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Furnace Repair: What It Costs, the Cracked-Heat-Exchanger Scam, and Who to Trust

Honest price ranges for furnace no-heat diagnostics, flame-sensor and igniter swaps, gas-valve and control-board repairs, and heat-exchanger replacement — plus how to spot a cracked-heat-exchanger condemnation used to sell a new furnace, and reviewed local technicians with NATE certification and combustion-safety method. Listings cover 36 states and 485 cities — each provider scored out of 100 on the Vouched Score, blending public-record signals, customer reviews, and editorial assessment. See methodology →

485 cities Pricing guide Labor costs by state FAQ

Furnace Repair by state & city

Click a state to expand the full city list, or browse the whole state.

Alabama AL Auburn · Birmingham · Decatur +12 more 15 cities
Arkansas AR Benton · Bentonville · Cabot +12 more 15 cities
California CA Anaheim · Bakersfield · Chula Vista +12 more 15 cities
Colorado CO Arvada · Aurora · Boulder +11 more 14 cities
Delaware DE Dover · Middletown · Newark +1 more 4 cities
Georgia GA Albany · Alpharetta · Athens +12 more 15 cities
Idaho ID Boise · Caldwell · Coeur Dalene +10 more 13 cities
Illinois IL Aurora · Bloomington · Champaign +12 more 15 cities
Indiana IN Anderson · Bloomington · Carmel +12 more 15 cities
Iowa IA Ames · Ankeny · Bettendorf +12 more 15 cities
Kansas KS Dodge City · Garden City · Hutchinson +12 more 15 cities
Kentucky KY Bowling Green · Covington · Elizabethtown +11 more 14 cities
Louisiana LA Alexandria · Baton Rouge · Bossier City +10 more 13 cities
Maryland MD Aspen Hill · Baltimore · Bethesda +12 more 15 cities
Michigan MI Ann Arbor · Dearborn · Detroit +12 more 15 cities
Minnesota MN Blaine · Bloomington · Brooklyn Park +12 more 15 cities
Mississippi MS Biloxi · Clinton · Columbus +12 more 15 cities
Missouri MO Blue Springs · Cape Girardeau · Chesterfield +12 more 15 cities
Nebraska NE Bellevue · Columbus · Fremont +8 more 11 cities
Nevada NV Carson City · Enterprise · Henderson +10 more 13 cities
New Jersey NJ Brick · Camden · Cherry Hill +12 more 15 cities
New Mexico NM Alamogordo · Albuquerque · Carlsbad +8 more 11 cities
New York NY Albany · Binghamton · Buffalo +12 more 15 cities
North Carolina NC Asheville · Burlington · Cary +11 more 14 cities
Ohio OH Akron · Canton · Cincinnati +12 more 15 cities
Oklahoma OK Ardmore · Bartlesville · Broken Arrow +12 more 15 cities
Oregon OR Albany · Beaverton · Bend +11 more 14 cities
Pennsylvania PA Allentown · Altoona · Bethlehem +11 more 14 cities
South Carolina SC Aiken · Anderson · Charleston +12 more 15 cities
Tennessee TN Brentwood · Chattanooga · Clarksville +12 more 15 cities
Utah UT Draper · Layton · Lehi +11 more 14 cities
Virginia VA Alexandria · Arlington · Charlottesville +11 more 14 cities
Washington WA Auburn · Bellevue · Bellingham +12 more 15 cities
Washington D.C. DC Washington 1 city
West Virginia WV Charleston · Huntington · Morgantown +3 more 6 cities
Wisconsin WI Appleton · Eau Claire · Fond Du Lac +12 more 15 cities

Typical Furnace Repair pricing (2026)

Last updated June 21, 2026

Estimated typical ranges. Actual cost varies with home size, equipment, and scope — always request a written quote for your job.

ServiceTypical range
Furnace service call / diagnostic fee$75–$200
Flame sensor cleaning / replacement$80–$250
Hot surface igniter replacement (installed)$150–$450
Furnace gas valve replacement (installed)$300–$750
Draft inducer motor replacement (installed)$300–$800
Furnace control board replacement (installed)$400–$900
Heat exchanger replacement (repair-vs-replace inflection)$1,000–$3,500
Emergency / after-hours no-heat service premium$150–$500

Furnace Repair technician wages by state

Mean annual furnace repair technician wage in states we cover, vs. the national mean. Click a state for local pricing and providers.

StateMean annual wagevs. national
Washington D.C. $83,780 +24.9%
California $74,470 +11.0%
Washington $74,000 +10.3%
Illinois $72,860 +8.6%
Minnesota $71,780 +7.0%
New Jersey $71,490 +6.6%
New York $70,480 +5.1%
Maryland $68,890 +2.7%
Colorado $68,100 +1.6%
Oregon $67,380 +0.5%
Wisconsin $66,360 -1.0%
Missouri $64,980 -3.1%
Delaware $64,530 -3.8%
Pennsylvania $63,250 -5.7%
Indiana $62,530 -6.8%
Nevada $62,370 -7.0%
Ohio $62,140 -7.3%
Virginia $61,260 -8.6%
Michigan $61,120 -8.9%
Iowa $60,160 -10.3%
Utah $59,030 -12.0%
Nebraska $58,630 -12.6%
Kentucky $58,450 -12.8%
Idaho $58,150 -13.3%
Kansas $57,210 -14.7%
New Mexico $56,190 -16.2%
Oklahoma $55,400 -17.4%
Georgia $55,340 -17.5%
Louisiana $55,140 -17.8%
Tennessee $55,130 -17.8%
South Carolina $55,010 -18.0%
North Carolina $54,710 -18.4%
Alabama $52,440 -21.8%
Mississippi $50,210 -25.1%
Arkansas $50,010 -25.4%
West Virginia $48,040 -28.4%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2024 (SOC 49-9021) · pulled 2026-05-08.

Furnace Repair FAQ

Do furnace repair companies need a license?
Yes — furnace repair is licensed mechanical work, and because it involves gas-fired combustion appliances it carries extra safety weight. Texas regulates it through TDLR's Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (ACR) program and Arizona through the Registrar of Contractors; both expect a licensed contractor plus general liability insurance. Gas-line and gas-appliance work is separately regulated in most jurisdictions. An unlicensed 'handyman furnace repair' working on a gas appliance is the single biggest red flag — verify the state license before hiring.
What does NATE certification mean for a furnace technician?
NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is the leading voluntary competency certification, and a furnace-specific NATE specialty (Gas Heating, Air Distribution) signals a tech trained on combustion appliances rather than a cooling-only generalist. Manufacturer-authorized status (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem) matters too — it preserves the warranty on high-stakes parts like the heat exchanger and reflects factory training. Ask to see both.
Why is a cracked heat exchanger such a big deal?
The heat exchanger is the metal wall that keeps combustion gases — including carbon monoxide — separate from the warm air blown into your home. A genuine crack can leak CO, so it's a real safety issue. But it's also the part most often falsely condemned to sell a whole new furnace, because most homeowners can't see it. An honest shop documents a suspected crack with a combustion analyzer (measuring CO) and a camera or visual inspection before recommending replacement.
How can I tell a real furnace specialist from a guesser?
A specialist measures combustion: carbon-monoxide levels, draft, gas pressure (with a manometer), and temperature rise across the heat exchanger — not just 'it lights, you're fine.' Proper diagnosis isolates the actual failed part (flame sensor, igniter, gas valve, pressure switch, control board) instead of jumping to 'you need a new furnace.' If the visit is a five-minute look with no instruments, get a second opinion.
How do I avoid common furnace repair scams?
The most common one is a 'cracked heat exchanger' condemnation used to sell a full replacement without showing you proof or a CO reading. Be wary of any tech who red-tags a furnace without a documented combustion test, of '$49 tune-up' offers used to upsell unneeded parts, and of a quote to replace expensive components (control board, gas valve) before the cheap, common failures (flame sensor, igniter) are ruled out. Insist on a written, flat-rate diagnosis and an explanation before you authorize any major part.