Last updated: May 23, 2026
Your heat is out, the house is getting cold, and the repair company may have told you the furnace is unsafe or too old to fix. This is a real safety problem, but the help is local, slow in some places, and often depends on the exact words you use when you call.
Quick help snapshot
- Best first call: your local LIHEAP, HEAP, EAP, or energy assistance office. Ask for crisis help, not just bill help.
- Second call: your local Weatherization Assistance Program provider if the furnace problem is tied to energy safety or home efficiency.
- If you smell gas, feel dizzy, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds: leave the home and call emergency services or the utility emergency line.
- Expect proof: income, ID, utility account, ownership or occupancy, and a furnace diagnosis or estimate.
- Do not pay a contractor upfront because they promise a “government furnace grant.” Programs usually approve the work before payment.
First, make the home safe
A broken furnace can be more than an expensive repair. It can create freezing pipes, unsafe space-heater use, fire risk, and carbon monoxide risk. The CDC furnace safety page says gas and oil furnaces can produce carbon monoxide, an invisible and odorless poison gas.
Leave the home now if any of this is happening
- A carbon monoxide alarm is sounding.
- You smell gas, propane, oil fumes, or a burning electrical smell.
- People in the home have headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, chest pain, or fainting.
- The furnace flame is rolling out, the exhaust vent is blocked, or a technician has tagged the unit unsafe.
- You are using an oven, grill, charcoal burner, or generator for heat.
Call 911 or your utility emergency line from outside the home. Do not go back inside until emergency responders or the utility says it is safe.
Do not run a generator in a garage, basement, porch, or near a window. Do not heat the home with a stove or oven. If you use a temporary electric space heater, keep it away from bedding, curtains, papers, rugs, and extension cords. The EPA carbon monoxide page also points homeowners to annual inspection of fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces.
Script: calling the utility emergency line
“My furnace is not working and I am worried about gas or carbon monoxide. I need to know if you can send someone to check the service line, shutoff, meter, or gas safety issue. We have people in the home who cannot stay cold safely.”
The fastest realistic starting points
There is no single national furnace replacement office. The federal programs send money to states, tribes, territories, counties, cities, utilities, and local agencies. That means the same problem may be handled by a county assistance office in one state, a Community Action Agency in another, a weatherization agency in another, and a utility hardship fund in another.
Start with energy assistance, even if you need a furnace and not a utility bill. USAGov energy help explains that LIHEAP can help with heating and cooling bills and emergency services during an energy crisis, while WAP may help with home improvements that save energy.
| Call or check | Ask for this | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Local LIHEAP, HEAP, EAP, or energy assistance office | “Crisis furnace repair or replacement” | This is often the fastest route when the primary heat source is broken. |
| Weatherization provider | “Heating system safety assessment” | WAP may address energy-related health and safety issues, but may have a waitlist. |
| Gas or electric utility | “Medical, hardship, shutoff, or furnace fund” | Some utilities have payment plans, fuel funds, or nonprofit partners. |
| 211 | “No heat and furnace failed” | 211 utility help can point you to local funds that do not show up in a web search. |
| City or county housing office | “Emergency home repair program” | Some local governments use housing funds for heating, electrical, roof, plumbing, or code repairs. |
| Community Action Agency | “Energy assistance and emergency repair intake” | Many local energy programs are run by Community Action. You can use Find a CAP to search by area. |
Script: calling LIHEAP or energy assistance
“I am a homeowner and my primary heating system is not working. A repair person said it may need repair or replacement. I am asking about crisis heating assistance, furnace repair, furnace replacement, or energy-related repair. What is the fastest intake step, and what proof do you need today?”
Programs that may help replace or repair a furnace
Use this section to decide which door to try first. Apply to more than one program when allowed. A waiting list at one agency does not mean another agency cannot help.
LIHEAP, HEAP, EAP, and crisis heating help
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the main federal energy help program. The LIHEAP fact sheet says LIHEAP can help with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. For a furnace emergency, the key words are “energy crisis,” “primary heat source,” “heating equipment,” “furnace repair,” and “furnace replacement.”
LIHEAP is not the same in every state. Some states pay mostly utility or fuel bills. Some also run a separate heating equipment repair program. Some programs are open only during heating season. Some keep crisis help open longer. Some pay the contractor directly. Some require one or more estimates. Some require that the furnace be the main heat source.
To find the correct office, use the LIHEAP search tool or your state human services site. If the search tool is down, call 211 and ask for your county LIHEAP intake office.
| State example | What the official page says | Why you must check locally |
|---|---|---|
| New York | The New York HERR page lists up to $4,000 for repair and $8,000 for replacement; Regular HEAP closed April 10, 2026. | The page also lists an owner-occupant and age 60 rule; other states may not. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota EAP says the 2025-2026 deadline is May 31, 2026, and lists help with heating costs and furnace repairs. | The local service provider decides intake, timing, and crisis handling. |
| Pennsylvania | The PA emergency services page lists heating repair, replacement of unrepairable systems, and gas or fuel line repair. | The 2025-2026 LIHEAP season is closed, so county rules and funding matter. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska LIHEAP lists up to $750 for furnace or central air repair or replacement and up to $5,000 through a related weatherization repair program. | It requires proof that the work is necessary. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey LIHEAP says its program includes emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance. | Applications go through local Community Action Agencies; hotline: 1-800-510-3102. |
These examples are not a promise that your state has the same help. They show why you must use your own state, county, tribe, or territory page before relying on a dollar amount or deadline.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization can help when the furnace problem is tied to energy waste or safety. The DOE WAP page says WAP reduces energy costs while supporting health and safety. Work can include an audit, air sealing, insulation, heating system work, and final inspection.
The WAP apply page says WAP is state and locally run. DOE guidelines consider households at or below 200% of poverty, or receiving SSI, eligible. States may also use LIHEAP rules, such as 60% of state median income. Priority can go to older adults, disabled people, children, high energy users, and high-burden households.
WAP is important, but it is not always fast. If you have no heat today, call the crisis energy office first, then ask if the same application also sends you to weatherization. In some places, one application connects both programs. In others, you must call a separate weatherization agency.
Script: calling weatherization
“My furnace is not working safely, and I need to know whether weatherization can inspect or help with heating system repair or replacement. I also applied for energy assistance. Can you tell me whether my case can be marked no-heat, crisis, elderly, disability, child in home, or high energy burden?”
Utility hardship funds and fuel funds
Your utility may not replace a furnace, but it may stop a shutoff, restore service, set a payment plan, or refer you to a partner fund. If you use delivered fuel, ask the supplier about crisis fuel help. A new furnace will not help if gas or electric service is disconnected.
Ask about medical certification, winter protection, senior or disability rules, reconnection help, and low-income discounts.
City, county, tribal, and local emergency repair programs
Some local governments run emergency repair, minor repair, owner-occupied rehab, or code correction programs. Furnace replacement may be allowed if failed heat makes the home unsafe, violates code, or threatens displacement.
Call the city housing department, county community development department, tribal housing office, or local housing authority. Ask for “owner-occupied emergency repair” and “heating system replacement.” If you live outside city limits, call the county. If you live on tribal land or are served by a tribal housing authority, call the tribal office even if you also apply for state LIHEAP.
USDA Section 504 for rural homeowners
If you own and live in a rural home, USDA Section 504 may be a backup. The USDA repair program allows loans for repairs and grants for elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
As of this update, USDA lists a maximum loan of $40,000 and a maximum grant of $10,000. It lists a $15,000 grant limit for homes damaged in a presidentially declared disaster area. Loans are for 20 years at a fixed 1% interest rate. Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than three years. USDA accepts applications year-round, but approval time depends on local funding.
This can help when a furnace is a health and safety hazard, but it is not usually the fastest no-heat option. Call anyway if you live in a rural area and local LIHEAP cannot cover the full replacement.
HUD Title I and FHA 203(k) loans
HUD repair loans are not emergency grants. The HUD Title I page says Title I loans can finance repairs that improve livability or utility. HUD says rates are fixed and negotiated, loans over $7,500 must be secured, and there is no prepayment penalty.
The FHA 203k program can finance repair or replacement of heating systems as part of a purchase or refinance. HUD says the Limited 203(k) can finance up to $75,000 in repairs, while the Standard 203(k) is for major work. This is a mortgage product, not a crisis repair hotline.
Nonprofit home repair groups
Nonprofits can help, but funding is limited. Habitat for Humanity’s home preservation work may use volunteer labor, donated materials, and affordable repayment. Search for a local Rebuilding Together affiliate too.
For older adults, the Eldercare Locator lists 800-677-1116 and can connect older adults and caregivers to local aging resources. It may not pay for a furnace itself, but it may know about Area Agency on Aging funds, minor repair programs, or local nonprofit repair groups.
Disaster help if the furnace failed because of a declared disaster
If a declared disaster damaged your furnace, disaster help may apply. FEMA’s Individuals program may support repair of owner-occupied primary homes when costs are uninsured or underinsured. SBA physical damage loans may allow homeowners to apply for up to $500,000 after a disaster.
Disaster help has deadlines. It also usually requires proof that the furnace damage was caused by the disaster, not normal age or poor maintenance.
Who may qualify
Each program has its own rules. Do not rule yourself out because one program says no. Income limits may use poverty guidelines, state median income, area median income, county very-low-income limits, or a local rule.
Common factors that help
- May help: low household income or fixed income.
- May help: older adult, disability, child in the home, medical need, or high energy burden.
- May help: written proof that the furnace is unsafe, failed, or unrepairable.
- May help: ownership and occupancy for furnace replacement programs.
- May hurt: starting work before the program approves it.
- May hurt: using a contractor who is not licensed, insured, or approved by the program.
| Proof you may need | Examples | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID, Social Security number, birth dates for household members | Ask if copies are enough or originals must be shown. |
| Income | Pay stubs, Social Security award letter, pension, unemployment, child support, tax return | Ask whether they need 30 days, 3 months, or a full year of proof. |
| Home status | Deed, mortgage statement, property tax bill, manufactured home title, lease, life estate, utility bill | Homeowners usually have more furnace replacement options than renters, but renters can still ask about heating safety and utility help. |
| Utility or fuel account | Gas bill, electric bill, fuel oil account, propane statement, shutoff notice | Bring the account number even if the furnace itself is the main problem. |
| Furnace problem | Technician report, red tag, carbon monoxide note, estimate, photos, model and serial number | Ask the technician to write whether the unit is unsafe, repairable, or beyond repair. |
| Priority status | Medical letter, disability proof, age proof, child in home, veteran status, code notice | Priority does not guarantee approval, but it may affect the waitlist. |
How to apply without losing time
Step 1: Get the safety facts in writing
Ask a licensed HVAC contractor, utility technician, or program-approved inspector to write what failed, whether it is unsafe, whether repair is possible, and whether it is the primary heat source.
Step 2: Call the energy assistance office before paying
Many programs will not reimburse work started before approval. Ask about approved contractors, estimate rules, and direct payment.
Step 3: Ask for all related programs in one call
Use every name: LIHEAP, HEAP, EAP, crisis, weatherization, furnace repair, heating equipment, reconnection, fuel delivery, minor home repair, and emergency repair.
Step 4: Submit a complete packet
Incomplete paperwork causes delays. Keep upload confirmations, receipts, and worker names.
Step 5: Keep a call log
Write down the date, phone number, worker name, requested documents, and next step.
Script: asking a contractor for the right estimate
“I am applying for furnace assistance. Please write the diagnosis, whether the furnace is unsafe, whether it can be repaired, and the cost of repair versus replacement. Please list permits, disposal, labor, parts, and any code-required work separately because the program may need that.”
What may be covered
Depending on the program, help may cover the furnace or boiler, key parts, thermostat, gas or fuel line repair, venting, permits, labor, disposal, and required code work. Many programs pay only for a standard safe system, not upgrades.
What may not be covered
- Work started before written approval.
- Luxury upgrades or high-efficiency add-ons that are not required by the program.
- Second homes, vacant homes, or homes being repaired for resale.
- Detached garages or non-living spaces.
- Problems caused by unpermitted work if the program cannot approve the repair.
- Repairs above the program cap unless another source pays the difference.
If you are denied, delayed, or waitlisted
Ask for the reason in writing. A denial may only mean the program needs a missing document, a clearer estimate, proof of ownership, income proof, or proof that the furnace is the main heat source.
Common mistakes that slow furnace help
- Calling it a “grant” instead of saying “no heat” or “primary heating system failed.”
- Waiting for a regular utility bill appointment when there is a heating emergency.
- Starting replacement before the program issues approval.
- Getting an estimate that says only “replace furnace” with no diagnosis.
- Forgetting to mention older adults, disability, young children, medical equipment, or code enforcement.
- Assuming the first agency knows every local fund.
If the program is closed, ask whether emergency services or local funds still exist. If the waitlist is long, ask whether no-heat cases are prioritized. If costs exceed the cap, ask whether programs can be combined.
If the denial involves a lien, title problem, contractor dispute, heirs property, manufactured home title, or threat of displacement, contact a HUD-approved counselor or legal aid. HUD lists a national housing counseling phone line at 800-569-4287 through its HUD counseling directory. The Legal Services Corporation can help you look for local civil legal aid.
Backup options when the house is too cold tonight
If you cannot safely stay in the home, call 211 and ask about warming centers, emergency shelter, hotel vouchers, faith-based help, and senior or disability services. If an older adult is at risk, call the Eldercare Locator. If a child, medically fragile adult, or disabled person is in the home, say that clearly.
Protect pipes only if it is safe. Open sink cabinets, drip faucets if advised locally, or shut off water if you know how. Do not risk carbon monoxide, fire, or shock to save plumbing.
Tip: Ask the energy office if they can provide a temporary safe heater while the furnace repair is reviewed. Some local programs can loan a safe temporary heat source when a primary heating system fails. Others cannot.
Scams, contractor pressure, and bad financing
A furnace emergency makes people vulnerable. The FTC scam guide warns that home improvement scammers may pressure you for an immediate decision, ask for all money upfront, say they have leftover materials, or suggest a lender they know.
Be careful if a contractor says this
- “I can guarantee you a government furnace grant.”
- “Sign today or the price disappears.”
- “Pay cash now and the agency will reimburse you later.”
- “You do not need permits.”
- “Put the loan in your name and the grant will pay it off.”
- “Do not call LIHEAP; I handle all of that.”
Before signing, ask for the contractor’s license, insurance, written estimate, permit plan, warranty, cancellation rights, and whether the contractor is approved by the assistance program. If a contractor, lender, or caller seems fraudulent, report it to ReportFraud.gov and check your state consumer office.
Be careful with high-interest financing, rent-to-own HVAC offers, and loans that add a lien. Compare total cost, payment, rate, fees, lien terms, and what happens if you fall behind.
FAQ
Can LIHEAP replace a furnace?
Sometimes. LIHEAP can address energy crises and minor energy-related home repairs, but each state, tribe, or territory sets its own rules. Some states have specific heating equipment repair or replacement benefits. Others may focus on bills, fuel, or reconnection.
Is furnace replacement free?
It may be no-cost in some cases, but do not assume that. Some programs pay the contractor directly. Some have caps. Some require a homeowner share, a loan, a lien, or repayment if the home is sold soon after the work.
Should I call weatherization or LIHEAP first?
If there is no heat or the furnace is unsafe, call LIHEAP or your local energy crisis office first. Then call weatherization. In some places, one application connects both programs.
Can renters get furnace replacement help?
Renters usually cannot replace a furnace themselves because the landlord owns the system. Renters can still call LIHEAP for bill or crisis help, call code enforcement for unsafe heat, contact legal aid, and ask 211 for tenant resources.
What if my furnace is old but still works?
An old furnace alone may not qualify as an emergency. Weatherization, utility rebates, local rehab, or a planned repair program may be more realistic than crisis replacement unless the system is unsafe, failed, or too costly to repair.
Can I get reimbursed after I already replaced the furnace?
Often no. Many programs require approval before work starts and may require approved contractors. Ask the agency before paying. If you already paid, still ask, but do not count on reimbursement.
About This Guide
HomeRepairGrants.org wrote this guide to help homeowners understand realistic emergency furnace repair and replacement options. This guide uses official federal, state, local, and high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
HomeRepairGrants.org is not a government agency, does not guarantee eligibility, and is not legal, financial, tax, medical, insurance, disability-rights, or government-agency advice. Program rules, funding, forms, income limits, phone numbers, and deadlines can change. Always confirm details with the agency that serves your address before you rely on a rule or spend money.
Corrections: Email info@homerepairgrants.org with corrections.
Next review: August 17, 2026