When it’s below freezing outdoors and your furnace isn’t working, most homeowners would pay almost any price to get their heating system working properly again. However, such a mindset can lead to paying more than the necessary furnace repair cost. Instead of just blindly trusting your furnace technician, it’s a good idea to know some of the common things that can go wrong with your heating system and what it costs to fix them.

The Average Furnace Repair Cost for Your Most Common Problems

According to Home Repair.com, the average homeowner in the United States pays $439 to get his or her furnace repaired. However, the actual number can be much lower—or much higher, depending on the problem and the company you choose to fix it. Keeping furnace repair costs in line depends in large part on educating yourself on what typical repairs cost. The majority of homeowners aren’t well-versed in HVAC systems and thus can fall prey to an unscrupulous furnace repair technician. We’ve created a list with the average furnace repair costs for the most common fixes to help you avoid such a scenario:

• Replacing a blown breaker. Replacing a blown breaker is generally a minor furnace repair cost. When the breaker isn’t working properly, it prevents the heating system from getting the power it needs and causes it to shut down, even though the furnace is working fine. Replacing a furnace breaker should cost around $25-$50 in parts plus around $100 in labor. However, if an underlying electrical problem has caused the breaker to fail, the repair cost could be much higher.

• Cleaning the furnace system. One of the most common reasons heating systems fail stems from an accumulation of dirt and debris in the system. This forces the system to work harder and shortens its lifespan considerably. One of the best things you can do for your heating system is to have it cleaned annually. This usually costs less than $100.

• Replacing the thermostat. Sometimes when your furnace fails to turn on and off as it’s supposed to, the problem lies not in the furnace, but in the thermostat. This furnace repair cost depends on the type of thermostat you choose and can range from around $50 to several hundred dollars plus around $100 for labor.

Your Furnace Repair Specialists in Maryland & Washington, DC

To learn more about keeping your Maryland or Washington, DC heating system in good shape, call Michael Bonsby HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical at 301-245-2008 or contact us online to set up an appointment. We’ve been helping DC and Maryland area homeowners with their heating and cooling needs for more than 20 years and can help you get your system back on track, without those hefty furnace repair costs you might be used to.