Today we’ll talk about all things HVAC emergency repair services in Hamilton, including what people use to heat and cool their homes, how to maintain your furnace and air conditioner, ways to troubleshoot common HVAC repairs, the importance of regular service, and what to look for in a heating & cooling technician when you need maintenance or repairs.
Average Hourly Rate for HVAC Service Call in Hamilton: $75 – $150 per hour
Related Guides You May Find Helpful
- Buying a Furnace in Hamilton
- Buying a Central Air Conditioner in Hamilton
- Top 7 Local HVAC Contractors in Hamilton, Burlington, and Brantford
Our Recommended Emergency HVAC Service Providers in Hamilton
Get fast help diagnosing and repairing your broken down or malfunctioning heating & cooling system from our trusted local HVAC partners.
About Canadian Heating:
- Established, with a great track record
- Amazing feedback from verified customers
- Fully licensed, bonded, and insured
- Experienced and well-trained staff
- 24-hour emergency service
Current Promo
AC installed for as low as $29.72/month.
About Environmental Heating & Cooling:
- Established, with a great track record
- Amazing feedback from verified customers
- Fully licensed, bonded, and insured
- Experienced and well-trained staff
- 24-hour emergency service
Current Promo
Up to $10,600 in rebates on select systems
10 Year Parts & Labour Warranty
Lifetime Workmanship Warranty
Great Financing Rates
Free Ecobee Pro Smart Thermostat
Free 2 Year Filter Supply
No Lemon Guarantee
Cleanliness Guarantee
Property Protection Guarantee
Comfort Guarantee
Quality Guarantee
Environmental Guarantee
Giving back – We are donating a portion of the proceeds from every system installation to help build a new barn for the rescues at Black Goat Farm & Sanctuary.
Winters in Hamilton are cold and long, and summers can conversely be hot and sticky. The presence of Lake Ontario means winters can be slightly milder and damper than other Ontario cities, but it also means summers can be muggy.
To be comfortable in the city, you must have a reliable HVAC system that will keep your house warm and toasty in winter and cool and refreshing in summer.
There are things homeowners can do to keep their furnaces and air conditioners in good working order, and regular maintenance and repairs are at the top of the list.
A properly maintained HVAC system can perform optimally and efficiently, can promise good air flow and temperature maintenance, and can keep your home at a temperature your family finds comfortable without excessive energy bills.
What to Look for in a Hamilton Repair Contractor
The Hamilton area is also home to a large number of HVAC companies, so how do you choose the right one? Along with offering a full range of service, there are lots of things you’ll want to look for in the right HVAC company, including reputation and experience.
These days, people find things they need on the internet, but you can’t always rely on online reviews when it comes to HVAC, and that’s why we created our independent HVAC contractor certification program. Through this program, we independently and objectively vet HVAC companies based on a number of factors to help you find reliable local technicians.
Here’s what we look at when screening companies:
- Do they have a good and lengthy history in the community?
- Do the technicians have the right certification and qualifications?
- Is the company insured?
- Are the quotes they provide fair and transparent?
- Are the technicians trained to work on different systems and models?
- Does the company do installation, emergency service, and repairs/maintenance?
What to Expect When You Request HVAC Services
While it’s important to know how to choose the right HVAC company, you should also know what to expect when you call in the pros for maintenance or repairs. No matter what HVAC problem you’re facing, the process will always follow a similar progression.
Any service for your furnace or air conditioner will typically start with a call to your preferred HVAC company. Once they’ve asked all their questions and established your needs, they’ll schedule a home visit from a qualified technician.
On the day of the appointment, the technician will perform any routine maintenance or diagnose whatever problem you’re having with the system. If possible, the technician will make any necessary repairs or replace problem parts. However, it’s also possible that special tools or replacement parts will be needed, and that could mean a second visit.
There’s another way for an appointment to end, and that is with you agreeing that it’s time to upgrade your furnace or air conditioner. If that’s the case, the technician may help you decide on a make and model for a replacement unit, and schedule an appointment for installation.
Average Repair Costs for Major HVAC Components
Just because HVAC service is necessary doesn’t mean it’s always cheap, but it can help to know what you might expect to pay for services involving different components.
To help you budget for potential repairs, here’s a list of average repair/replacement costs for different furnace and air conditioner components:
| Component | Furnace or Air Conditioner | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Motor or heat exchanger | Furnace | $1,200 to $2,400 |
| Thermostat, circuit board, or blower fan | Furnace | $125 to $650 |
| Thermostat, ignitor, or flame sensor | Furnace | $80 to $300 |
| Burner or gas valve | Furnace | $115 to $470 |
| Annual inspection | Furnace and air conditioner | $150 to $300 |
| Fan motor or condenser coil | Air Conditioner | $400 to $2,900 |
| Refrigerant, drain pan, condenser fan, condensate pump, or circuit board | Air Conditioner | $100 to $750 |
| Compressor | Air Conditioner | $1,300 to $2,300 |
| Fuses, circuit breaker, or condensate drain line flush | Air Conditioner | $75 to $290 |
Get Quotes
How soon are you looking to buy?*
HVAC System Maintenance & Troubleshooting Common Issues
There are plenty of things that can break down or malfunction with any furnace or air conditioner, and while some of them definitely require the attention of a trained HVAC technician, there are a few that you might be able to troubleshoot yourself.
Knowing the symptoms of common problems, the components involved, and the possible fixes can help you keep your HVAC system in top shape, and potentially save you money on repair costs.
Note that you should ALWAYS hire a professional for any significant maintenance or troubleshooting, except for minor tasks like replacing your filter, or checking your thermostat. This is for informational purposes only.
Furnace Troubleshooting
| What's Your Furnace Doing? | Why Is It Doing It? | What Can You Do? |
|---|---|---|
| Shutting off too quickly | Dirty flame sensor | Clean the flame sensor |
| Cycling irregularly | Wrong thermostat setting | Adjust the settings on the thermostat |
| Not producing enough heat | Dirty filter | Clean/replace the filter |
| Producing a bad smell | Dirty filter | Clean/replace the filter |
| Blowing cold air | Thermostat is set to On | Change setting to Auto |
If your furnace stops blowing hot air or stops producing heat, there’s likely a problem with the blower motor, ignitor, or heat exchanger, and this will require help from a professional.
Similarly, there are certain problems with your air conditioner that will require a technician, including if it stops cooling, because this could indicate a problem with the compressor or the coils.
Central Air Conditioner Troubleshooting
| What's Your A/C Doing? | Why Is It Doing It? | What Can You Do? |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature is fluctuating | Low refrigerant | Check the refrigerant charge |
| Lack of efficiency | Dirty filter | Clean/replace the filter |
| Producing a bad smell | Dirty filter | Clean/replace the filter |
| House is too hot | Thermostat setting or location | Check the settings and location of the thermostat |
| House is too cold | Thermostat setting or location | Check the settings and location of the thermostat |
| Lack of performance and efficiency | Dirty coils | Clean the coils |
| Unit is leaking | Clogged drain line | Clean the drain line |
Repairing Versus Replacing an HVAC Unit
A brand new high-efficiency furnace or air conditioner could save you hundreds—or thousands—of dollars on your seasonal energy bills, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily want to replace an older unit if you don’t have to.
If you’re in a position where your HVAC system needs a repair or replacement, here are some tips that will help you figure out which might be best right now:
| Factor | Rule of Thumb | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Repair the unit if it’s under 10 years old | Furnaces and air conditioners have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years, so a younger unit is generally worth repairing |
| Cost | Replace the unit if a repair will cost 50 percent of a new unit | If you're going to be spending $1,500 to repair a system when you could upgrade for $3,000, then it might make more sense to replace the furnace or air conditioner |
| Warranty | Always check your warranty! | Warranties range from a few years to a lifetime, so read the terms and conditions to find out if your unit is still covered before making a decision to repair or replace |
The HVAC Services Market in Hamilton
HVAC technicians in Ontario who have completed their apprenticeship training must have a Certificate of Qualification to work in the field. Beyond that, Hamilton bylaws require an additional contractor’s or master’s trade license for HVAC professionals working in the city.
Thanks to the size of the city and its proximity to even larger metropolitan areas like Toronto, many HVAC companies in Hamilton tend to charge more competitive prices than you might find in rural areas.
Hamilton is an old city in Ontario, with some of the homes dating back to the early 1800s. The city is divided up into a couple neighbourhoods, such as downtown and Hess Village, but it also includes outlying regions like Ancaster, Flamborough, Dundas, and Stoney Creek.
Despite the age of the city, most homes have been converted to natural gas furnaces. However, there are some homes that still rely on oil furnaces, especially in older areas like Ancaster, and others that have been converted to propane or electric heat.
For summer comfort, lots of homes have central air conditioning or ductless systems. Humidity control is important year-round because of Lake Ontario, so homeowners might also want to invest in a dehumidifying system as well.
Available HVAC Maintenance, Repairs, and Services in Hamilton
Hamilton is home to hundreds of thousands of furnaces and air conditioners, and they all need proper maintenance and regular repairs for high-efficiency and optimal performance. Just like a car works better when you change the oil, so too will a furnace or air conditioner work better when you take care of it.
HVAC specialists in Hamilton should be able to provide multiple services for furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, boilers, and ventilation systems.
These are the common services you might need:
- Diagnosing and troubleshooting problems
- Performing minor and major repairs
- Replacing parts
- Installing new units
- Tune-ups and annual maintenance
- Replacing filters
- Installing and calibrating thermostats
- Emergency service calls
Major Brands and Products in Hamilton
As we’ve covered, Hamilton has a lot of HVAC systems and plenty of competition among HVAC companies, and that also means there’s a wide selection of brands, makes, and models available for when you need to upgrade your furnace or air conditioner.
Nonetheless, there are certain brands that are more popular in Hamilton and Canada than others, and they include:
- Goodman
- Lennox
- American Standard
- Carrier
- Keeprite
- Trane
- Rheem
- Napoleon
- Bryant
