Furnace Repair Cost Guide 2025: What North Texas Homeowners Actually Pay

Last Tuesday, I got three calls before 7 AM. Same problem at each house: “My furnace won’t start.” The first homeowner in Frisco had already gotten two quotes - one for $1,850, another for $3,200. Both contractors said she needed a new control board.

I showed up with my diagnostic kit (and a strong coffee). Turned out? A $12 capacitor had failed. Fixed it in 20 minutes. Total bill: $280.

She asked me the same question I get constantly: “Why did they quote so much?”

Honestly? Some contractors see a panicked homeowner on a cold morning and dollar signs start dancing. Others genuinely might not have diagnosed it correctly. (Though a bad capacitor is pretty basic stuff.)

But here’s what kills me - she almost paid $3,200 because she didn’t know what questions to ask.

What Furnace Repairs Actually Cost in North Texas (With Real Numbers)

Need heating help? Check our Furnace Repair service.

I pulled repair invoices from the last three months. These are actual jobs, actual prices. No theoretical ranges that mean nothing when you’re staring at a dead furnace.

The Small Stuff ($89-$350)

Dirty flame sensor - $89 diagnostic + $89 cleaning = $178 total Fixed one yesterday in Allen. Homeowner tried cleaning it himself first (good for him). Sometimes DIY works. This time it needed proper calibration too.

Failed capacitor - $280 average That Frisco job I mentioned? Standard price. Takes 15-20 minutes if everything goes smooth. Parts cost me about $12-18. Rest covers truck, insurance, overhead, and yes, profit. (We’re a business, not a charity.)

Thermostat issues - $150-$350 Depends if it’s just rewiring ($150) or needs a new thermostat ($250-350). Pro tip: those fancy smart thermostats? Half the time they’re wired wrong. I see it constantly in newer Prosper homes.

Clogged filter causing shutdown - $89-$180 Yes, we charge for this. Because you called us out, we diagnosed it, and honestly, if you haven’t changed your filter in 8 months (looking at you, McKinney rental property), you need the wake-up call.

The Medium Repairs ($400-$1,200)

Blower motor replacement - $650-$850 Just did one in Plano last week. 18-year-old Carrier unit. Motor was making sounds like a dying cat. Parts run $300-400, labor’s another $250-350. Some companies charge $1,400 for this same job. (They’re not necessarily scamming you. They might have fancier trucks.)

Control board failure - $750-$1,200 This is where pricing gets weird. Same exact board might cost $400 from one supplier, $600 from another. Installation’s straightforward - usually an hour. But diagnosing it correctly? That’s where experience matters. I’ve seen three techs look at the same system and diagnose three different problems.

Inducer motor replacement - $800-$1,000 Common on 12-15 year old furnaces. Makes a humming or whining sound before it dies. Had a homeowner in The Colony try to “oil it” himself. (Don’t. These are sealed units.) Ended up needing the motor anyway, plus we had to clean oil off everything.

Gas valve replacement - $550-$750 Safety critical part. No shortcuts here. If someone quotes you $300 for a gas valve replacement, run. They’re either using knockoff parts or skipping safety tests.

The Big Repairs ($1,500-$6,500)

Heat exchanger replacement - $1,500-$3,000 Here’s where I get honest: if your heat exchanger’s cracked and your furnace is over 15 years old, replace the whole thing. Seriously. A new heat exchanger on an old furnace is like putting a new engine in a 200,000-mile car.

Had a couple in Little Elm last month argue about this for 20 minutes in front of me. He wanted to repair ($2,200), she wanted to replace ($4,800). She won. Smart woman - that old Goodman was already on borrowed time.

Complete system board with multiple component failures - $2,500-$4,000 When everything starts failing at once. Usually happens on 18-20 year old systems. You’re basically rebuilding the furnace at this point.

The Dirty Truth About Emergency Repairs

Our after-hours fee is $250 on top of regular pricing. That’s 7 PM to 7 AM, weekends, holidays. Some companies charge $500 just to show up.

But here’s what nobody tells you: probably 60% of “emergency” calls aren’t emergencies. Your furnace dying at 8 PM when it’s 45°F outside? Not an emergency. Throw on a sweater, use some space heaters, call us in the morning, save $250.

Your furnace dying when it’s 18°F with freezing rain? That’s an emergency. Especially if you’ve got kids, elderly parents, or pipes that might freeze.

Last winter during that February freeze (you remember - when half of Texas lost power), I worked 37 hours straight. Charged regular rates even at 3 AM because people were desperate. Made good money, sure, but I’m not gouging families when they’re literally freezing.

Troubleshooting You Can Actually Do (Without Dying)

Before you call anyone, try this stuff. Worst case, you still need a repair. Best case, you save $280.

Check the obvious first:

• Is the thermostat set to “Heat”? (I’m serious. This is 10% of calls.)
• Is the temperature set higher than room temp?
• Are the batteries fresh? (Another 5% of calls.)

Check your breaker: Furnace might have tripped the circuit. Flip it fully OFF, then back ON. If it trips again immediately, stop. You’ve got a real problem.

Look at your filter: Pull it out. Can you see light through it? No? That’s your problem. Filters cost $8-30. We charge $89 minimum to come tell you this.

Listen for the click: Turn heat on. You should hear a click from the furnace within 30 seconds. No click? Probably the control board or thermostat. Click but no ignition? Could be gas valve, ignitor, or flame sensor.

The reset button: Some furnaces have one. It’s usually red, near the blower. Press it ONCE. If it trips again, don’t keep pressing it. Something’s wrong.

When That Repair Quote Seems Insane

Got a $3,000 repair quote? Here’s how to evaluate it:

Age math that actually matters:

• Furnace under 8 years: Repair almost always
• 8-12 years: Repair if under $1,000
• 12-18 years: Repair if under $500
• Over 18 years: Start shopping for new systems

I know a guy who spent $2,400 fixing a 22-year-old Rheem. Three months later, the heat exchanger cracked. Now he needed a new furnace anyway. That $2,400? Completely wasted.

The 50% rule is garbage: Every website says “if repair costs more than 50% of replacement, replace it.” That’s too simple. A $2,000 repair on a 10-year-old high-efficiency Trane? Probably worth it. Same repair on a 15-year-old builder-grade Goodman? Absolutely not.

North Texas Specific Problems (That Nobody Warns You About)

Our soil destroys everything: That black clay expands and contracts like crazy. Houses shift. Gas lines develop tiny leaks. Exhaust vents separate. I see foundation-related furnace problems constantly, especially in older Plano neighborhoods.

Attic installations are brutal: Your furnace sitting in a 140°F attic all summer doesn’t do it any favors. Control boards cook. Solder joints fail. Plastic components warp. Then winter comes and that same attic drops to 20°F. The temperature swings are murder on equipment.

Builders cut every corner: New construction in Frisco, Prosper, Celina? They’re installing the absolute cheapest furnaces that meet code. That 80% efficiency builder-grade Goodman? It’ll need repairs by year 5, guaranteed.

Nobody maintains anything: I serviced a furnace in McKinney last month. The homeowner said, “It’s been running great for 8 years!” The filter looked like a wool blanket. The flame sensor was carbon-black. The blower wheel had enough dust to knit a sweater. “Running great” apparently means “hasn’t completely died yet.”

How to Not Get Screwed (From Someone Who Could Screw You)

Get the diagnostic in writing: Any legitimate tech can write down exactly what’s wrong. “System won’t start” isn’t a diagnosis. “Failed HSI ignitor measuring open circuit, part #62-23456” is a diagnosis.

Ask for the old part: If I’m replacing your inducer motor, you should get the old one. Some contractors say they need it for warranty. That’s BS 90% of the time. They don’t want you taking it to another contractor who might say it was fine.

The second opinion trap: Sure, get a second opinion on big repairs. But here’s what happens: First guy says you need a new control board. Second guy says it’s the gas valve. Third guy says it’s both. Now you’re more confused and your house is still freezing.

Sometimes you just need to trust someone. (Preferably someone with actual reviews you can verify.)

The “while we’re here” upsell: Your blower motor dies. Tech says, “While I’m in here, we should replace the capacitor too. It’s looking weak.” Maybe legitimate, maybe not. Ask to see it tested. A capacitor tester takes 10 seconds to use.

Real Examples from Last Month

December 3rd, Frisco, 2008 Lennox: No heat call. Found cracked heat exchanger. Quoted $2,200 to replace, $4,900 for new furnace. Homeowner chose repair. I tried talking him out of it. (That Lennox maybe had 2 years left, tops.) His house, his money.

December 8th, Allen, 2015 Carrier: Intermittent heating. Diagnosed failing pressure switch. $420 repair. While testing, noticed gas valve starting to fail too. Quoted additional $650. Homeowner did both. Smart move - would’ve been back within a month otherwise.

December 14th, Plano, 2019 Trane: Blower motor bearing noise. Still working but loud. Quoted $750 replacement. Homeowner decided to wait. Called back December 26th (of course) when it seized completely. Emergency call + repair = $1,000. Waiting cost them $250.

December 18th, McKinney, 2003 Rheem: Complete disaster. Cracked heat exchanger, failed blower motor, rusted gas valve. Quoted $4,100 in repairs or $5,200 for new system. They went new. (Thank god. That thing was a carbon monoxide incident waiting to happen.)

The Bottom Line on Furnace Repair Costs

Here’s what you’re actually going to pay in North Texas:

• Basic service call: $89 (includes diagnostic)
• Simple repairs: $150-$350
• Component replacements: $400-$1,200
• Major repairs: $1,500-$3,000
• Emergency service: Add $250
• New furnace: $3,500-$8,000 installed

Could you find cheaper? Sure. My cousin’s friend’s neighbor “knows a guy” who’ll do it for beer money. Good luck when your house fills with carbon monoxide at 2 AM.

Could you pay more? Absolutely. Some companies have marble lobbies and wrapped trucks and charge accordingly.

We’re somewhere in the middle. Nice enough trucks that we won’t leak oil on your driveway. Experienced enough that we diagnose it right the first time. Honest enough that I’m writing this instead of some marketing fluff about how we’re “your trusted comfort specialists” or whatever.

Your furnace will break. Probably at the worst possible time. (They’re surprisingly good at that.) When it does, at least now you know what you’re looking at cost-wise.

Want an honest assessment? Call us at (940) 390-5676. We’ll shoot straight with you about repair versus replacement.

Or call someone else. Just don’t call that guy with the $3,200 capacitor replacement. That’s ridiculous even by North Texas standards.

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Gary Musaraj owns Jupitair HVAC and has been fixing (and occasionally swearing at) furnaces in North Texas since 2008. He’s seen every possible failure, most terrible DIY attempts, and still answers his phone at 2 AM when your heat dies.