Common furnace problems we fix in Nanaimo.
- No heat at all: a failed igniter or thermocouple, a tripped high-limit switch, a dead blower motor, or on oil furnaces a clogged nozzle or failed cad cell. Most are same-day repairs.
- Runs but the house stays cold: a cracked heat exchanger, a dirty filter starving airflow, or ductwork leaking into the crawlspace. A cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue and we will say so plainly.
- Short-cycling: an overheating furnace shutting itself down. Usually airflow, sometimes a failing limit switch.
- Strange smells or soot: on oil furnaces a sign of poor combustion; on gas a reason to shut it down and call. We carry combustion analysers, not just a nose.
- Noisy start-up: delayed ignition, a failing inducer motor or loose ductwork. Bangs at start-up are worth a look before they cost a heat exchanger.
When it is replacement time
A furnace past fifteen years, with a cracked heat exchanger, or facing a repair that costs a third of a new unit is usually done. Here is what most Nanaimo homeowners are not told: a new gas or oil furnace earns no BC rebate, but replacing it with a cold-climate heat pump can earn up to $13,000 income-qualified, and emergency replacement of a broken system still qualifies. The heat pump also cools your house in summer. We show you both numbers side by side and let you decide. Heat pump versus furnace in BC →