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Oria Heating and Cooling
The best HVAC service at an affordable price.
Repair or Replace Your AC or Furnace? A Simple Decision Guide
Quick answer: To decide whether to repair or replace your AC or furnace, multiply the equipment's age by the repair cost. Under $5,000, repair usually makes sense; over $5,000, replacement is usually smarter. Replace right away for a cracked heat exchanger, a failed...
8 Signs Your AC Needs Repair or Replacement Now
Quick answer: The main signs your AC needs repair are warm air, weak airflow, grinding or banging noises, ice or hissing, a burning smell or tripping breaker, water leaks, and short cycling. Replacement is usually smarter when the unit is over 12–15 years old, uses...
Goodman vs Lennox: Which HVAC System Is Better? (2026)
Quick answer: Goodman vs Lennox comes down to priorities. Lennox offers higher peak efficiency (furnaces up to 99% AFUE, ACs up to 26 SEER2), quieter operation and more cold-climate heat pumps. Goodman costs less to install and backs registered furnaces with a...
Why Is My AC Vibrating or Rattling? Causes and Fixes
Quick answer: An AC usually vibrates or rattles because of debris in the outdoor fan, loose panels or screws, a pad that has settled out of level, a bent fan blade, worn fan motor bearings, refrigerant lines touching the house, or a compressor with worn mounts or...
Why Is My House So Hot With the AC On? 10 Causes and Fixes
Quick answer: If your house is hot with the AC on, the usual causes are a dirty filter, a frozen or dirty coil, a clogged outdoor unit, low refrigerant, a thermostat problem, leaky or undersized ducts, or an AC that is too small for the house. Upstairs rooms also run...
Is Regular HVAC Maintenance Worth It? Costs vs Savings
Quick answer: Yes, for most Ottawa homes regular HVAC maintenance is worth it. A furnace or AC tune-up costs $120 to $200 per system, while common repairs run $150 to $1,200 and major parts up to $3,500. Yearly service catches cheap failures early, keeps efficiency...
21 AC Maintenance and Home Cooling Tips for Ottawa Summers
Quick answer: The most useful AC maintenance tips are to change the furnace filter, keep 60 cm clear around the outdoor unit, rinse cottonwood fluff off the coil in June, keep the condensate drain flowing, run the fan on Auto at 24–25 °C, and book a $120 – $200 spring...
Signs You Need Boiler Repair (and What They Mean)
Quick answer: The main signs you need boiler repair are cold radiators or floors, pressure below about 12 psi or above 25 psi, a dripping relief valve, banging or kettling noises, water leaks, frequent lockouts and rising gas bills. A yellow or orange burner flame, a...
Gas Furnace vs Heat Pump in Ottawa
Quick answer: For most Ottawa homes on natural gas, the best answer in 2026 is not either-or: a cold-climate heat pump paired with a high-efficiency gas furnace. The heat pump heats and cools efficiently most of the year, and the furnace takes over on the coldest...
Boiler vs Furnace: Which Is Better for Your Ottawa Home?
Quick answer: In the boiler vs furnace choice, Ottawa homes with ductwork usually do better with a furnace: it costs less to install ($4,500 – $8,500), adds central air or a heat pump easily, and filters your air. A boiler suits homes with radiators or in-floor...
Furnace Filters: MERV Ratings and How Often to Change Them
Quick answer: Change a standard 1-inch furnace filter every 1 to 3 months, and a 4- or 5-inch media filter every 6 to 12 months. Most Ottawa homes do best with a MERV 8 to MERV 11 filter. Change it monthly during peak winter and summer, or more often with pets,...
Ideal Indoor Humidity in Ottawa Winters
Quick answer: The ideal indoor humidity in an Ottawa winter is about 30–40% on mild days, dropping to 25% around −20 °C and 20% near −30 °C. Lower the setting as it gets colder to avoid window condensation and mould. A furnace humidifier keeps humidity steady, but its...
Ottawa Choice Award 2022
Best Air Conditioning Repair
3rd Place













