intense heating season:
The other side of that: if your furnace is under 15 years old, has only needed one or two repairs, and is otherwise running well, our technician may tell you it’s fine to wait. You’ll always get that honest answer from Keefe’s.
When you call Keefe’s for a furnace issue, you won’t get one answer. You’ll get three in writing before a single decision is made:
Every quote is itemized line by line, and our technicians document what they find with photos and short videos so you can see the condition of your equipment for yourself. For Greater New Orleans homeowners who’ve already been told by another company that replacement is the only option, Keefe’s offers a free second opinion with no obligation, see our current specials for details.
Before recommending a system, we examine the existing furnace, evaluate duct condition and thermostat performance, and identify what’s actually driving the problem. Keefe’s carries furnaces and installs Lennox heating systems, and we’ll present options that match your home’s size, layout, and budget.
In Greater New Orleans, where attic configurations, duct layouts, and system access vary widely from one neighborhood to the next, knowing how a home is built before recommending a system matters. A Gentilly bungalow, a Bywater double, and a Kenner split-level each have different needs, and our technicians know those differences going in.
For homeowners who’ve been considering a heat pump instead of a furnace, our team handles those installations as well. See our heat pump installation page for what’s involved and what to consider.
Every furnace installation Keefe’s completes follows the same structured, safety-checked five-phase process from the moment we pull into your driveway to the moment we leave. We don’t skip anything or rush anything.
Phase 1 – Staging
We cover floors in main traffic areas, put on shoe covers, and park with your permission. Before any tools come out, we walk through the project with you, confirm the installation plan, clear valuables from traffic areas, and make sure there’s a five-foot safety space around the work area, free of children and pets. We also locate the gas, power, and water shut-offs for your specific home – a step that matters especially in older New Orleans properties where shut-offs aren’t always where you’d expect them.
Phase 2 – Removing
Power goes off at the panel and gas goes off at the equipment or meter. We remove the old furnace and all related debris, clear the work area, and clean and disinfect the floor and interior duct surfaces within reach. We then plan the routing for vent pipes, gas lines, and electrical connections before any cuts are made – a critical planning step in historic Mid-City, Uptown, and Garden District homes where tight attics and plaster walls leave little room for error.
Phase 3 – Installation
Exterior cuts are made carefully and cleanly, clear of wires and pipes. Vent piping is installed at a minimum grade of ¼ inch per foot. We connect the combustion air intake, reconnect the gas piping to the new appliance following all safety practices, and test every affected gas joint for leaks. Supply and return duct connections are made, and all electrical connections – including thermostat wiring – are completed to company standards.
Phase 4 – Start Up
Gas and electrical are restored. We refire all gas appliances in the home, test the new furnace on every firing level for a minimum of 10 minutes, and verify every thermostat function. Then we walk you through how the new system operates before moving to cleanup.
Phase 5 – Clean Up
We sweep and wipe all work areas, remove all equipment and debris from the site – including outside the home – and return your valuables to their original locations. We remove protective floor coverings and complete a final site survey before we leave.
When the job is done, you’ll know exactly what was installed, how it was tested, and what to expect from your new system. The gas-joint leak testing, the 10-minute minimum equipment run, and the full walkthrough are part of every installation – not something reserved for certain jobs or certain customers.
The City of New Orleans requires a mechanical permit to install or replace a furnace – this applies to both gas-fired and electric systems, and only a licensed contractor can apply for one. It’s one of the things that separates a properly done installation from a quick swap that may not meet code. Whether your home is in Metairie, Mid-City, on the Northshore, or anywhere else in the parishes we serve, ask our team about the permit process upfront and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s required for your job.
Greater New Orleans has some of the most distinctive, and most challenging, housing in the country for HVAC work. Much of the region was built before modern central heating became standard. Historic properties in Uptown, the Garden District, and Mid-City often have plaster walls, narrow attic spaces, and retrofit ductwork that require careful planning before work begins. Lakeview ranches, Gentilly bungalows, and Marigny doubles each have their own layout considerations, and homes across the West Bank, many built in the 1960s and 70s in communities like Harvey, Gretna, and Marrero, bring their own access and venting quirks.
Our staging and installation phases are built with these homes in mind. We protect floors and finishes, plan vent and gas routing before making any cuts, and handle exterior penetrations carefully. If your air ducts need attention as part of the job, we’ll identify that early in the process. We also handle thermostat installation as part of a complete system installation.
Most furnace installations across Greater New Orleans are completed in a single day, and next-day installation is available on most systems so you’re not sitting through a cold front waiting for heat.
Qualified systems come with a 10-year parts and labor warranty, protecting your investment well after install day. After that, Keefe’s Club keeps your new system running right. At just $12 a month, members receive annual heating maintenance, 10% off any repairs, and priority scheduling – the most practical way to protect a new furnace investment before the next cold season arrives. Financing is also available with approved credit for the installation itself.
From the historic neighborhoods of Orleans Parish to the suburbs of Jefferson and the communities along the Northshore, Keefe’s installs and replaces furnaces throughout the Greater New Orleans region. We’ve worked in the older homes of Uptown and Mid-City, the ranch-style neighborhoods of Lakeview and Kenner, the split-levels of Metairie, and the communities across the West Bank including Harvey, Gretna, Marrero, and Chalmette. Our service area also extends to St. Tammany, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. James, and Tangipahoa parishes, with teams reaching Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, and beyond.
If you’re not sure whether we cover your neighborhood, our full service area has everything you need.
Whether your furnace is failing or you’re planning ahead before the next cold front pushes through Greater New Orleans, Keefe’s Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical, Generator, & Plumbing is the locally trusted team that gives you honest answers and gets the job done right. With a 4.8-star rating on 6,800+ Google reviews, an A+ BBB rating, and Angi Top Pro recognition, we’ve been showing up and standing behind our work since 1979. For Fast Relief, Call Keefe’s.
Join Keefe’s Club for included yearly maintenances and inspections, exclusive member discounts, plus MORE!
We put every option in writing before any work begins: repair with flat, itemized pricing, replacement with the numbers laid out clearly, and an honest “wait” if it’s safe to hold off. You decide, with no pressure.
Most installations are completed in a single day, and next-day installation is available on most systems so you’re not waiting through a cold stretch without heat.
Yes, qualified systems come with a 10-year parts and labor warranty, protecting your investment long after install day.
Yes, the City of New Orleans requires a mechanical permit to install or replace a furnace, and only a licensed contractor can apply for one. Ask our team about permitting when you schedule your installation.
We protect your floors, shut off power and gas, remove the old furnace, install and connect the new system, test every affected gas joint for leaks, run the unit through every firing level for a minimum of 10 minutes, walk you through the new equipment, and clean up completely before we leave.
Yes, bring us any quote and Keefe’s will give you a free second opinion with no obligation before you commit to anything.
A newer, properly sized and installed furnace typically runs more efficiently than an aging system, which can lower energy use and keep temperatures more consistent, though actual results will vary by home.
