Most furnace repairs in San Leandro are small parts that keep the burners from lighting or staying lit: igniters, flame sensors, pressure switches and inducer motors. A few repairs, such as a blower motor or heat exchanger work, cost much more. Below are typical prices for the common repairs, how to match them to what your furnace is doing, and what moves the price. You get the exact price before any work begins.
Typical furnace repair costs
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Igniter replacement | $150–$300 |
| Flame sensor cleaning or replacement | $100–$250 |
| Thermocouple replacement | Quoted after diagnosis |
| Blower motor replacement | $400–$800 |
| Draft inducer motor | $300–$600 |
| Gas valve replacement | $300–$700 |
| Heat exchanger repair | $500–$1,500 |
| Control board replacement | Quoted after diagnosis |
These are estimates; the actual cost depends on your furnace and on what the diagnosis finds. Thermocouples and control boards depend on the specific furnace and part, so they are priced once the model is known.
Match the symptom to the repair
| What the furnace does | Usual cause | Price line |
|---|---|---|
| Inducer runs, igniter never glows, no flame | Cracked or worn igniter | Igniter |
| Burners light, then shut off within seconds | Dirty or failed flame sensor | Flame sensor |
| Older furnace: the pilot will not stay lit | Worn thermocouple | Thermocouple |
| Humming or rattling at startup, then no ignition | Draft inducer motor or its pressure switch | Draft inducer motor |
| Burners run, little or no air from the vents | Blower motor or its capacitor | Blower motor |
| Igniter glows, burners do not light | Gas valve or gas supply | Gas valve |
| Nothing happens, or the codes point to the board | Control board, after other faults are ruled out | Control board |
Most furnaces have a small status light on the control board that blinks a code. If you can see it through the viewing window, count the flashes and tell us when you call; it shortens the diagnosis.
What moves the price
Type of problem: the biggest factor. An igniter at $150–$300 is a very different job from a blower motor at $400–$800 or heat exchanger work at $500–$1,500.
Furnace type: moderate. Gas, electric and oil furnaces have different parts and different repair costs. High-efficiency condensing furnaces have parts a standard furnace does not, including a second heat exchanger, a condensate trap and drain, and plastic venting, so some repairs are more involved.
Age: moderate. Furnaces over 15 to 20 years old may need discontinued parts or substitutes that take more labor to fit, and wear tends to show up in more than one place at a time.
Brand: minor. Most major brands have similar part costs. Less common brands may need special-order parts with longer waits.
Where the furnace sits. A furnace in a hall closet or garage is quicker to work on than one in a tight attic or crawlspace.
Heat exchanger work: when the price is not the main question
The heat exchanger keeps the combustion gases separate from the air that circulates through your home. If it is cracked, those gases, including carbon monoxide, can reach the living space. A cracked exchanger should not be patched or sealed. On a newer furnace still under the manufacturer’s parts warranty, replacing the exchanger can make sense. On an older furnace, the cost usually points toward replacing the furnace instead. Our furnace repair vs replacement page explains how to decide.
What you can safely check first
Furnace repair involves gas connections and electrical components, so it is not a do-it-yourself job. These checks are safe and sometimes solve the problem:
- The thermostat is set to Heat, above room temperature, with fresh batteries if it uses them.
- The filter is not clogged. A blocked filter can make the furnace overheat and shut itself off.
- The furnace power switch, which looks like a light switch near the furnace, is on, and the breaker has not tripped.
- The front panel is fully closed. A safety switch keeps the furnace off when the panel is loose.
- On a high-efficiency furnace, the plastic condensate drain line is not kinked or blocked.
If you smell gas, do not touch switches. Leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
How to keep furnace repair costs down
- Schedule annual maintenance. A furnace tune-up before November cleans the flame sensor, checks the igniter and catches airflow problems.
- Replace air filters regularly to reduce strain on the blower and the heat exchanger.
- Deal with small problems early. A furnace that takes several tries to light usually has a dirty flame sensor or a weak igniter, which is a much cheaper fix than a no-heat call in January.
- Get quotes before the heating season, when demand is lower. We will beat any written quote.
- Consider a new high-efficiency furnace if a repair would cost more than half the price of a replacement. The HVAC installation cost guide shows typical installation prices.
How our pricing works
The technician diagnoses the furnace and gives you the repair price before any work begins, with no hidden fees. The diagnostic fee is waived when you go ahead with the repair, repairs carry a 90-day warranty, and replacement parts keep the manufacturer’s parts warranty. Seniors and military households get 10% off.
Phone support is available 24/7, and same-day service is usually possible when you call before noon, which matters on the first cold morning of the season. If the furnace is not heating right now, start with furnace not heating or book furnace repair.