Heating and cooling emergencies in Windsor

Heating contractors and plumbers for breakdowns.

30 pros in Windsor

Windsor heating and cooling emergencies tend to follow its weather. Environment Canada's 1991–2020 normals for the Windsor A station show an average of 139.8 cm of snowfall a year, with January the snowiest month at 43.4 cm, so a furnace that fails in midwinter is a real risk rather than a rare event. The region has also seen ice storms that knocked out power to thousands in Windsor, and a dead furnace during an outage is a different problem from a faulty one. When you hire, ask who will actually work on your gas equipment: TSSA certifies gas technicians under Ontario's Technical Safety and Standards Act, 2000, with G.1, G.2 and G.3 classes, so ask for the technician's certification. If a generator is part of your plan, ENWIN says only a licensed electrician should connect it to your panel, and it should never run inside a home or garage. Ask for the work and the parts in writing before anyone starts.

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Windsor

  • After an ice storm hit the Chatham, Kent and Essex areas, CBC reported about 20,000 customers still without power, with Hydro One having already restored power to 25,000 customers. The storm also downed trees and knocked out power to thousands in Windsor.

    CBC News (source, opens in a new tab)

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 Windsor

Who is allowed to work on a gas furnace in Ontario?

Gas work is regulated in Ontario. TSSA certifies gas technicians under the Technical Safety and Standards Act, 2000, including G.1, G.2 and G.3 classes. Before work begins, ask the technician which certification they hold and request it in writing, along with the company's details. Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) (source, opens in a new tab)

What should an emergency repair quote include?

Ask for a written quote that names the fault found, the parts to be replaced, the labour, any warranty on the work and the timing. If the technician finds more problems once the cover is off, ask for a revised written quote before approving more work.

Can I hook a generator to my furnace during a Windsor outage?

ENWIN says only a licensed electrician should connect a generator to a home's electrical panel. It also says not to run one inside a home or garage, and to plug appliances directly into the generator's outlets. Ask an electrician before connecting a furnace. ENWIN Utilities Ltd. (source, opens in a new tab)

How likely is a winter breakdown in Windsor?

Windsor A station's 1991–2020 normals show 139.8 cm of snow a year, with January the snowiest month at 43.4 cm. Cold, snowy weather is routine, so check your furnace before winter and know who you would call for an urgent repair. Environment and Climate Change Canada (source, opens in a new tab)