During a typical furnace repair, costs vary depending on the type of repair. Most HVAC contractors will charge a fixed price to diagnose the furnace problem, and it is usually between $69 and $99 during working hours. After hours or on emergency calls, they cost much more, usually over $100 per hour. Most furnaces come with a five or ten-year warranty, and depending on the strength of the warranty, parts are usually covered as well. Labor may not be, however, so ask about that before agreeing to a repair. Some HVAC contractors will offer maintenance packages that guarantee that they will be out each spring and fall to check on your heating and cooling system before the season begins. If a problem is found, the maintenance package may even reduce the hourly labor rate. Ask about these types of arrangements. Our Winter Heating System Check costs only $69.99. We also include a new air filter because, believe it or not, a dirty air filter can cause a home heating system to shut down soon after it starts because there is not enough airflow through the furnace. This is a common problem, and it’s avoidable if you replace your air filter every three months.
The average furnace repair cost in 2019 was $300.
Common Gas Furnace Problems and Repair Costs
Every year, tens of thousands of homeowners wonder, “How much will it cost to fix my furnace?” That’s what we’re here to tell you with accurate gas furnace price ranges based on years of repair experience and information I have discovered via research.
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Items
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Labor
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Cost
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| If the repair technician comes to your home and finds a simple problem like a dirty filter or that the gas was turned off for an oven repair, you’re going to pay a minimum fee for the technician’s time and travel expenses. When repair costs exceed the service call fee, the fee is often dropped. | Per Call |
$75-$200
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| Dirty Filters : Filters clogged with dust, pet hair, and other debris lead to problems like failure to provide adequate heat, excess noise, and the furnace running all the time. If you find the problem and have a washable filter, there’s no charge. DIY filter replacement options range from $3 to $40, and you get what you pay for. If the technician comes to your home, that might be a very pricey dirty-filter diagnosis. This kind of cleaning work should be done on a regular basis, so a furnace tune-up is needed. | 1 hr |
$0-$200
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| While more common with oil furnaces, this problem strikes furnaces that are older or are in spaces where there is excessive dust, pet dander, and/or frying of foods is common. Cleaning the gas valve and burners is part of standard gas furnace maintenance that should be done every two years. This kind of cleaning work should be done on a regular basis, so a furnace tune-up is needed. | 1 hr |
$150-$400
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| Thermostat/Control Replacement:Cheap thermostats cost as little as $15, and if you’re careful to remove the wiring from the old control and install it on the new control in the same pattern (a phone photo helps), then you’ve got a cheap repair. On the upper end, a Wi-Fi thermostat can cost $600 for the unit and installation. Today’s most popular programmable thermostats cost $185 to $450 with installation. | 1 hr |
$15-$600
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| Ignitor and Flame Sensors: When your HSI (hot surface ignitor) or electronic lighter goes bad, the furnace can’t fire, and it shuts down quickly. This is a very common repair. If your furnace is more than 10 years old and you’re having other service done on it, consider having the ignitor and flame sensor replaced as preventative maintenance because the cost will be lower when the technician is already there and has the furnace open for repairs. | 1 hr |
$300-$425
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| This is one of those repairs that might signal the end of the useful life for an older furnace. The price range is a result of blowers coming in many sizes and the more complex and expensive ones using built-in computer modules for precision control. | 1-2 hrs |
$400-$1,400
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| This is the lesser-known motor in a furnace, the motor that pulls combustion gases through the heat exchanger and out the exhaust chimney. Its repair costs can be lower too. | 1-2 hrs |
$500-$700
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| Most furnaces have multiple control boards. The largest, or the only one in some furnaces, is sometimes called the Motherboard. The circuit boards control and coordinate the operation of the motors, sensors, ignitor, gas valves, and more. DIY repair is possible, but the new control board must be installed exactly right, wire-for-wire, or your furnace won’t work. Plus, if the issue isn’t properly diagnosed, changing a board won’t fix it, and boards are not returnable once installed. It’s wise to leave this repair to a pro to diagnose. | 2 hrs |
$250-$600
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| Heat Exchanger Replacement:The heat exchanger is at the very core of the furnace. Replacing one means disassembling most of the furnace, replacing the part, and reassembling the furnace. The number of hours it takes often causes the repair to be more expensive than the furnace was or a new one would be. If you replace a furnace due to a bad heat exchanger, consider purchasing a major brand because they have the best heat exchanger warranties in the industry on their top furnaces. | 2-4 hrs |
$800-$1,500
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Most homeowners paid between $160 and $400 to have their furnaces fixed in 2019. At a minimum, homeowners spent $50 on the furnace repair, while at the high end, the maximum cost seems to be about $800. If your home’s heating and cooling system is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing it.
