Heating

Furnace repair in Ottawa

When the furnace quits in January, you want it found and fixed, not guessed at. We diagnose the actual fault, explain it in plain words, and tell you the cost before we start.

Free estimate Call a licensed tech613-315-7325

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Licensed technicians
Free estimates

01Is it time?

Call for a furnace repair if…

01 The furnace runs but the air from the vents is cool or lukewarm.
02 It turns on and off every few minutes without warming the house.
03 You hear banging, squealing, grinding or a loud boom when it lights.
04 The furnace won't start at all, or the display shows an error code.
05 Your carbon monoxide alarm has gone off, or the burner flame looks yellow and lazy.
06 There's water pooling around the furnace or the condensate line has frozen.

02The install

What happens on a furnace repair call

Most furnace problems come down to a handful of parts. We test, rather than swap parts until something works.

Full diagnosis

We read the control board's fault codes and test the igniter, flame sensor, pressure switch, inducer motor, blower and limit switches to find the real cause.

Safety checks

We check for gas leaks, test for carbon monoxide around the furnace, and look at the heat exchanger and venting. If something is unsafe, we'll tell you straight away.

Airflow and filter

A plugged filter or closed-off returns cause a lot of overheating and shutdowns. We check airflow before blaming a part.

Venting and drain

On high-efficiency furnaces, we check the plastic vent pipes outside for snow or ice and clear the condensate trap and drain.

Upfront cost

Once we know what's wrong, we explain the repair and the cost before doing the work. You decide whether to go ahead.

Test run

After the repair we run the furnace through a full heating cycle and confirm it's lighting, heating and shutting off normally.

04Options

Repair it or replace it?

Most furnace calls end in a straightforward repair. When they don't, these are the paths we'll lay out.

Straight repair

Best for: Furnaces under about 12 years old with a single failed part

Igniters, flame sensors, pressure switches, inducer motors and control boards fail on otherwise healthy furnaces. Fix the part and the furnace has plenty of life left.

Repair now, plan ahead

Best for: Older furnaces still in safe working condition

If the furnace is 15 years or older but the repair is modest, it often makes sense to fix it and get it through the season, then plan a replacement without the pressure of a cold house.

Replace

Best for: Cracked heat exchangers, repeated failures, very old units

A cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue and usually ends the furnace's life. If repair costs are climbing on an old unit, putting that money into a new furnace is often the better deal.

05How it works

From first call to first cold night

1
Call us
Tell us what the furnace is doing, any error codes or noises, and how old it is. It helps us bring the right parts.
2
Diagnosis
A licensed technician tests the furnace and finds the cause, then walks you through what's wrong.
3
Your decision
We give you the cost of the repair and, if the furnace is near the end, an honest comparison with replacing it.
4
Repair and test
We fix it, run a full heating cycle and check the safety controls before we leave.

What does furnace repair cost?

It depends on the part and how long the job takes. A dirty flame sensor or a plugged drain is a small fix. A blower motor, inducer motor or control board costs more, and some parts for older or less common furnaces take longer to source.

Either way, we tell you the cost before we do the repair.

Rebates & financing

Repairs don't qualify for rebates. If the furnace needs replacing, a new high-efficiency furnace or heat pump may qualify for current programs, and we'll check during the estimate.

Current programs

FAQ

Furnace Repair: common questions

Not covered here? Call 613-315-7325 and ask a technician.

Why is my furnace blowing cold air?

Common causes are a dirty flame sensor that shuts the burner off, a failed igniter, a blocked vent pipe on a high-efficiency furnace, or a thermostat set to fan "on" instead of "auto". Check the thermostat and filter first. If that's not it, call us.

Why does my furnace keep turning on and off?

Short cycling is usually caused by a plugged filter, a dirty flame sensor, an overheating furnace tripping its limit switch, or an oversized furnace. It wastes gas and wears out parts, so it's worth having checked.

What should I do if I smell gas?

Don't touch light switches or start anything that could spark. Get everyone outside, then call your gas utility's emergency line or 911 from outside the house. Once the gas supply has been made safe, call us to repair the cause.

My carbon monoxide alarm went off. What now?

Get everyone out into fresh air and call 911 or the fire department. Don't go back in until they say it's safe. Then have the furnace and any other gas appliances inspected before using them again.

Can snow cause my furnace to stop?

Yes. High-efficiency furnaces vent through plastic pipes on an outside wall. If snow or ice blocks the intake or exhaust, the furnace shuts down for safety. Clearing the pipes after a storm often gets it running again.

Is it worth repairing a 20-year-old furnace?

Sometimes, for a small part. But at that age, more parts are close to failing and a new furnace will use noticeably less gas. If the repair is significant, we'll show you both options side by side.