Furnace Repair in Ottawa
Fast diagnosis and repairs on every make and model, by licensed gas technicians
- 5.0 · 578 Google reviews
- TSSA & HRAI approved
- 24/7 emergency service
- Family-owned since 2014
Fast diagnosis and repairs on every make and model, by licensed gas technicians
- Free quotes on any equipment purchase
- Financing from $49/month (OAC)
- All makes and models serviced
Furnace repair in Ottawa for every make and model
We repair natural gas, propane and electric furnaces in upflow, horizontal and downflow configurations, from 20-year-old mid-efficiency units to current modulating models. Lennox, Goodman, Carrier, Trane, York, Keeprite, Amana and others all come through our service calls.
A good repair starts with a real diagnosis, not a guess. Our technicians read the furnace’s fault code, watch a full ignition sequence, and test the part they suspect before replacing it. Gas pressure and combustion are checked on every heating call because a furnace that starts is not always a furnace that is burning safely.
Phil G. described a recent visit this way: “Mansoor was incredibly fast to respond, offered help over the phone and came over the following morning. He’s a total pro, diagnosed the problem within a few minutes…”
Common furnace problems, symptoms and typical repair costs
These are the repairs we see most often in Ottawa homes, with typical price ranges. You approve the price before the repair goes ahead.
| Problem | What you notice | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dirty or failed flame sensor | Burners light, then shut off after a few seconds; furnace retries and locks out | $150 – $300 |
| Failed hot-surface ignitor | Inducer runs, clicks, but burners never light | $200 – $450 |
| Pressure switch fault or blocked vent | Inducer hums, no ignition; often after a snowstorm buries the side-wall vents | $150 – $450 |
| Clogged condensate trap or drain | Water around the furnace, gurgling, or a furnace that shuts down on cold mornings | $150 – $350 |
| Weak blower capacitor | Humming, slow-starting blower, little air from vents | $150 – $400 |
| High-limit switch tripping | Short heating cycles; usually caused by a clogged filter or closed vents | $200 – $450 |
| Gas valve failure | Ignitor glows, no flame; or burners will not shut off | $450 – $900 |
| Inducer motor | Loud whine or rattle at start-up, then a lockout | $600 – $2,000 |
| Blower motor | Burners run but no air moves, or a burning-electrical smell | $600 – $2,000 |
| Control board | Erratic behaviour, no response to the thermostat, dead status light | $600 – $2,000 |
| Cracked heat exchanger | CO alarm, soot, a yellow or wavering flame | Usually means replacement |
Ranges are typical for Ottawa and vary by brand and part availability. Parts on furnaces under manufacturer warranty may be covered, so have your installation paperwork handy.
Problems that show up in Ottawa’s deep cold
Some failures cluster on the coldest weeks of the year. Side-wall intake and exhaust pipes get buried by snowbanks or capped with frost, and the furnace locks out on its pressure switch. Condensate lines that pass through a garage or unheated crawlspace freeze and back up.
A furnace that has been oversized or neglected may run fine in November and then fail when it is asked to run for hours at −28 °C. If your furnace keeps locking out in a cold snap, the cause is usually one of these, and most are inexpensive to correct.
We also repair the equipment attached to your furnace: humidifiers, condensate pumps, thermostats and wiring, and the AC coil that sits above it. For hot water heat, see boiler repair; for ducted heat pumps, see heat pump repair.
Check these before you call
A surprising number of no-heat calls end with one of these. They take five minutes and are safe for any homeowner.
Thermostat
Set to Heat, set a few degrees above room temperature, and replace the batteries if the screen is blank or dim.
Learn more →Furnace filter
A clogged filter overheats the furnace and trips the limit switch. Hold it to a light; if you cannot see through it, replace it.
Learn more →Power switch and breaker
The switch near the furnace looks like a light switch and must be on. Check the breaker panel for a tripped furnace breaker.
Outside vents
The two white PVC pipes on the side of the house must be clear of snow and ice. In heavy snow, check them every couple of hours.
Furnace door
The blower door has a safety switch. If the panel is loose or was removed for a filter change, the furnace will not run.
Learn more →Status light
Count the blinks on the control board's LED through the window in the door. That code tells our technician where to start.
What the noises and smells are telling you
Your furnace often warns you before it fails. Here is how to read the common signs.
Repeated clicking without ignition
Usually the ignitor or flame sensor. Book a repair.
A boom or bang when burners light
Delayed ignition, where gas builds up before lighting. Turn the furnace off and call; this stresses the heat exchanger.
High-pitched squeal or grinding
Blower or inducer motor bearings wearing out.
Rattling
A loose panel, a failing inducer, or a loose part inside the blower housing.
Dusty burning smell on the first cold day
Normal for the first hour of the season as dust burns off.
Hot electrical or burning-plastic smell
Shut the furnace off at the switch and call us.
Rotten egg smell
Possible gas leak. Leave the house and call Enbridge at 1-866-763-5427 and 911 from outside.
Our guide to furnace noises and what they mean covers more sounds. If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, read our furnace carbon monoxide safety page.
Repair or replace? A practical rule of thumb
Age matters more than any single repair bill. Use these bands as a starting point, and we will give you an honest opinion on the day.
Under 10 years old
Repair almost every time. Check whether the part is still under the manufacturer's parts warranty.
10 to 15 years old
Repair, unless it is a major part on top of other recent repairs.
Over 15 years old
If the repair is over about $1,000, it is the second major repair in two winters, or the heat exchanger is cracked, get a replacement estimate first.
Another quick test: multiply the furnace’s age by the repair cost. If the result is over $5,000 on a furnace older than 12 years, replacement usually wins. A 17-year-old furnace needing a $900 control board scores 15,300, so it is time to compare.
A new high-efficiency furnace typically costs $4,500 – $8,500 installed, and financing starts at $49/month on approved credit. See how long a furnace lasts and our furnace installation page for options.
How a furnace repair visit works
- 1
Tell us what is happening
Call (613) 866-1869 with the symptoms, the status light code if you can see it, and the make on the furnace label. We often help troubleshoot over the phone first.
- 2
Safety check first
On arrival the technician checks for gas leaks and carbon monoxide before working on the furnace.
- 3
Diagnose the fault
We test components with a meter and watch the full sequence of operation rather than swapping parts on a hunch.
- 4
Explain and price
You hear what failed, why, and what it costs to fix. If replacement is worth considering, we say so plainly.
- 5
Repair and test
Common parts are often replaced on the same visit; specialty parts are ordered. We then run the furnace through full heating cycles.
- 6
Prevent the next one
If a dirty filter, blocked vent or missed tune-up caused the problem, we show you how to avoid a repeat.
24/7 emergency furnace repair across Ottawa
- Call (613) 866-1869 any time, day or night
- Same-day repair service often available
- Licensed gas technicians; all makes and models
- 5.0-star Google rating from 578 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from licensed Ottawa technicians. Still have a question? Call us any time.
How much does furnace repair cost in Ottawa?
Most furnace repairs in Ottawa cost $150 to $900, for parts like flame sensors, ignitors, pressure switches, capacitors and condensate drains. Major components such as a blower motor, control board or inducer motor typically run $600 to $2,000. The final cost depends on the brand, the part and whether it is still under manufacturer warranty.
Why does my furnace turn on and then shut off after a few seconds?
The most common cause is a dirty flame sensor. The furnace lights, cannot confirm the flame, and shuts the gas off as a safety measure, often retrying three times before locking out. Cleaning or replacing the sensor usually fixes it. A blocked vent, low gas pressure or poor grounding can cause the same symptom.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
Check that the thermostat fan is set to Auto, not On, since On runs the blower even when the burners are off. If it is on Auto, the furnace may have failed to light or locked out on a safety, such as a tripped limit switch from a dirty filter, or a blocked vent. The status light code helps narrow it down.
Is a furnace leaking water a problem?
Yes, and it should be looked at soon. High-efficiency furnaces make condensate, which drains through a trap and hose. A clogged trap, cracked drain line, failed condensate pump or a leaking AC coil above the furnace can all cause water on the floor. Left alone, the water can damage the control board and shut the furnace down.
Should I repair or replace a 15-year-old furnace?
At 15 years, a furnace is near the end of its normal 15 to 20 year life in Ottawa. Small repairs under a few hundred dollars are usually still worth doing. If the repair is over about $1,000, it is the second major failure in two winters, or the heat exchanger is cracked, compare it with a replacement estimate first.
Can you repair my furnace the same day?
Same-day repair service is often available in Ottawa, depending on the time of your call and the season. Many common parts can be replaced on the first visit, while brand-specific parts may need to be ordered. For no-heat situations at night or on weekends, Oria offers 24/7 emergency service at (613) 866-1869.
What brands of furnaces do you repair?
Oria repairs all makes and models of gas, propane and electric furnaces, including Lennox, Goodman, Carrier, Trane, York, Keeprite and Amana. We are a Lennox authorized dealer, and our technicians hold gas licences. Older and discontinued models can still often be repaired with universal replacement parts when original parts are no longer made.
Book Service or Get a Free Quote
Tell us what is going on and we will call you back with honest advice and a written estimate. Financing from $49/month on approved credit.
- Licensed gas & refrigeration technicians
- 5.0 stars from 578 Google reviews
- 24/7 emergency service
5.0 Stars from Ottawa Homeowners
Every review below is from a real Oria customer on Google.
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Serving Ottawa, Gatineau and the Surrounding Area
Based at 925 Longfields Dr in Nepean, our technicians cover the whole capital region.