Furnace Repair Denver: $163 to $1,328 + LEAP Help (2026)

Denver rows are local figures from ConsumerAffairs; rows marked national are national.

Do this now: Denver furnace out on a cold night

1. Gas smell or a CO alarm: get everyone out and call 911 or Xcel Energy from outside. CPSC says do not go back in until responders say it is safe.
2. Check that the thermostat is on heat and set above room temperature, the furnace switch is on and the breaker has not tripped. Bryant says if a breaker trips again, stop resetting it.
3. Pull the filter. A clogged one can trip the high-limit switch and shut the burners off, Bryant says.
4. Find your water shut-off valve now. Denver Water says it is usually in the basement or crawl space on the wall facing the street, and that you will need it if a pipe breaks.
5. If a pipe freezes, thaw it with a hair dryer, never a torch; Denver Water warns that pipes warmed too fast may break. More in frozen pipes.
6. Do not use the oven or stove for heat, the CDC says, and keep space heaters 3 feet from bedding and curtains.

Is it an emergency? Denver's 156.3 freezing nights

A furnace that quits in a Denver winter is an emergency because hard cold is routine. Denver International Airport averages 156.3 nights a year at or below 32 F and 6.2 nights at or below 0 F, with a January normal low of 18.7 F, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show. The airport logs 5,862 heating degree days a year against 849.5 cooling degree days.

Call right away for no heat below freezing, a gas smell, a CO alarm, or a furnace that lights and then shuts off over and over. A noisy blower with heat still coming out can wait for business hours, when labor costs less. If the alarm is the problem, follow carbon monoxide alarm going off, and if the furnace runs but the air is cool, start with furnace blowing cold air.

What a Denver furnace repair usually is

The most common Denver furnace fix is an ignitor or flame sensor, which ConsumerAffairs prices at $250 to $450 locally in 2026. That is above HomeGuide's national range of $100 to $250 for an igniter, so ask for the part and labor split on the quote. Bigger repairs follow national prices: an inducer motor runs $400 to $1,100 and a heat exchanger $1,000 to $3,000, HomeGuide says, and most technicians replace a cracked heat exchanger rather than patch it because of the carbon monoxide risk. Part-by-part prices are on the national furnace repair cost guide.

Free furnace repair in Denver: LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado

• LEAP. Colorado's Low-income Energy Assistance Program helps with heating bills and pays to repair or replace a home's primary heating system, such as a furnace. Applications open Nov 1, 2026 and close Apr 30. The 2026 to 2027 income limit is $3,774 a month for one person and $4,936 for two. Call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) or apply on Colorado PEAK.
• Energy Outreach Colorado Crisis Intervention Program. Free emergency repair or replacement of a heating system that is not working, plus temporary heat, for LEAP-approved households. LEAP-approved callers use 1-855-469-4328; it aims to help within 24 hours in an emergency. It does not cover routine maintenance.

Denver permits and licenses for furnace work

Forced air heating systems are on Denver's Quick Permit list for single-family homes and duplexes, and the city says replacement equipment must meet current energy code efficiency, checked at inspection. Colorado has no state HVAC license, and Denver does not accept contractor licenses from other counties or states, so ask for the Denver license number and confirm it with Contractor Licensing at 720-865-2770. Homeowners must pass an exam before pulling a mechanical permit themselves. The HVAC repair in Denver page covers heat pump permits and every 2026 rebate.

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

Repair or replace a Denver furnace

HomeAdvisor says to start shopping when a repair costs more than half the price of a new furnace, and puts furnace life at 15 to 30 years. Denver's median home was built in 1975, the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey shows; go by the date on the furnace's label, not the age of the house. If you replace, Colorado's 2026 heat pump tax credit takes at least $333 off an air-source heat pump on the invoice, the Colorado Energy Office says, and Colorado Public Radio reported a $1,500 Power Ahead Colorado rebate on cold-climate models from July 15, 2026. See how long a furnace lasts and furnace replacement cost.

Questions to ask a Denver furnace company

1. What is your Denver contractor license number?
2. What is the diagnostic fee? ConsumerAffairs lists $120 to $150 in Denver.
3. Is the ignitor or flame sensor price parts and labor together?
4. If I replace, will it go under a Quick Permit, and who books the inspection?
5. Can I see proof of insurance and a written price before work starts?

More Denver heating guides

Frozen or burst pipes: plumber in Denver. Other cold cities: furnace repair in Salt Lake City and furnace repair in Minneapolis. All trades are priced on home repair costs. Calls to the heating line go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).