Heating and cooling emergencies in Salt Lake City

Heating contractors and plumbers for breakdowns.

50 pros in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City winters are cold enough that a heating failure is a real problem, not an inconvenience. The National Weather Service's 1991 to 2020 normals show a January mean of 31.4°F, with 27.4 days that reach a minimum of 32°F or below and 12.7 inches of snowfall for the month. A furnace or boiler that stops in that stretch can leave pipes exposed quickly. The Utah Insurance Department says frozen pipe damage may not be covered if it is due to negligence, such as failing to keep an adequate temperature in the house when you are able to. That makes it worth acting quickly and keeping a record of what you did. When you hire, remember that Salt Lake City's building permits page says no person, firm or corporation may alter the electrical, plumbing or mechanical system in a building without first obtaining the prescribed permits from the building official. Before you agree to a replacement or a larger repair, ask who pulls the permit and whether it is included in the quote.

Source: National Weather Service Salt Lake City (source, opens in a new tab)

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Before you hire

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

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

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  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.

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Questions about hiring in Salt Lake City

Do I need a permit to replace a furnace or boiler in Salt Lake City?

The city's building permits page says no person, firm or corporation may make any installation, alteration or improvement to the electrical, plumbing or mechanical system in a building without first obtaining the prescribed permits from the building official. Ask your contractor who will obtain the permit and get that in writing. Salt Lake City Corporation, Building Services (source, opens in a new tab)

Will my insurance cover frozen pipes if my heat fails?

The Utah Insurance Department says frozen pipe damage from extreme cold may not be covered if it is due to negligence, such as not maintaining an adequate temperature in the house when you could. Keep the heat on where possible, document what happened, and ask your insurer about your own policy. Utah Insurance Department (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a quote for an emergency heating or cooling repair include?

Ask for the work in writing: the fault found, the parts to be replaced, labour, any permit, the warranty on parts and work, and who is responsible if the repair does not hold. Get a second quote for a large replacement if the situation is safe enough to wait.

Can I run a generator to keep my furnace going in an outage?

Utah's Be Ready page says a generator supplying a home's wiring must connect through an approved transfer switch that isolates the house from the utility's system. The work must meet the National Electric Code and local codes, including permits, inspection and installation by a licensed electrician. State of Utah, Be Ready Utah (source, opens in a new tab)