Furnace Repair FAQ — Portland, ME

The cost depends on what broke, what parts are needed, and how old the furnace is. Replacing an igniter on a newer gas furnace costs less than diagnosing a cracked heat exchanger on a 30-year-old oil unit. There is no flat rate that is honest without seeing your equipment. Call for a free estimate.

If the furnace is under 15 years old and the repair is a single failed part, fixing it usually makes sense. If it is 20 or more years old, needs repeated repairs, or has a cracked heat exchanger, replacement is often the better answer. A cracked heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide into your living space, so that one is not a wait-and-see situation.

The furnace runs but the house stays cold. The burner shuts off before the house reaches the set temperature. You hear banging, rattling, or a high-pitched whine from the unit. The pilot light or igniter fails to light. Any of these means something needs to be looked at before the next cold snap.

Most repairs take between one and three hours once a technician is on site. If a specific part needs to be ordered, it can take a day or two longer. Older oil furnaces sometimes need parts that are not stocked locally, which adds time. We tell you upfront if that is the case.

Standard homeowners insurance in Maine does not cover furnace repair due to normal wear and breakdown. It may cover damage caused by a furnace failure, like burst pipes. Some home warranty plans include HVAC coverage, but those policies have a lot of fine print. Check your policy before assuming.

If you smell gas, do not touch any switches. Get everyone out and call 911 and your gas company. If there is no gas smell, check the thermostat setting, the filter, and the circuit breaker first. Those fix a surprising number of no-heat calls. If none of that works, call (207) 387-7691 and describe what the furnace is doing.