Braced
Menu

Heating and cooling emergencies in Hamilton

Heating contractors and plumbers for breakdowns.

50 pros in Hamilton

Hamilton's heating emergencies are tied to its winter storms and the power cuts that follow. During the freezing rain of 1 December 2019, a widespread outage in Flamborough affected nearly 5,800 Alectra Utilities customers, and more than 2,500 customers on the Central Hamilton Mountain lost power for several hours. When the power is out, a furnace, boiler or heat pump stops, and pipes in an unheated house are at risk. Once service returns, equipment can fail or need a restart, and that is often when a call goes out. Before you hire, ask whether the company is a Registered Fuels Contractor, because those are the only businesses legally authorized to do fuels-related work in Ontario. You can look up or verify a company's registration in the TSSA registry. Ask for the work to be written down, with the fault found, the parts to be replaced and the labour. If you are thinking of replacing a system with a heat pump, ask about the Home Renovation Savings programme and whether the work qualifies for a rebate before you agree to anything.

Source: Global News (source, opens in a new tab)

Show 30 more

Not yet verified. We checked that each one’s own website offers this work, but we haven’t contacted them yet. How a business gets listed

Know a good one we’re missing? Suggest one

Before you hire

  1. Have fuel-burning appliances such as a furnace or boiler inspected by a professional at least once a year.

    Source: canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Hamilton

Who is allowed to repair a gas furnace in Ontario?

Registered Fuels Contractors are the only businesses legally authorized to do fuels-related work in Ontario. Before you book, ask for the company's registration details and check them in the TSSA registry. A company that cannot show a registration should not be working on your gas furnace. Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a quote for an emergency heating repair include?

Ask for a written quote that names the fault, the parts to be replaced, the labour, and any extra charges for evenings or weekends. It should also state how long the work is expected to take and whether the repair carries a warranty. Compare more than one quote if you can.

Why do Hamilton furnaces fail after a winter storm?

In the December 2019 freezing rain, more than 2,500 Alectra Utilities customers on the Central Hamilton Mountain lost power for several hours. When power cuts out in cold weather, heating stops and pipes can freeze. Ask a contractor to check the system and your pipes once power returns. Global News (source, opens in a new tab)

Can I get a rebate if I replace my system with a heat pump?

The Home Renovation Savings programme, run by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy with support from the Ontario Government, lists heat pump rebates. Check the programme's terms before you sign a contract, and ask the contractor whether the work you are quoting qualifies. Enbridge Gas / Save on Energy (source, opens in a new tab)

Other jobs and cities

Other jobs in Hamilton

Heating and cooling emergencies in other cities