What a furnace repair visit covers
A repair visit starts as a diagnostic, and the final bill depends on whether the fault is a minor part, a major component or the heat exchanger. All three bands use the same national source and the same Texas wage ratio of 0.91.
Furnaces in the Panhandle carry far more of the year's heating. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals count 3871.5 heating degree days at Amarillo, 2220.2 at Dallas Fort Worth, 1266.1 at Houston Intercontinental and 801.2 at Corpus Christi, each degree day being one degree of a day's average below 65 F.
What a furnace repair costs in Texas
The three ranges above are estimates, not quotes, built from one national published range and Texas's wage ratio of 0.91. The rows below show two cities' repair permit fees.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, diagnostic and minor part, not a quote | $95 to $505 per repair, diagnostic or minor part | A diagnostic visit and a small part such as an igniter, flame sensor or switch. Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Texas HVAC technician wage ratio (0.91). Three Texas HVAC companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range, major component, not a quote | $185 to $1,175 per repair, major component | A control board, gas valve or draft inducer motor, with the diagnosis that finds it. Built from 3 national published ranges, adjusted by the Texas HVAC technician wage ratio (0.91). Three Texas HVAC companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range, heat exchanger, not a quote | $455 to $2,275 per repair, heat exchanger | A cracked or failed heat exchanger. Built from 3 national published ranges, adjusted by the Texas HVAC technician wage ratio (0.91). Three Texas HVAC companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Technician wage, Texas mean | $28.43 an hour | Technician pay from the May 2025 BLS release; a repair bill adds parts and the company's own rate. |
| Heating or cooling appliance repair or alteration permit, Frisco | $12.25 per appliance, with a $50 issuance fee | Consolidated fee schedule effective Oct 1, 2026; the schedule lists a furnace unit at $13.25. |
| Repair, alteration or addition to a heating appliance, McKinney | $9 per appliance, with a $40 issuance fee | Schedule as read Oct 23, 2026; it prints no effective date. |
Estimated ranges, with a row for each size of repair. Built from national published ranges (4 sources in all, 1 to 3 per row), adjusted by Texas's HVAC technician wage ratio to the US (0.91, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. Three Texas HVAC companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
Who may open a furnace in Texas
TDLR's page for air conditioning and refrigeration contractors covers anyone who installs, repairs or maintains heating systems. The Class A license works on any size unit, and the Class B license covers heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs per hour and under. Licenses last one year.
Look the company up on TDLR's license search, by license number or under Air Conditioning Contractors. If a technician arrives alone, TDLR's technician page says registered technicians work under a contractor's supervision.
What to get on paper before the part is ordered
Ask for the diagnostic charge, the part and the labor as separate lines. No Texas rule cited here sets a repair warranty, so any warranty is whatever the company writes down.
When a furnace fault is an emergency
- Gas odor anywhere near the furnace: get out, then dial 911 from outside.
- The carbon monoxide alarm goes off: step outside with everyone and dial 911.
- The furnace heats but makes a new noise, and no alarm has sounded.
Before you call anyone
- Find the model and serial plate on the furnace and have both ready.
- Look up the company's TDLR license number before it opens the furnace.
- Ask which of the three bands the quote falls in and why.
Which furnace repairs need a city permit
It depends on the city and on the repair. Denton's furnace page says repair or replacement of HVAC or a furnace requires a mechanical permit, while Austin lists replacing a minor part that doesn't alter the equipment's approval as exempt. Frisco and McKinney each print a repair or alteration fee for heating appliances. Phone the permit office in your city.
Before any work starts, get the license number and check it with your state's licensing board; our state pages link the lookup.
Questions people ask
Can I repair my own furnace in Texas?
The Occupations Code, in its 2018 wording, exempts work in a building owned solely as the person's home. Section 1302.053 says the chapter does not apply to a person doing air conditioning and refrigeration contracting in a building owned solely as that person's home. Section 1302.052 adds that exempt work is subject to any municipal permit, inspection or approval.
What does the TDLR Class B license cover for heating?
Heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs per hour and under. Class A has no size limit. TDLR's license numbers show the class, for example TACL/A/000000/C.
Why do two furnace repair quotes differ so much?
The bill depends on whether the fault is a minor part, a major component or the heat exchanger. Our estimates run from $95 to $505 to $455 to $2,275 across those scopes. Ask each company which scope its quote assumes.
Does a Texas city charge a contractor registration fee?
Not since Sept 1, 2021, according to TDLR. Occupations Code section 1302.304 bars municipalities from charging registration fees to TDLR-licensed A/C contractors but allows building permit fees. Some city pages still describe a registration fee, so ask the permit office.
- BLS Public Data API v1, OEWS Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- HVACMatch: how we estimate costs, Texas (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Frisco: Consolidated Fee Schedule (10/1/2026) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of McKinney: Permit Fee Schedule (PDF) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR: Apply for a Contractor License Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR: License Search Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR: Apply for a Technician Registration Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Occupations Code ch. 1302 (Wayback 2018-03-06) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR: ACR frequently asked questions Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Denton: HVAC / Furnace Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Austin: Work exempt from building permits Read Oct 23, 2026.
- NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal station file Read Oct 23, 2026.
- NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal station file Read Oct 23, 2026.
- NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal station file Read Oct 23, 2026.
- NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal station file Read Oct 23, 2026.