Furnace advice · Greater Vancouver · Updated November 8, 2026
Repair or Replace Your Furnace? A Straight Answer With 2026 Prices
Repair a furnace that’s under about 15 years old and needs a single part, which costs $150 to $1,500 with us. Consider replacing it when it’s 15 or older and needs a major repair, keeps breaking down, or has a cracked heat exchanger. A new furnace costs $6,500 to $10,000 before GST, depending on the make and model you choose. We’ll tell you when a repair makes more sense, even though a replacement would earn us more.
$169 diagnostic at any hour · Free in-home quote for a new furnace · 1-year workmanship warranty · License LGA0209945
Our rule of thumb, by age and repair
Two things decide most cases: how old the furnace is and how big the repair is. Repair prices below are ours, parts and labour, before GST.
| Furnace age | Small repair (about $150 – $400) | Major repair ($700 – $1,500) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years | Repair | Repair, almost always |
| 10 – 15 years | Repair | Usually repair if the rest of the furnace is sound. Ask for both prices |
| 15+ years | Repair to get through the season, and start planning | Replace is usually the better value |
| Any age, cracked heat exchanger | Replace. It can leak carbon monoxide | |
Small repairs include a flame sensor, igniter, limit switch, pressure switch or capacitor. Major repairs include a gas valve, inducer motor, blower motor or control board. See every price on our furnace repair cost page.
Four real examples
8 years old, burners light then go out
Flame sensor: $200 to $280. Repair. The furnace has years left.
12 years old, no air from the vents
Blower motor: $800 to $1,300. Usually repair, if the heat exchanger and controls check out.
17 years old, dead control board
Board: $800 to $1,500, which is 8% to 23% of a new furnace, on a unit near the end of its life. Replacing usually makes more sense, but the choice is yours.
Any age, cracked heat exchanger
Replace. Fixing it costs close to a new furnace, and a crack can let carbon monoxide into the house.
When replacement isn’t optional
- A cracked heat exchanger. See heat exchanger replacement.
- Carbon monoxide traced to the furnace. Leave the furnace off and get it checked the same day. We answer 24/7 at the same price.
- A furnace a gas fitter has declared unsafe. Keep it off until it’s repaired or replaced. Getting a second opinion is fine, but don’t run it while you wait.
What a new furnace costs and includes
A new furnace with us costs $6,500 to $10,000 before GST, depending on the make and model you choose. The quote covers the equipment, venting, ductwork changes, controls, removal of the old unit, permits and start-up. We size the furnace to your home, and the in-home assessment and written quote are free. Financing is available on approved credit.
If you’re replacing anyway, it’s a good time to ask whether a heat pump fits your home. See gas furnace vs heat pump, furnace installation and furnace installation cost.
How we help you decide
Daniel shows you what he found and gives you both options with prices, so you can decide. A repair earns us less than a new furnace, and we’ll still tell you when the repair is the better choice. If you’re on the fence, regular maintenance keeps an older furnace running longer: a one-time service is $189, or $159 a year on the Annual Maintenance Plan with 15% off any repair. See furnace service.
Repair or replace: common questions
How old is too old for a furnace?
Gas furnaces commonly last 15 to 20 years. Once a furnace passes about 15 years, Daniel usually recommends replacing it instead of paying for a major repair. Age alone doesn’t decide it, though: a well-kept 16-year-old furnace that needs a $250 igniter is worth repairing.
Is it worth repairing a 20-year-old furnace?
A small repair to get through the winter, yes. A major repair such as a $800 to $1,500 control board or a $700 to $1,200 inducer motor usually isn’t, because other parts of a furnace that age are likely to fail soon. We give you both prices so you can compare.
How much does a new furnace cost in Vancouver?
As of November 2026, a new furnace with Efficient Heating Service costs $6,500 to $10,000 before GST, depending on the make and model you choose. The in-home assessment and written quote are free, and financing is available on approved credit.
Should I replace a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger?
Yes, in almost every case. A cracked heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide into the home, and repairing it costs close to a new furnace. Keep the furnace off until it’s replaced.
Will you push me to replace my furnace?
No. We’ll tell you when a repair makes more sense than a new furnace, even though a replacement would earn us more. Daniel shows you what he found and gives you both prices, and you decide.
Written and reviewed by Daniel, owner and lead gas fitter at Efficient Heating Service · ITA-certified Domestic/Commercial Gasfitter (Class B, 2017) · Gas Contractor License LGA0209945 · Updated November 8, 2026
Get both prices for your furnace
Call or text 778-798-4343 with your furnace’s age and what it’s doing. We’ll diagnose it for $169, at the same price any hour, and give you a repair price and, if it makes sense, a replacement price.