Furnace Repair Columbus: $100 to $840 + City Grants (2026)

Columbus rows are local figures; national rows are labeled.

Do this now: no heat in Columbus

1. Gas smell or a CO alarm: get out, then call 911 or Columbia Gas of Ohio from outside. CPSC says do not go back in until responders clear it.
2. Thermostat on heat and above room temperature, fan on AUTO (Carrier); furnace switch on; breaker set. Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips (Bryant).
3. Change a clogged filter; Bryant says it can shut the burners off at the high-limit switch.
4. Protect pipes on outside walls: open sink cabinets and drip cold water (Red Cross). See frozen pipes.
5. Behind on the gas bill or facing a shutoff? IMPACT Community Action runs the HEAP Winter Crisis Program from Nov 1 to Mar 31: 614-252-2799.
6. Never heat with the oven (CDC).

Is it urgent? Columbus freeze days

A furnace failure is urgent in Columbus from late fall into spring: John Glenn International averages 103.2 days a year with a low at or below 32 F and 2.3 days at or below 0 F, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show. Call now for no heat in a freeze, a gas smell, a CO alarm or a furnace that will not stay running. A furnace that heats but rattles can wait for a weekday. If an alarm is sounding, follow carbon monoxide alarm going off; for vents blowing cool air, see furnace blowing cold air.

Columbus Emergency Repair Program: furnace replacement Oct 1 to Apr 30

The City of Columbus Emergency Repair Program is a grant, not a loan. It replaces furnaces from October 1 to April 30 only, and it also covers main water or sewer line leaks and damaged gas lines. To qualify, the home must be a single-unit house you have owned and lived in for at least a year, with household income at or below 50% of area median ($39,050 for one person). All permits are required. Intake: (614) 645-8526.

Other help paying for furnace repair in Columbus

• IMPACT Home Weatherization (HWAP): heating unit maintenance and repair or replacement plus insulation for income-qualified households. Call 614-252-2799, press 4 then 1.
• Ohio HEAP: regular-season applications run Jul 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 at energyhelp.ohio.gov, with an income limit of 175% of federal guidelines ($27,930 for one person).
• Columbia Gas income-qualified weatherization (WarmChoice): no-cost weatherization for income-qualified customers; services can include repair or replacement of natural gas appliances. Columbia Gas: 1-800-344-4077.

No furnace rebates from Columbia Gas in 2026

Columbia Gas of Ohio says its residential energy efficiency programs, other than the income-qualified one, have ended, so there is no furnace or thermostat rebate. AEP Ohio offers a $75 instant discount on a smart thermostat when you enroll in Power Rewards, and no HVAC rebates. The federal 25C credit also ended for anything installed after 2025, the IRS says. HomeAdvisor suggests replacing when a repair costs more than half the price of a new furnace. Columbus's median home was built in 1980, matching the U.S. median, Census data show. See furnace replacement cost and how long a furnace lasts.

Permits and licenses for furnace work in Columbus

Columbus's Mechanical Permit Application covers HVAC, refrigeration and hydronics. An owner can get a mechanical permit to repair or replace equipment in a single-family home they live in, but the city says owners "cannot purchase permits for work that they will hire a contractor to perform," so the company you hire pulls it. HVAC contractors need an Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board license and then city licensing or registration; OCILB's license covers commercial work, and local departments regulate residential contractors. Building and Zoning Services: (614) 645-7433.

Local heating rules, programs and climate for Columbus, from official city, county, state, utility, Census and NOAA pages.

Questions to ask a Columbus furnace company

1. What is your OCILB license number, and are you licensed or registered with the City of Columbus?
2. If the furnace is replaced, will you pull the mechanical permit?
3. What is the diagnostic fee? ConsumerAffairs lists $75 to $150 in Columbus.
4. Is the ignitor or flame sensor price ($100 to $425 locally) parts and labor?
5. Can I see proof of insurance and a written price before work starts?

More Columbus heating guides

All heating and cooling: HVAC repair in Columbus. Frozen pipes and leaks: plumber in Columbus. Compare furnace repair in Indianapolis and furnace repair in Philadelphia. National prices: furnace repair. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).