Ann Arbor particulars
Ann Arbor runs its own heat pump rebate. The A2ZERO Home Energy Rebates, funded by the 2022 Community Climate Action Millage, list cold-climate heat pumps at up to $5,500 (market rate $4,000) and ductwork at up to $2,500, capped at 90 percent of cost. You must own or rent a home in the city, use a contractor, and supply a Manual J and an AHRI certificate for heat pumps. Checks arrive 6 to 8 weeks after approval, and the page carries no closure notice or date, so confirm it is open.
The Ann Arbor University of Michigan station shows about 6,501 heating degree days a year (base 65 F). DTE Electric and DTE Gas are the only electric and gas utilities whose territory covers the city, so DTE's furnace and heat pump pages apply as well. Mechanical permits go through STREAM, which the city calls its trade permit system, from Building, Rental and Inspection Services, 734-794-6263; allow 24 to 48 hours for review.
About 64.3 percent of homes predate 1980. For rentals, the city has adopted an ordinance requiring carbon monoxide detection in all rental properties. Ypsilanti is the closest neighbor. The heat pump page explains cold-weather performance.
Emergency HVAC in Ann Arbor: what to know
DTE's instruction for a suspected leak is to get out, call 911 from a safe place and then phone the gas leak hotline at (800) 947-5000, free and staffed all day and night. For a carbon monoxide alarm, DTE says to leave the building, call 911, and stay out until responders or DTE clear it. Both utilities covering Ann Arbor, gas and electric, are DTE, so one company handles either failure.
Landlords carry an extra duty here: Ann Arbor adopted an ordinance requiring carbon monoxide detection in all rental properties, and a dwelling cannot be leased without a Certificate of Compliance in effect. For heat lost to a billing problem, see our winter utility shutoff guide. Replacement furnaces go through STREAM at Building, Rental and Inspection Services, and trade permits wait on any building permit tied to the job.
Permits for emergency hvac in Ann Arbor
LARA's permit rule excepts replacement of minor parts, so an emergency part swap generally needs none.
What counts as an emergency
- You smell gas: leave, call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
- A carbon monoxide alarm sounds or several people feel flu-like without a fever.
- No heat but the house is not yet cold, with no smell and no alarm: check the thermostat and filter, then book a visit.
- A noisy furnace that still heats.
Checks while you wait
Try this first: if you rent and the alarm keeps chirping, tell the landlord in writing the same day and keep a copy.
- Set the thermostat to heat, above the room temperature, with fresh batteries if it takes them.
- Change or clean the filter; ENERGY STAR says monthly.
- Note any light pattern or code on the furnace and stop; do not remove panels or relight after any gas smell.
What emergency hvac costs
The estimate below is the Michigan-wide one, adjusted for Michigan wages and not for Ann Arbor in particular. The same table is on the emergency hvac page. How we estimate costs. Prices as of Oct 19, 2026.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $120 to $285 per hour of labor, before any call-out fee | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Michigan HVAC technician wage ratio (1.00). |
| Technician wage, Michigan mean | $31.01 an hour | Technician pay (BLS, May 2025), not a price. |
| Technician wage, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn mean | $32.06 an hour | Technician pay, not a price. |
| Technician wage, Grand Rapids-Kentwood mean | $30.86 an hour | Technician pay, not a price. |
| Furnace replacement permit, Grand Rapids | $21 plus a $52 application | If the repair becomes a replacement. Effective July 1, 2026. |
How we estimate costs: the figures here are estimates, not quotes, built from BLS wages, published city permit fees and federal energy-cost evidence. We are collecting the prices Michigan heating and cooling companies publish; we have not yet collected quotes from them, and we will say how many and from when once we do. Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (1 source), adjusted by Michigan's HVAC technician wage ratio to the US (1.00, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. We have too few Michigan company prices yet to show a range. Full method.
Questions about emergency hvac
What counts as an emergency HVAC repair?
Those go to 911 and your gas utility first. A furnace that has stopped in freezing weather is urgent but is a call to a heating company once you are sure there is no smell and no alarm.
What should I do if I smell gas near my furnace?
DTE and Consumers Energy both say 911 first. Do not look for the source or use switches, appliances or phones inside, and stay out until responders or the utility say it is safe.
Can I cancel a repair contract signed during an emergency?
Michigan law lets a buyer cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day, but not when you request the work without delay because of an emergency and the conditions are met. It covers sales solicited at your home, which is our reading of the statute.