Amin and team were quick and thorough diagnosing and repairing the furnace. Response time was also very timely. Will recommend and use again.
Furnace died on a 20Β° Detroit night? We get it β heat isn’t optional in Michigan winter. Big Mike’s provides same-day furnace repair across Wayne, Macomb & Oakland County. We diagnose the problem, give you upfront pricing, and have you warm again β usually that same visit. CO testing registered, BBB Accredited, 20+ years experience.
No heat right now?
(313) 398-0504
BBBAccreditedBusiness
Gas furnace work requires licensed technicians β fly-by-night handymen can’t legally touch gas appliances in Michigan. Big Mike’s is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business with verified credentials. View our profile before letting anyone work on your furnace.
View Our BBB Profile →Michigan winters are brutal on furnaces β they run hard for months and they fail in predictable ways. Here are the most common furnace problems we diagnose in Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland County homes. If yours is doing one of these, we can usually fix it same day.
Big Mike’s repairs gas, propane, and electric furnaces plus hot water and steam boilers. Licensed for gas appliance work in Michigan, registered for CO testing β everything required to do furnace work the right way.
The #1 cause of “no heat” calls. Same-day replacement on all major brands. $150-$400.
Draft inducer and blower motor diagnosis and replacement. Restores proper airflow and combustion.
Failed control boards cause every kind of weird symptom. We diagnose and replace with OEM parts.
Gas valve replacement, thermocouple service, pilot ignition repair. Licensed for gas appliance work.
Faulty thermostats fake a dozen problems. We diagnose and replace including smart thermostats.
Cracked heat exchangers leak CO into your home. We inspect, test, and recommend repair or replace honestly.
Hot water and steam boiler service for older Detroit homes. Circulator pumps, expansion tanks, controls.
Pre-winter tune-up. Cleaning, inspection, combustion analysis, CO testing. Prevents 80% of breakdowns.
Real reviews from Detroit Metro customers β heavy on furnace work since winter is when Big Mike’s earns its reputation.
Amin and team were quick and thorough diagnosing and repairing the furnace. Response time was also very timely. Will recommend and use again.
GREAT SERVICE! Came in a timely fashion, figured out the problem in 2 minutes and the furnace was up and running in 15 minutes.
Great price. I called Big Mikes on a Friday night, he came out the same night and had my furnace working after hours! Highly recommend.
Fast and reliable! Had my heat back up and running in about 30 mins!
Real answers from 20+ years of Detroit Metro furnace experience. Don’t see your question? Call (313) 398-0504 β talking is free.
Big Mike’s offers same-day furnace repair across Detroit Metro Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET. No-heat calls during Michigan winter get top priority β most Wayne County calls are on-site within 2-4 hours.
Call (313) 398-0504 and we’ll dispatch immediately if available. Calling at 4:50 PM on a freezing Saturday with no heat? We’ll still pick up.
Furnace repair pricing depends on the failed part. Typical Detroit furnace repair costs:
β’ Service call/diagnostic: $79 (credited toward repair)
β’ Flame sensor cleaning or replacement: $150-$300 (very common)
β’ Hot surface igniter: $180-$400
β’ Thermocouple replacement: $150-$300
β’ Pressure switch: $200-$400
β’ Capacitor replacement: $150-$300
β’ Inducer motor: $400-$800
β’ Blower motor: $400-$900
β’ Gas valve: $400-$800
β’ Control board: $500-$900
β’ Heat exchanger: $1,500-$3,000+ (often replace furnace instead)
We always provide a written estimate before any work.
Most common causes when a furnace runs but doesn’t produce heat:
1. Dirty flame sensor β most common β preventing ignition cycle from completing. $150-$300 to clean or replace.
2. Failed hot surface igniter β $180-$400. Common after 5-7 years of use.
3. Closed or blocked gas valve β $400-$800.
4. Clogged condensate drain in high-efficiency furnaces causing lockout.
5. Failed pressure switch or stuck draft inducer.
6. Tripped high-limit safety from dirty filter restricting airflow. Try replacing the filter first.
7. Bad thermostat.
We diagnose all of these in one $79 service call.
Short-cycling means your furnace shuts off before reaching set temperature and restarts repeatedly. Common causes:
β’ Dirty air filter restricting airflow causing high-limit trips β check this first, replace if dirty
β’ Oversized furnace cycling on/off rapidly
β’ Thermostat issue or poor location (near a register, in sunlight)
β’ Cracked heat exchanger causing safety shutoff β this is dangerous and the furnace should be inspected immediately
β’ Failing flame sensor reading intermittently
β’ Bad pressure switch
Short-cycling wears out parts fast and increases gas bills. Get it diagnosed soon β running it like this damages the heat exchanger over time.
Furnace noises tell us what’s failing:
β’ Clicking that doesn’t progress to ignition: Failed igniter or gas valve trying to fire
β’ Repeated clicking with no flame: Flame sensor or ignition control issue
β’ Loud bang on startup: Delayed ignition β dangerous, shut down and call us
β’ Banging in ductwork: Normal expansion, but could indicate undersized return
β’ Squealing on blower startup: Belt or bearing failure on motor
β’ Grinding: Motor bearings failing
β’ Whistling: Air leak or clogged filter
β’ Persistent rattling: Loose panel or burner
Most furnace noises mean a small part is about to fail β cheaper to fix now than after total failure.
This is an emergency that requires immediate action β not normal HVAC repair.
1. Get everyone out of the house.
2. Do not turn switches on or off, do not light matches.
3. From outside, call your gas company:
β’ DTE: 800-477-4747
β’ Consumers Energy: 800-477-5050
They respond 24/7.
4. Call 911 if anyone feels unwell, dizzy, or short of breath.
5. Once the gas company has cleared the house safe, call us to fix the underlying furnace issue.
We’re registered for CO testing and gas appliance inspection.
If your furnace is blowing cold air, the issue is usually one of these:
1. Thermostat fan set to ON instead of AUTO β blower runs continuously even when burners are off. Easy fix.
2. Pilot light is out (older furnaces) or igniter has failed (newer ones).
3. Tripped flame rollout switch from blocked exhaust.
4. Bad gas valve β electrical signal good but gas not flowing.
5. Dirty flame sensor causing burners to shut off shortly after ignition.
6. Overheated high-limit switch (usually from dirty filter).
Most fixes run $150-$400. Quick first check: replace the air filter and switch thermostat fan from ON to AUTO. If that doesn’t fix it, call us.
General rules for the repair-vs-replace decision:
β’ Under 12 years old + repair under $500: Repair
β’ 12-18 years old + repair under $800: Usually still repair
β’ 18+ years old + any major repair: Replacement math usually wins
β’ Cracked heat exchanger: Replace immediately for safety, never patch
Replacement math gets attractive fast with:
β’ DTE rebates: $150-$500
β’ Federal 25C credit: up to $600 on 97%+ AFUE units
β’ Combined: up to $1,100 back
β’ A modern 95% AFUE furnace saves roughly $200/year vs. an old 80% unit in Detroit gas costs
See our Furnace Installation page for full replacement details and the rebate stack.
The $79 covers a licensed Big Mike’s technician coming to your home, fully diagnosing the furnace problem (combustion check, electrical test, gas pressure, flame inspection, safety controls), and providing a written estimate before any repair work begins.
If you approve the repair that same visit, the $79 is credited toward the repair total β so you only pay for the fix, not the trip. No hidden fees, no “while I’m here” upsells.
Same rate for emergency winter calls as routine maintenance β no surcharges.
Some furnace issues are minor and others are dangerous.
Stop running the furnace and call immediately if:
β’ You smell gas (call gas company first)
β’ CO detector is alarming
β’ You see soot around the furnace or registers
β’ The furnace makes a loud bang or boom on startup (delayed ignition)
β’ Flames are yellow instead of blue
β’ You find visible cracks on the heat exchanger
β’ Family members have unexplained headaches, nausea, or dizziness
Routine issues that can usually wait until morning:
β’ Occasional short-cycling
β’ Blower running too long
β’ Slight increase in gas bills
β’ Mild noises
When in doubt, shut it down and call us β cheaper to have a cold house overnight than a CO emergency.
All major furnace brands β Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Bryant, Rheem, York, Goodman, American Standard, Heil, Amana, Ruud, Payne, Coleman, and International Comfort Products (ICP).
We’re authorized dealers for Carrier, Lennox, and Bryant, so we have direct parts access and best warranty rates. Even off-brand and older systems β if your furnace is 20+ years old, send us the nameplate info when you call and we’ll confirm parts availability.
Same service for high-efficiency 95%+ AFUE furnaces and older 80% AFUE units, plus hot water and steam boilers for older Detroit homes.
Yes β fully credentialed:
β’ Michigan Mechanical Licensed (required for any HVAC work including gas appliances)
β’ EPA 608 Certified (required for refrigerant handling)
β’ Registered for CO testing (important for gas furnace work)
β’ BBB Accredited Business (Eastern Michigan)
β’ Fully insured with general liability and workers comp
β’ Registered with all Wayne County cities
License numbers available on request. Many handymen aren’t licensed to work on gas furnaces in Michigan β it’s illegal for them, dangerous for you.