How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Furnace?

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: November 17, 2021

How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Furnace?

Any furnace repair or replacement should be left to a professional. It can be hazardous to attempt to repair a furnace, especially if itā€™s a gas furnace, which is the most common kind these days. You and your family can be exposed to harmful toxic gases if a repair job is not done correctly.

In addition to that, it is dangerous to try to fix an electric furnace on your own. Incorrectly repairing these furnaces poses a fire hazard, and you could get a nasty shock from high voltage.

Itā€™s also hard for an untrained technician to diagnose a furnace problem in the first place. When your furnace breaks down, there are usually multiple possible causes, and a professional is trained to diagnose the problem and fix it efficiently and safely. Not only that, repairing your furnace without proper certifications is illegal in some areas. Finally, if you have a malfunctioning furnace while itā€™s freezing outside, a professional will be more efficient.

To find a professional in your area ā€“ search for ā€œFurnace repair near meā€ or Furnace repair in my area.

What are some ways to avoid furnace repairs?

Maintaining your furnaceā€™s efficiency is as simple as changing your filter, but many homeowners donā€™t perform this task often enough. If you have pets, allergies or breathing problems in your family, you may need to change your furnace filter more frequently.

Inspecting and cleaning your HVAC system at least once a year is essential. Ideally, it would be best to do this twice a year. You should check the air ducts for leaks and have the blower fan cleaned at this time.

How can you tell if your furnace needs repair?

If you hear unusual noises coming from your furnace, your rooms donā€™t heat evenly, or your utility bills suddenly increase, your furnace may be failing. Get quotes and recommendations from a professional or professionals who can assess the problem.

Whatā€™s the difference between repairing and replacing a furnace?

You should make sure you need a new furnace before spending $2,500 to $6,400 on a new one. A good rule of thumb is that if your furnace is more than seven years old and it will cost half as much to repair as a new furnace, you should get a new one.

It should not be a problem if your furnace is only a few years old and youā€™ve been taking care of it. Furnaces usually have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.

How Much Does It Cost To Repair?

What's the difference between repairing and replacing a furnace

Your furnace is a complex beast, no matter what type it is, with many moving parts. Several of those parts require specialized skills to repair, while others are simpler and less costly.

Here are some of them, as well as the typical costs to repair and replace them:

Thermostat

Itā€™s a good idea to start by checking your thermostat if youā€™re experiencing furnace problems. Whether the problem is faulty wiring, a blown fuse, or simply aging, broken thermostats can increase your utility bills.

Depending on the type of thermostat you have, repair costs range from $100 to $300. Replacing or upgrading a thermostat can cost upward of $600.

Blower Motor

For your furnace to function, it needs to blow air through its ducts. Replacement of a blower motor could cost up to $2,000. Simple blower motor repairs cost between $150 and $450.

Draft Inducer Motor

Blower motors perform a more straightforward function than draft inducer motors. A heat exchanger removes the gases from the flue so carbon monoxide cannot accumulate. It is essential to remove carbon monoxide buildup from your homeā€”the cost of repairing or replacing a draft inducer motor ranges between $200 and $1,500.

Ignitor Replacement

Most furnaces fail because of the ignitor, which fails the most often. Unless it is later in the evening or after hours, replacing an ignition coil usually costs $150 to $250. When you hire an emergency service nearby, the cost may rise from $350 to $500. The ignitor needs regular maintenance to stay clean and prevent frequent failures.

Flame Sensor

When the pilot light is ignited, thermocouples detect whether the flame is lit. It costs $150 to $250 to replace these devices, typically found in gas furnaces. Poor maintenance usually leads to their failure, so maintaining them is essential.

Gas Valve

Natural gas or propane must be funneled into the unit through gas valves for a gas heater to work. Replacing these valves can cost anywhere from $200 to $600.

Circuit Board or Control

Replacement of a control board for your furnace can cost between $200 and $600, depending on the brand and age. A high-efficiency computer usually costs more to replace because the main circuitry operates the components.

Flue Pipe

Flues are essential components of your furnace since they transport toxic carbon monoxide and any leftover combustion gases outside. Replacements cost between $400 and $800, depending on the accessibility and length.

Switches or relays with high limits

This part reaches the electrical components of your furnace. Depending on the part, labor and diagnostics can run between $5 and $20, while the part alone costs between $5 and $20.

Transformer

Electricity entering your home is converted into a lower voltage that the furnace can use. It costs about $20 to $40 for the part itself, plus $80 to $135 for labor, which means the total is between $100 and $175.

Oil Combustion Chambers

Two components make up the oil combustion chamber on an oil furnace: the molded ceramic fiber combustion chamber and the actual oil chamber. The oil chamber sits in your home before it is heated in the combustion chamber. It costs between $200 and $600 to replace the combustion chamber, whereas it costs between $100 and $200 to replace the oil chamber.

Heat Exchanger

Heating your homeā€™s air is done through a heat exchanger. Carbon monoxide can leak into your home through cracks that develop as these partages. In general, heat exchanger repairs cost from $100 to $200, while replacing them altogether costs $500 to $1,500.

Coils

Evaporator coils or condensers are components of the air conditioning system, but they are located within furnace ducts and use the blower and ducts. The cost of replacing a furnace coil can range from $600 to upwards of $2,000.

Thank you for reading!

John
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John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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