Furnace repair cost: price list by part

These are national ranges from the publishers named in the table. Use them to judge whether a quote is in a normal range.

Two of these have their own guides: furnace ignitor and flame sensor replacement cost and blower motor replacement cost.

• The service call. Fixr lists a service call or diagnostic fee of $75 to $200 and notes it may be applied to the repair cost.
• Labor. Fixr gives a technician labor rate of $75 to $150 per hour. Many companies quote a flat price per repair instead.
• The part. Sensors and ignitors are inexpensive. Motors, control boards and heat exchangers cost much more, and prices differ by brand and model.
• Timing. A no-heat call on a winter night or weekend usually carries an after-hours charge.

If the furnace has stopped and you have not had it looked at yet, the furnace repair guide covers symptoms and the few checks that are safe to do yourself, such as the filter, the thermostat and the breaker.

Warranty status comes first. A part still covered by the manufacturer can leave you paying labor only, so have the model and serial number ready.

The type of furnace matters. High-efficiency condensing furnaces have more parts, such as a condensate trap and pressure switches, and some parts are specific to the brand. Variable-speed blower motors cost more than single-speed ones. A furnace in an attic or crawlspace takes longer to work on than one in a basement.

The season plays a part as well. In the first cold snap, contractors are booked solid and emergency rates apply more often.

This Old House gives a rule of thumb: a repair is generally worth it if it costs less than half the price of a new furnace. The same source cites a typical furnace lifespan of 15–25 years and says breakdowns become more frequent from around 15 years.

Put those together. A low-cost part on a mid-life furnace is an easy yes. An expensive repair on a furnace past 15 years deserves a replacement quote before you approve it. A cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue, and the furnace should stay off until it is dealt with.

Ask for the price in writing before work starts. It should name the failed part, state how the fault was confirmed, and list the part, labor and any service or after-hours fee separately. Ask about the warranty on both the part and the labor, and ask to see the old part. For any repair involving the burner, gas valve or heat exchanger, ask whether a combustion safety check is done afterward.