2026 cost guide

Furnace repair cost in 2026

By the HeatAndAirCost editors · Last updated September 1, 2026 · How we research prices

Short answer

Furnace repair costs $125 to $480 on average in 2026, with a national average around $350^[1]. Simple fixes like a flame sensor or thermostat sit at the low end; a blower motor, control board, or heat exchanger can run $600 to $2,000 or more. Expect a $75 to $200 service call or diagnostic fee, plus $75 to $150 an hour for labor^[2].

$125–$480

Typical furnace repair, most jobs

~$350

National average repair

$75–$150/hr

Labor rate for HVAC techs

$75–$200

Service call / diagnostic fee

Furnace repair cost by part

These are researched 2026 ranges, not quotes. What you pay depends on your furnace, the part, and your local labor rate.

Typical installed cost by repair, parts and labor. Source: HomeGuide, 2026.
Repair	Typical 2026 range	Notes
Flame sensor cleaning or replacement	$80–$250	One of the most common no-heat causes.
Thermostat replacement	$115–$300	Smart thermostats sit at the top of the range.
Igniter (hot surface) replacement	$150–$400	A frequent cause of a furnace that clicks but won't light.
Capacitor replacement	$120–$300	Small part, quick job.
Blower motor replacement	$400–$1,500	Wide range by motor type (PSC vs ECM).
Control / circuit board	$300–$700	Diagnosis matters; boards are often misdiagnosed.
Gas valve replacement	$300–$800	Gas work is a licensed-pro job.
Heat exchanger replacement	$1,000–$2,000+	A cracked heat exchanger is often a replace-the-furnace decision.

What moves the price

The failed part. A flame sensor or capacitor is inexpensive; a blower motor or gas valve is not^[1].
Emergency or after-hours. Nights, weekends, and same-day no-heat calls carry premium labor rates; see emergency HVAC cost for the surcharge math.
Your furnace type. High-efficiency, oil, and modulating furnaces have pricier parts than a basic single-stage gas unit.
Diagnosis time. Intermittent faults take longer to find, and labor is billed by the hour.
Age and warranty. Parts still under manufacturer warranty cut the bill to labor only.

Repair or replace?

If the repair is expensive and the furnace is old, do the math before you spend. Our $5,000 rule guide shows exactly how to decide, and our furnace replacement cost page covers the alternative.

Before you pay: try the free checks

A furnace that won't run isn't always a repair. Before you book a visit, work through the no-tool checks on our furnace not turning on and furnace blowing cold air guides. A tripped switch, a dead thermostat battery, or a clogged filter can look like a breakdown.

Part-by-part cost guides

Got a specific part quoted? Check it against ours: blower motor, inducer motor, pressure switch, and capacitor. If the furnace is old enough that replacement is on the table, see whether it pays to replace the furnace and AC together.

Price the exact part

If a technician has already named the failed component, these pages price it on its own. The full index is on the part replacement cost hub.

Capacitor replacement cost. The cheapest common failure on both furnaces and air conditioners, and the one to rule out first.
Furnace blower motor cost. PSC and ECM motor pricing, and when the blower wheel or a capacitor is the real fault.
Furnace inducer motor cost. What the draft inducer costs to replace when the furnace locks out before ignition.
Furnace pressure switch cost. A cheap safety switch that often gets replaced when a blocked vent is the actual problem.
HVAC part replacement costs. Part-by-part pricing for the components that actually fail, from a capacitor to a compressor.

Keep reading

The rest of the furnace cost picture, from the fee before the repair starts to the point where replacing wins.

HVAC service call cost. The diagnostic fee you pay before any repair starts, and when it gets waived.
Emergency HVAC cost. What after-hours, weekend, and holiday calls add on top of the normal repair price.
HVAC tune-up cost. What a seasonal service visit costs and what a real tune-up should include.
Furnace replacement cost. Installed furnace prices by efficiency and fuel type, with the add-on costs people miss.
HVAC lifespan. How long furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps last before replacement is due.
All HVAC cost guides. Every researched 2026 price range on the site, grouped by repair, replacement, and part.

Local prices

The ranges above are national. What you pay also depends on local labor rates, permit fees, and which failures the climate produces first. Our city pages cover those, one metro at a time, and the full list is on the service areas hub.

AC repair city guides: Oklahoma City · Tulsa · Corpus Christi · McAllen · Bakersfield · Las Vegas · Henderson · Reno · Phoenix · Mesa · Gilbert · Glendale · Tempe · San Jose · Sacramento · Los Angeles · San Diego · Modesto · Riverside · Oceanside · Santa Rosa · Moreno Valley · Corona · Fremont · Albuquerque · Colorado Springs · Houston · Fort Worth · Dallas · Frisco · McKinney · San Antonio · Lubbock · Brownsville · Amarillo · Laredo · Baton Rouge · Mobile · Montgomery · Port St. Lucie · Cape Coral · Chicago · Minneapolis · Kansas City · St. Louis · Indianapolis · Cincinnati · New York · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh · Baltimore · Richmond · Greensboro · Cary · Durham · Seattle · Spokane · Portland · Nashville · Atlanta

We are not a contractor and do not have an office in these cities. We connect homeowners with independent, licensed HVAC contractors who serve them.

Sources

Get quotes from local pros

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Get heating and furnace quotes on Angi

Angi pays us a referral fee for a completed service request. The fee comes from Angi, not from you, and it does not change the cost figures on this page.

Is this covered by a home warranty?

A home warranty is an annual service contract that pays to repair or replace covered home systems and appliances when they fail from normal use, in exchange for a monthly premium and a fixed service fee per visit. It does not cover a failure that has already happened or a fault that existed before the plan started, so it only helps if it is in place before the breakdown.

See Choice Home Warranty plans

Choice Home Warranty pays us a referral fee for a quote request made through this link. You pay nothing extra. We do not sell warranties and we are not an insurer.

Furnace repair FAQs

What is the most expensive repair on a furnace?

The heat exchanger is typically the most expensive furnace repair, often $1,000 to $2,000 or more. Because a cracked heat exchanger is both costly and a carbon-monoxide safety concern, many homeowners weigh it against replacing the whole furnace, especially on an older unit.

What are the most common furnace repairs?

The most common furnace repairs are a dirty or failed flame sensor, a worn hot-surface igniter, a bad capacitor, thermostat problems, and blower-motor issues. Flame sensor and igniter faults are frequent causes of a furnace that runs but won't produce heat.

How much is a furnace service call?

Most HVAC companies charge $75 to $200 for a service call or diagnostic fee, which usually covers coming out and identifying the problem. Some apply that fee toward the repair if you go ahead with the work. After-hours and emergency visits cost more.

What is the $5,000 rule for HVAC?

Multiply your system's age in years by the repair quote. If the result is over $5,000, replacing usually makes more sense than repairing; under $5,000, repair. A $400 repair on a 10-year-old furnace scores 4,000 (repair); the same repair on a 15-year-old furnace scores 6,000 (lean toward replacement). See our full $5,000 rule breakdown.

Got a quote?

See if it's a fair price

Compare your quote against the ranges above, then get free quotes from independent, licensed HVAC contractors when you're ready.

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