Averagely, the cost of furnace repair in Ontario ranges from $150 to $500. Depending on the type of furnace you use, it may cost you more or less to fix your furnace.
Having a malfunctioning furnace can be so frustrating especially during the cold months. Also, what can be more frustrating is not knowing the cost of a furnace repair.
All that is about to change as this article discusses furnace repair pricing in Ontario. Taking proper care of your furnace is one way to avoid furnace issues. However, it’s usual for old furnaces to begin to act up. If you’re having recurring furnace problems, it may be your furnace telling you it’s due for a change.
It’s always a great idea to bear in mind the factors that affect the cost of a furnace repair. This prevents you from thinking you’re being ripped off. Here we will discuss the factors that combine to make up the cost of a furnace repair.
Perhaps more importantly, we will hand out tips on how to clean and maintain your furnace. This way, the next time your furnace develops a fault, it won’t be expensive to fix it!
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Causes of Common Furnace Problems
Not giving your furnace the attention it needs may lead to it developing problems. One way to prevent furnace problems is proper maintenance. Also, having the right knowledge of the causes of furnace problems can help cut down on repair expenses. You just may reduce the cost of your furnace repair if you notice operational problems on time.
Additionally, one mistake many homeowners make is ignoring the sound their furnace makes. Hearing a loud noise from your furnace is usually an indicator that it is due for repairs. Other factors to note include:
Poor maintenance
Monitoring your furnace is maintaining it. To avoid repairing your furnace often, maintain it by:
- Checking the furnace filter for leaks
- Changing the furnace filter
- Monitoring the filter usage
Incorporate these practices into your regular maintenance and keep your furnace working perfectly.
Wrong installation
Seeing that it costs a lot to purchase your furnace, it’s only right that you hire professionals for furnace installation in Ontario. Aside from proper installation, you’ll need to see to it that your furnace is working well. We don’t recommend doing it yourself as you may be unaware of the proper installation process.
It becomes even more important to hire a professional if you’re using a gas furnace. Gas furnaces can be rather complicated and you won’t want any gas leaks.
Clogged or dirty filter
One thing a dirty filter does is reduce the efficiency of your furnace. It reduces the heat, the air quality and makes it perform poorly. Ultimately, dirty or clogged filters will lead to a faulty furnace. Always ensure you change your furnace filter monthly or every three months.
Thermostat problems
It’s not unusual for your furnace thermostat to break down. When it does, it begins to affect how it controls heating cycles. To avoid escalating the cost of furnace repair, get a new thermostat for your furnace. You can then move on to set it according to your preference.
Noisy furnace
Your furnace has a way of drawing your attention to its needs. When you begin to hear unusual sounds from your furnace, you can be sure it needs repairs. Rattle noises, squeaking or rumbling noises are peculiar to a faulty furnace. You can either try to fix it yourself (if it’s a minor problem) or hire a professional.
Poorly kept flame sensor
Every furnace comes with a flame sensor. This safety feature ensures that the furnace doesn’t use up gas while the flame is out. However, the flame sensor won’t function properly if it’s poorly maintained.
Should the flame sensor accumulate dirt, it’ll be unable to accurately determine when the flame is on. When this happens, the flame sensor shuts down the furnace. Although the flame is on, the flame sensor won’t be able to detect it.
Related Article: Air Conditioner Repair: AC Not Getting Cold
Factors Affecting the Cost of Furnace Repairs
Owing to the factors we discuss below, the price of furnace repairs in Ontario may be more or less.
Warranty
You can be sure of paying less if your furnace is still under warranty. Usually, a warranty covers most of the repair costs. However, if your furnace’s warranty has expired, how much you spend will depend on the extent of the faults.
Age of your furnace
Depending on how old your furnace is, the repair cost may be either high or low. If your furnace is old, you may be required to replace worn out parts. The cost of spare parts will undoubtedly add to the overall cost you have to pay for furnace repair.
Service fees
The contractors you hire to repair your furnace determines how much it’ll cost. Service fees range from $50 to $100, depending on the contractor. This service fee covers furnace inspection and diagnostics. Also, if your furnace doesn’t need repairs, you’ll not be charged extra.
However, you should expect to pay more if your furnace develops a problem during public holidays or the weekend. Services fees are a function of the value your furnace repair contractor place on their time
Furnace problem
The problem with your furnace determines how much fixing it will cost. For instance, if your furnace leaks, it’ll cost between $75 to $1500. On the other hand, if it’s a problem with the motor, the average cost of furnace repair will be between $150 to $250.
How easily accessible the spare parts are
If there’s a need to loosen major sections of your furnace to get to the faulty component, you may have to pay more to get it repaired. Furthermore, accessibility also includes whether or not your contractor can buy the spare part in Ontario.
If the spare part has to be shipped across Canada to get to you, you can expect the cost of furnace repair to climb. Usually, most contractors advise homeowners to get a new furnace if the faulty component is too expensive and not worth the purchase.
Common Furnace Faults and The Cost of Furnace Repairs in Ontario
The hours the technician spends repairing your furnace impacts the amount you’ll pay. However, more often than not, the major determinant for the price for furnace repairs in Ontario is a function of the type. Below are the costs of furnace repairs.
Leaking water
If your furnace is leaking water, the cost of repairs will range between $235 to $1045. The type of furnace hugely impacts how much you’ll pay to fix the leak. Also, if your furnace is highly efficient, it may take the technician a longer period to get the job done.
Thermostat repair
The thermostat is a temperature monitoring device that works alongside the furnace. It informs the furnace when to stop and also start heating cycles. If your thermostat becomes faulty, the temperatures in your home will fluctuate.
Additionally, It will either start heating cycles early, late or malfunction in between. The average cost of thermostat repair is $80 to $300.
Flame sensor repair
Aside from getting dirty, the flame sensor can suffer damage causing the furnace to cycle off and on too quickly. In modern furnaces, the hot surface ignition is responsible for igniting the burners.
Once it begins to malfunction, the furnace automatically misbehaves. The average cost of fixing the flame sensor is also $80 to $300.
Blower motor repair
The blower motor and fan is responsible for pushing air through your air ducts. If you don’t clean your air ducts regularly, it can cause the motor fan to malfunction. The average cost of repairing the blower motor is $150 to $450.
Heat exchangers repairs
They are responsible for heating the air that is circulated in your home. According to the NCBI, if the heat exchanger has a crack, carbon monoxide can find its way out of your furnace. To always know when there is a carbon monoxide leak, place a carbon monoxide detector close to your furnace. The average cost of heat exchanger repair is $100 to $200.
Ball-bearing repair
Worn out ball bearing can cause a really loud scraping noise in the furnace. If you don’t repair them, you’ll end up paying more for repairs or completely replacing them. On average, the cost of repairing worn-out ball bearings is between $100 to $250.
Motor belt repairs
A loose, damaged or slipping motor belt may cause your furnace to make a squealing noise. Motor belt repairs are usually simple and less time-consuming. The cost of repairing a damaged motor belt cost $250.
Circuit board repairs
If your furnace is blowing out cold air, the furnace’s circuit board or the flame sensor may be faulty. If the technician dismisses the flame sensor as being the cause, then it’s the circuit board. A typical circuit board repair costs around $600.
Leaking gas line repair
If there is a strong gas smell in the air, there may be a gas leak. Typically, repairing a leaky gas line will cost around $500 to $750. It’s also an emergency situation. Leave your house and call a technician, stating that it’s an emergency.
Draft inducer motor
This motor in the furnace isn’t as widely known as others but it’s equally as important as the rest. The draft inducer motor is responsible for pulling combustion gas into the heat exchanger. Also, it pulls combustion out of the exhaustion chimney.
It doesn’t cost much for repairs compared to other parts of the furnace. The average cost is from $500 to $700.
Other costs of furnace repairs by parts are:
- Transformer: $100 to $175
- Thermocouple: $100 to $250
- The capacitor of the blower motor: $150 to $450
- Relay switch: $150 to $300
- Gas valve {for gas furnaces}: $200 to $1000
- Flue pipe: $400 to $800
- Chamber for oil combustion: $200 to $600
- Condenser and evaporator coil: $600 to $2000
Troubleshooting Tips for Gas, Oil and Wood Furnaces
Furnace repair services in Ontario are the best option to quickly get your heating system working again. However, if you are unable to call for professional help just immediately, here are some troubleshooting tips.
Gas furnace
- Check the furnace emergency switch to see if it’s on. If it isn’t, turn it on. If you know your way around the circuit breaker panel or the fuse, check if:
-The fuse is burnt
-The breaker tripped
Once you notice either of the two, fix it. If it recurs, call a technician.
- Don’t attempt to disconnect any pipes to check for gas supply. Gas furnaces come with an instrument that is used to check the gas pressure. Call a technician to check the pressure.
- If the furnace thermostat is programmable, check the batteries to know if they are new. Set the thermostat and set it to a temperature higher than the preset temperature.
- Electronic ignition furnaces have safety steps that the burner takes to come on. Always follow the procedure and the manual attached to the furnace to avoid an explosion.
- If your furnace goes off and on severally, it may be as a result of it being dirty. You may also want to check the blower motor and check if it needs lubricating.
- Noises from your furnace can come with loose access panels. To fix this, locate the loose panels and fasten them. If it’s the belt that wore out, replace the belt with a new one.
Oil furnace
- Constantly check the oil and air filters to make sure they are clean. To avoid the furnace going off and on, clean the filters often. Do the same for the motor blower. Lubricate and unclog them. You may need to replace the furnace burner in situations where it’s malfunctioning.
- If the burner isn’t burning well, check to see if you’re out of fuel. If the fuel isn’t enough, top up the fuel tank after which you can then reignite the burner.
- Reset your thermostat from on to auto. Check the limit switch and reset it to ensure that it prevents the blower from overworking.
- If the burner fails to come on, see if you can find a red button. Remember to only push the button once. If it still fails to ignite, call a technician. Avoid attempting to ignite it several times as this can cause an explosion.
- If your furnace has central air, turn on the switch meant for the selector and ensure you put it on heat.
Wood furnace
- If when loading your furnace it has smoke coming out of the door, don’t add more wood. Run the furnace for a while without wood. Work your way around letting the smoke go through the chimney instead.
- If when you shut the damper the smoke goes out, it means it’s not getting to the right temperature. Check to see if the chimney is blocked. Also, ensure you seal the ash door.
- If your furnace runs too hot, it can begin to malfunction. One way to know you’re running your furnace hot is when it begins to wrap on the top or side. Also, you may see white ash if your furnace is coloured. Check to see if the flue pipe doesn’t sport a red colour.
Related Article: How Much Does it Cost To Install a New Furnace?
Tips on Cleaning and Maintaining Your Furnace
You can avoid the excessive furnace repair bills by caring for your furnace. Keeping your furnace clean not only reduces the repair cost but also extends the life span. If you’re unsure of how to care for your furnace here are some tips to help you.
Clean the blower often
Don’t wait till the blower is very dusty. Make it a practice to clean it often. The dust or debris that escapes the air filter goes into the blower.
To ensure you get out all the dirt that accumulates over time, clean the belts, pulleys and also the blower. Remember to do this gently while using a wet cloth to wipe the blower.
Clean your vents
Accumulation of dirt can also cause the vents to block. Blocked vents won’t only affect the furnace but also pose health risks. Use a large cleaning brush to clean the vent. Remove the vent cover and clean the insides.
Clean or replace the filter
If you are using a gas furnace, you’ll know the importance of the filter. To avoid dirt entering into the furnace, clean the filter often. If you notice your filter is clogged, you may need to replace it.
The Faster You Do It, the Less Expensive it is
“How much to repair my furnace” is a common question amongst homeowners. As a homeowner in Ontario, you’ll want to feel snug and warm in your home especially during the colder months. However, you can get outrageous repair bills if you don’t know how to care for your furnace. Your furnace can only function well if you care for it well.
Averagely, the cost of furnace repairs is between $250 to $1500. Factors like the faulty component, age of your furnace as well as its condition will impact your furnace repair bills. Furnaces above ten years may cause you to spend more.
To avoid escalating your bill, call a technician as soon as you notice your furnace is faulty. Here, ALP Heating can be of services. Our furnace repair technicians are experts with loads of experience. We are also consummate professionals and will get your furnace working again the same day! Contact us today!
To Install a New Furnace Call Or Email Us now:
647-972-8714
Request A Quote
