Help & FAQs

i) TROUBLESHOOTING
ii) EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

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i) NO HEAT?

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

1. CHECK FOR POWER
There may be a wall switch that may have been accidentally turned off. Newer homes will have these switches located higher than a conventional switch.
Check that the circuit breaker has not tripped. If it has, there must be a reason why it tripped and it is wise to call a furnace professional to check the problem.

2. CHECK THE FILTER
If the filter is dirty, it will not allow enough air to move through the furnace and the house will remain cold even if the furnace is on. It will also cause the furnace to overheat and the furnace will stop operating as a safely measure.
If you have an ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER, check the prefilter. Frequently customers will inspect the main filters which are quite large, but fail to check the thin filters in front of the main filters. Dirty prefilters frequently will be the cause of furnaces failing to deliver heat.

3. CHECK THE PILOT LIGHT
If your furnace is more than twenty years old, you may have a pilot light which is located in the combustion chamber. Turn off the power to the furnace, remove the front door, and look into the burner chamber. If you cannot see a blue or yellow flickering light, then your pilot light is likely off. Phone your furnace service person and have them determine the problem and relight the pilot.

4. LOOK AND LISTEN AND SMELL FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL
As the homeowner or tenant, you will be very familiar with the sounds and smells of your heating system. Make a note of this and call your furnace repair person. If you smell anything unusual and you suspect that it may be from your heating system, call us immediately and take measures to ventilate the house.

5. BE AWARE OF CERTAIN SMELLS:

Natural Gas  smells like rotten eggs.
Call us or Terasen Gas immediately.
”Burning smell” may be a furnace motor that failed.
The smell may be a result of the windings on the motor overheating.
Call us or the fire department.

 

ii) EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

The main concern regarding earthquake safety:
1.
Gas lines being compromised and damaged.
2. Water Heaters falling over causing the gas and water lines to break.

We strongly suggest that you consider the following options for reducing the damage from an earthquake:
1.
Install an earthquake shut-off valve.
2. Strap the water heater to reduce the chances of the water heater tipping over.

More info about Earthquake Preparedness in the Safety Shakedown Brochure by FortisBC.

Pricing for Earthquake Valve – $325.00 plus installation
Pricing for Water Heater Strapping Kit – $83.75 plus installation