When a furnace stops working, cost is usually the first question — and the honest answer is "it depends on what failed." Furnace repairs across our service area typically run $129 to $800 installed (parts and labor), and where a given job lands in that range comes down to the part that failed, not the brand printed on the cabinet.
This page breaks down what the most common furnace repairs actually cost, what pushes a job toward the low end or the high end, and what's included when you book a Triton technician. If you're troubleshooting a no-heat furnace right now rather than researching cost, see Furnace Not Heating or Furnace Won't Ignite for symptom-specific diagnosis. Furnace calls also tend to cluster around the season's first cold snap, so if your system has been acting up, it's worth booking before you're stuck without heat on the coldest night of the year.
What furnace repairs typically cost
| Repair | Typical Bay Area Cost |
|---|---|
| Hot-surface igniter | $120–$350 |
| Flame sensor | $90–$250 |
| Blower motor | $400–$700 |
| Control board | $200–$600 |
These are installed prices for the repair itself, confirmed on-site before any work starts. A cracked heat exchanger sits at the high end of what a furnace call can cost, and on an older unit it may favor replacement over repair — a tech who's being straight with you will say so rather than sink money into a system on its way out.
Most calls we run land well inside the $129–$800 range, not at either edge. A simple igniter or flame sensor swap is close to our service-call floor; a blower motor or control board is the bigger job.
What drives the price up or down
- Which part failed. An igniter or flame sensor is a fast, inexpensive swap. A blower motor or control board involves more labor and a pricier part, which is why they sit higher in the range.
- Brand and part availability. Common parts usually ride on the truck; a less common brand or an older model may need a part ordered, which affects timeline more than price.
- Access to the furnace. A unit in an open closet or garage is quicker to service than one wedged into a crawlspace or a tight attic — poor access adds labor time.
- Age and condition of the system. An older furnace can have more than one thing wearing out at once, or a cracked heat exchanger, which turns the conversation from "repair this part" into "repair vs. replace."
- Whether the fix needs a permit. Certain furnace repairs, like a gas valve or heat exchanger, can fall under local permit requirements depending on your city — we handle that paperwork as part of the job when it applies, so it's built into your quote rather than an extra step you have to manage.
What's included when you book Triton
- A diagnostic visit where the tech pinpoints the actual failed part — not a guess over the phone.
- The diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair once you approve the work.
- A flat, upfront quote before any part is replaced — no surprise line items afterward.
- Licensed techs who carry the common furnace parts (igniters, flame sensors, control boards) on the truck.
- Straight talk about whether a repair or a replacement conversation makes more sense given your system's age and the part that failed.
DIY or call a pro?
Furnaces combine gas, line-voltage power, and — depending on the model — a hot surface igniter or an open pilot flame. Past the basics, this isn't a safe do-it-yourself category. What you can check for free: make sure the thermostat is set to HEAT with a set point above room temperature and has fresh batteries, and swap the air filter if it's dirty — a clogged filter can starve the system and trip a safety limit that looks like a bigger failure. If your furnace uses a standing pilot light instead of an igniter, relighting a pilot that's simply gone out (following the instructions on the plate inside the cabinet) is usually safe; one that won't stay lit after relighting points to a thermocouple or gas valve issue and needs a tech. Beyond that — igniters, flame sensors, blower motors, gas valves, control boards — it's licensed-tech work, and in most jurisdictions furnace repair also falls under permit and code requirements a homeowner fix won't satisfy.
Get your furnace repaired
Triton repairs furnaces across the SF Bay Area & Peninsula, including San Mateo and the surrounding communities, with upfront pricing and licensed techs on every call.
Book online or call (888) 993-5699. We'll get a tech out to diagnose the actual problem and quote it before anything is repaired.
Related pages
- HVAC Repair in the SF Bay Area — our full heating & cooling hub
- Furnace Not Heating — symptom diagnosis
- Furnace Won't Ignite — ignition-specific troubleshooting
- Carrier HVAC Repair — brand-specific service
- HVAC & Furnace Repair in San Mateo — Peninsula service area
Frequently asked questions
How much does furnace repair cost in the Bay Area? Most furnace repairs run $129–$800 installed depending on the part. A hot-surface igniter typically runs $120–$350, a flame sensor $90–$250, a blower motor $400–$700, and a control board $200–$600.
What's the most common furnace repair? Igniters and flame sensors are the most common calls — small parts that wear out with normal use and are the fastest, least expensive fix in the range.
Is it worth repairing an old furnace? Usually, yes, when the failed part is a normal wear item like an igniter or flame sensor. It's a harder call when the fix is a cracked heat exchanger on an aging unit — that's the point where replacement is often the smarter move, and a straight tech will tell you that instead of just replacing the part.
Why does my furnace repair quote depend on my exact model? Different brands and models use different parts, and access to the unit — closet, garage, attic, or crawlspace — changes labor time. That's why we give you a firm price after a tech has actually looked at your system, not a phone estimate.
Do you charge a diagnostic fee? Yes, but it's credited toward the repair once you approve the work, so you're not paying for the visit and the fix separately.
Do you offer same-day furnace repair? Yes, in most of our SF Bay Area & Peninsula service area, including San Mateo. Call (888) 993-5699 to check same-day availability near you.