AC repair
Furnace & heating
Heat pumps
Ductless mini splits
Carrier
Trane
GoodmanSeasonal tune-up and full diagnostic on your Carrier, Trane, or Goodman system - readings shown to you before any repair is proposed
Diagnosis first, numbers second - you approve the repair price before a single part goes in.
Get your free estimateStyles & brands we work with
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterFurnace Repair in San Francisco, CA
Furnace repair in San Francisco typically costs between $150 and $600 for most common fixes, with the majority of repairs completed in a single visit. The city’s damp marine air and older housing stock mean furnaces here fail differently than they do inland, and diagnosing the problem correctly the first time is what separates a quick fix from a repeat visit. Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco has been repairing furnaces in this city since 2003, and we give you a written price before any work starts, so you’ll never be surprised by the bill.
This page covers what we repair, what it costs, and how our process works. If you’d rather skip the reading and talk to someone now, call (559) 245-8807 and a live person will answer, day or night. You can also see our broader Heating & Furnace in San Francisco services page for more on what we handle beyond repairs.
One thing worth knowing up front: Brandt comes from an old word for a firebrand. Keeping a home warm is literally in our name, and it’s work we take seriously. Every technician we send to your door is background-checked, uniformed, and introduced to you by name and photo before arrival under our Threshold Verified standard. When the doorbell rings, you’ll know exactly who’s there.
Key Takeaways
- Most San Francisco furnace repairs cost $150 to $600 and are done same-day.
- You get a written price before any work starts, on every single job.
- Every repair includes a written 365-day guarantee. If it fails, we return free.
- We service York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard furnaces, among other major brands.
- Call (559) 245-8807 any time. A live person answers, 24/7.
When You Need Furnace Repair
Furnaces in San Francisco don’t get the brutal workout they do in Minnesota or Chicago, but they fail in their own ways. Here are the situations where you should call us instead of waiting to see if the problem goes away. It rarely does.
- The furnace turns on but blows cold air. This often points to a failed igniter or a tripped limit switch. In San Francisco’s older Victorians, we also see corroded wiring from years of damp, salty air coming off the Pacific.
- You hear a loud bang when the furnace fires up. That’s usually delayed ignition, often from dirty burners. Gas builds up for a few extra seconds, then ignites all at once. Left alone, this can crack a heat exchanger.
- The furnace short-cycles. It starts, runs for a minute or two, shuts off, then repeats. This can be a dirty flame sensor, an overheating limit switch, or an airflow restriction. Short-cycling wastes gas and wears out parts faster.
- Your energy bill spiked without explanation. A furnace that’s losing efficiency is often a furnace with a failing component. If your PG&E bill jumped and your usage hasn’t changed, the furnace is a likely culprit.
- The pilot light or ignition system won’t stay lit. On older furnaces, a weak thermocouple is the usual suspect. On newer models with electronic ignition, it’s often the hot surface igniter. We see both regularly across the Sunset, Richmond, and Bernal Heights neighborhoods.
- You smell gas or a strange odor when the heat runs. If you smell gas, leave the house and call PG&E first. For other odors, like burning dust at the start of the season, that’s often harmless. But a persistent metallic smell while running should be checked, as it can indicate overheating components.
If any of these sound familiar, don’t wait. A furnace that’s struggling is working harder than it should, and the strain turns small problems into expensive ones. Call (559) 245-8807 and we’ll get a technician out to you.
Our Furnace Repair Process
We built our process around one principle: you should never feel uncertain about who’s coming, what they’ll do, or what it will cost. Here’s how every furnace repair with Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco works, step by step.
- You call and a live person answers. No phone tree, no voicemail, no “press 2 for service.” You’ll speak to a real human being who can schedule your visit. We answer around the clock, including weekends and holidays.
- You get your technician’s name and photo before arrival. Under our Threshold Verified standard, every technician is background-checked and identity-verified. We send you who’s coming before they arrive. When they show up, they’ll be in uniform and hold up a photo ID badge at the door. If anyone shows up who you weren’t told to expect, that visit is on us.
- The technician diagnoses the problem and explains it in plain language. You’ll hear the real trade terms if they matter, but always with a translation. For example, we might tell you the heat exchanger has a crack and explain that it’s the metal chamber where gas burns to heat your air, and that a crack there can leak carbon monoxide into your home.
- You receive a written price before any work starts. Not an estimate that might change. Not a verbal ballpark. A written price for the repair, parts and labor included. You approve it before we pick up a tool. No exceptions, ever.
- We complete the repair and test the system. The fix gets done, then we run the furnace through its cycles to make sure it’s firing correctly, heating evenly, and running safely. We check carbon monoxide levels as part of the job.
- You get a written guarantee. Every repair includes a written guarantee, and under our 365-Day Done Right Promise, if the repair fails within 365 days, we come back and make it right at no charge. No argument, no fine print, no second bill.
This process is the same whether you’re in a 1905 Edwardian in Noe Valley, a mid-century flat in the Inner Sunset, or a newer condo in Mission Bay. The buildings change. The standard doesn’t.
Furnace Repair Pricing in San Francisco
Here’s what furnace repair actually costs in San Francisco, based on the jobs we do most often. These are real ranges, parts and labor included.
| Repair Type | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flame sensor cleaning or replacement | $120 – $250 | Most common fix. Usually under an hour. |
| Hot surface igniter replacement | $150 – $300 | Common on furnaces 8 – 15 years old. |
| Thermocouple replacement | $130 – $260 | Mostly on older standing-pilot furnaces. |
| Pressure switch replacement | $180 – $350 | More common in multi-story homes with long vent runs. |
| Blower motor replacement | $450 – $900 | Higher on variable-speed models. |
| Gas valve replacement | $300 – $600 | We see more of these in damp basements and garages. |
| Heat exchanger replacement | $900 – $1,800 | Often more cost-effective to replace the furnace if it’s over 15 years old. |
What affects the price? Three things mostly. The part itself, which brand you have and whether we stock it or need to source it, and how long the labor takes. A York or Daikin igniter is generally no more expensive than a Bryant or American Standard one, but some older models have discontinued parts that cost more to source. San Francisco’s tight crawlspaces and basement furnace closets can also add time to a job compared to an attic install in a newer build.
Every quote includes the part, the labor, and the guarantee. You’ll see the number in writing before we start. Call (559) 245-8807 for a free estimate on your specific furnace, and we’ll tell you what we’d expect the repair to run before we even schedule the visit.
FAQs – Furnace Repair
How much does furnace repair cost in San Francisco?
Most furnace repairs in San Francisco run between $150 and $600, with simple fixes like flame sensor cleaning on the low end and gas valve or blower motor replacements on the high end. Major repairs like heat exchanger replacement can reach $1,800, at which point a new furnace is often the smarter choice. You’ll always get a written price from Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco before any work starts. Call (559) 245-8807 for an exact quote, and the estimate is free.
Can you repair my furnace the same day?
In most cases, yes. We stock common parts for major brands like York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard, and we keep our schedules flexible for furnace repair calls because no heat in San Francisco’s wet winters is not something you should have to wait on. A live person answers (559) 245-8807 24/7 and can tell you when the next available technician can be at your door.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace my furnace?
If your furnace is under 12 years old and the repair costs less than 30% of a new unit, repair is usually the better call. If it’s over 15 years old and you’re looking at a heat exchanger or blower motor, replacement often makes more financial sense. We’ll tell you honestly which we’d recommend for your specific situation, and we’ll never push a replacement when a repair will do. Call (559) 245-8807 and we’ll walk you through the math.
Do you guarantee your furnace repairs?
Every furnace repair we make is guaranteed for 365 days under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the repair fails within that period, we return and make it right at no charge. The guarantee is written, specific, and included with every job. If you’re comparing companies, ask them what their guarantee says. Then ask us. We’ll show you ours.
What brands do you repair?
We repair all major residential furnace brands, and we regularly work on York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard systems across San Francisco. Whether your furnace is a 20-year-old standing-pilot unit or a newer high-efficiency model, we can source the parts and handle the repair. Call (559) 245-8807 with your furnace’s brand and model number and we’ll confirm before we come out.
Why Homeowners in San Francisco Choose Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco
San Francisco is a city of old homes, microclimates, and people who’ve learned to be careful about who they let through the door. We built Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco for that customer. Every technician is background-checked and identity-verified under our Threshold Verified standard. You get a name and a photo before anyone arrives. The person at your door will be wearing a uniform and holding a photo ID badge. If someone shows up you weren’t expecting, the visit is on us.
Our pricing is no-hassle and upfront. The written price you approve is the price you pay, whether the job takes one hour or three. And our 365-Day Done Right Promise means that if the repair doesn’t hold, the second visit costs you nothing. We’re part of the Threshold Group family of home-service companies, established in 2003, and this location is independently owned and operated.
If your furnace is struggling, call (559) 245-8807 now. A live person will answer, take down what’s happening, and get you scheduled. You’ll know who’s coming before they arrive, what it will cost before we start, and exactly what the guarantee covers before we leave. That’s the way it should work.
Written by Devin Marlowe, Owner at Brandt HVAC Co San Francisco, serving San Francisco.