Cost to Repair a Furnace – 2023 Price Guide
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
The last thing any homeowner wants to wake up to is a cold house; especially in the northern states where no furnace means a lot of unhappy family members, and possibly frozen pipes.
Then, the next thing you start thinking about is can it get repaired? And, how much will it cost?
2023 Furnace Repair Costs
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| National Average Price | $285 |
| Typical Price Range | $175 - $400 |
| Minimum Price | $100 |
| Maximum Price | $1,200 |
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How Much Do Furnace Repairs Cost?
The national average to fix a furnace is $285, and most spend between $175 and $400. Of course, there are numerous variables, such as the type of furnace and what part malfunctioned.
Many times, the repair part costs more than the labor to replace it. Frequently, especially with electric furnaces, the repair is much less than a replacement heater.
Replacing an Old Furnace
Whether to repair or replace will most often depend on the age of the broken furnace and the part broken. Furnaces usually last around 15-20 years. However, some poorly built machines that get continuous use throughout the winter could wear out sooner, and once these reach the end of their lifespan, they tend to need more thorough maintenance or have recurring problems.
The price of replacing an old furnace with a new furnace depends on the fuel it burns. In most cases though, a new furnace costs between $2,000 to $5,000.
Costs to Repair Various Types of Furnaces
The cost of repairing your home furnace will depend mainly on its brand and model.
Electric Furnaces
The electric furnace is usually less expensive to repair than fuel-burning units because these units are typically smaller with less parts. As the coils inside the heating element get hot, air blows across them sending warm air through the heat ducts to every room in the house. Routinely, when something goes wrong with an electric furnace, it has something to do with the heating coils or its elements.
Propane or Natural Gas Furnaces
Natural gas and propane gas are basically the same as far as repairs go. The significant difference is that propane is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and is generally tank fed, whereas natural gas, what some refer to as “city gas” gets metered and piped into your home’s furnace.
With a propane furnace, the first thing you should check when you wake up to a cold house is if there’s fuel in the tank. It might seem obvious, but checking could save you a service call charge.
Other common issues for both are malfunctioning gas valves, heat exchangers, or flame sensors. Typically, repairs cost anywhere from $100 to $1,200.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps transfer hot or cold air, depending on the outside temperature. When it’s warm outside, the unit is usually attached to an air conditioner and transfers cool air into the house through ducts and when it’s cold, the unit transfer heat to warm the home. Depending on the specific problem, such as a control board or thermostat, it could cost $300 – $600.
Boilers
Boilers heat water and send it throughout your home with pipes, often attached to radiators. Mineral deposits clog pipes, pilot lights malfunction or break, and radiators leak or malfunction causing them to lose heat. These problems typically cost between $200 and $600, but the actual cost can only get determined by locating the exact problem.
Furnace Repair Parts
What part is broken will determine how much your repair will cost. The following table provides some of the furnace parts and the replacement parts cost:
| Furnace Part | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Blower motor | $150 – $500 |
| Igniters | $100 – $300 |
| Heat exchanger | $100 – $1,200 |
| Flame sensor | $80 – $200 |
| Thermostat | $100 – $300 |
| Gas valve | $675 – $700 |
| Defrost control board | $500 – $600 |
Blower Motor
Whatever your heat source, a forced air system depends on the blower to move the heat from the source throughout the house. When the blower motor goes, so does your heat.
Igniters
Igniters are the same as a pilot light in some systems. It makes a spark to ignite the gas after being notified by the thermostat the temperature is at or below the setting.
Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is similar to an oven in the furnace where the air gets heated, the harmful gases removed, and then blown through the ducts to heat the house.
Flame Sensor
Flame sensors are safety switches in your furnace. It’s a small rod that has the function to ensure the gas valve only opens when there is a flame present to burn the gas.
Thermostat
Often, what is wrong has nothing to do with your furnace at all, but the temperature regulator known as the thermostat. Many things can go wrong with that clever little gadget, and when one does, your temperature will not stay constant.
Gas Valve
The gas valve is what turns on or off to send gas into the burner with either propane or natural gas furnaces.
Need Furnace Repairs?
When you need furnace repairs, let us help you find a qualified heating professional near you.
All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.