A furnace and air conditioner will work reliably and efficiently to keep your Tri-Cities home comfortable through the seasons as long as they’re maintained properly. To help you with this mission, this article will discuss common HVAC maintenance issues and how to troubleshoot them, the cost of repairs, what to look for in a technician, what brands are popular in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, and how to decide when it’s time to upgrade a furnace or air conditioner.
Average Hourly Rate for HVAC Service Call in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge: $75 – $150 per hour
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Canadians rely heavily on their furnaces and winter and air conditioners in summer, so it’s important to know how to maintain yours properly.
Along with regular service, another important element of HVAC maintenance is getting repairs promptly, as this will prevent minor issues from becoming major ones and keep your heating and cooling systems working optimally and efficiently.
As such, this article will be dedicated to maintenance and emergency repairs for people in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge who need help with their furnaces and air conditioners.
Understand What Makes a Good HVAC Repair Contractor
No matter where you live in the Tri-Cities, chances are you’ll get to choose from at least a couple local HVAC contractors that are operating in your neighbourhood.
But how do you pick between them all? Is one company better qualified than the others? Which company has the friendliest staff and technicians? Does one company offer better prices?
Most homeowners battle questions just like these (and more) when trying to find a local HVAC expert, and we’re here to help. We know a little more about home heating and cooling than the average bear, and we’ve put our knowledge to use and created an independent HVAC contractor certification program that finds the answers to these questions so you don’t have to.
When you connect with a KWC contractor through our program, we’ve made sure they check every box when it comes to things like:
- Training and education
- Years of experience
- Good reputation
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Transparent quotes
- Licenses and permits
- Insurance
- Quality of work
- Breadth of services
- Responsiveness and dependability
- Availability and turnaround time
Find Out What to Expect from an HVAC Service Call
An HVAC emergency is nerve-racking and stressful, and it’s not uncommon for people to panic when they realize their furnace or air conditioner is breaking down just when they need it most.
Now that you know where to find help, we’re going to walk you through the process of an HVAC service call so you can know what to expect and be prepared when you reach out for the first time. Here’s how the HVAC service and maintenance process typically goes:
- You’ll choose the company you want to work with and give them a call
- The customer service staff will ask you lots of questions and get you to describe the symptoms you’re experiencing with your furnace or air conditioner
- Once they’ve established what’s going on, they’ll schedule a time that works for you when a technician can come to your home
- On the day of the service call, the technician will inspect your furnace or air conditioner, diagnose the symptoms, and troubleshoot solutions
- The technician will perform maintenance or repairs, or possibly order a replacement part
- If a replacement part is needed, the technician may have to schedule a follow-up visit to complete the repair
- In the case that your furnace or air conditioner needs to be replaced, the technician will talk to you about your options in terms of models, brands, styles, and sizes
- Finally, the technician may ask you if you want to sign up for an annual maintenance program to keep your heating and cooling systems in tip-top shape
Average Repair Costs for Major HVAC Components in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge
It’s impossible to say what any given repair will cost until you know the exact circumstances. At the same time, we know it’s important for you to have ballpark figures to work with when budgeting for maintenance.
For that reason, we’ve put together a list of average costs for air conditioner and furnace repairs and maintenance based on the type of service or the components involved:
Furnaces | Air Conditioners | Furnaces and Air Conditioners |
---|---|---|
Burner or gas valve: $115 to $470 | Compressor: $1,300 to $2,300 | Annual inspection: $150 to $300 |
Heat exchanger or motor: $1,200 to $2,400 | Fan motor or condenser coil: $400 to $2,900 | Annual inspection: $150 to $300 |
Thermostat, ignitor, or flame sensor: $80 to $300 | Fuses, drain line, or circuit breaker: $75 to $290 | Annual inspection: $150 to $300 |
Thermostat, blower, or circuit board: $125 to $650 | Refrigerant, condensate pump, circuit board, or condenser fan: $100 to $750k | Annual inspection: $150 to $300 |
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HVAC System Maintenance & Troubleshooting Common Issues
We’re lucky enough to live in a day and age when furnaces and air conditioners are so efficient and well-made that we rarely have to concern ourselves with how they work. The only time this really matters is when the units start to misbehave.
It’s possible that you may never need additional service or emergency repairs for your furnace and air conditioner beyond annual maintenance, but in case something does go wrong, it can help to understand the problem.
With furnaces, some of the major components are the heat exchanger, blower motor, fan, burner, and gas valve.
With air conditioners, the major components include the compressor, coils, blower motor, fan, and refrigerant.
Depending on the component, common problems include getting dirty, wearing out, breaking down, or getting clogged, and solutions can include cleaning, repairs, or replacement parts.
Most HVAC repairs will require the knowledge of a professional, but depending on the issue, there are some fixes you can try before you call in the pros.
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.
Here’s some more information to help you diagnose symptoms and troubleshoot problems:
What’s Giving You Trouble | What to Try and Why |
---|---|
Your furnace or air conditioner is circulating bad smells throughout the house | Clean or replace the filter—it’s probably dirty |
Your furnace or air conditioner isn't working efficiently or producing enough heat/cold | Clean or replace the filter |
Your furnace or air conditioner can't maintain the right temperature | Check the thermostat settings—they might be wrong |
Your furnace or air conditioner is cycling irregularly | Check the thermostat settings |
Your furnace or air conditioner won’t run | Reset the circuit breaker if it has blown |
Your furnace is blowing cold air or your air conditioner is blowing hot air | Check the thermostat settings and change the fan setting to Auto |
Your furnace shuts off before it reaches temperature | Clean the flame sensor—it might be dirty |
Your air conditioner isn't cold enough or the temperature is fluctuating | Check the refrigerant charge—it might be wrong |
Your air conditioner is leaking | Unclog the drain line if it’s clogged |
Your air conditioner’s efficiency or cooling power drops | Clean the coils—they might be dirty |
Weigh the Pros and Cons of Replacing or Repairing a Furnace or Air Conditioner
There can be pros and cons to both repairing and replacing a furnace or air conditioner, and the right choice will depend on the situation.
Repairs tend to be cheaper, but they won’t necessarily do anything to improve the overall performance and efficiency of an older unit.
On the other hand, upgrades are expensive, but they can save you tons of cash in the long run through lower energy bills.
Sometimes the choice is clear. For example, if your furnace or air conditioner is just a few years old and only needs a minor repair, then of course you’re going to opt for the repair. Similarly, if your furnace or air conditioner is 30 years old and the repair is going to cost the same as a new unit, then obviously you’ll replace it.
Unfortunately, the best course of action isn’t usually so cut and dry, but weighing factors like efficiency, warranty, cost, and age can help you make the right choice:
Factor | When to Repair | When to Replace |
---|---|---|
Efficiency | When you have a newer furnace or air conditioner that operates efficiently and doesn’t cost too much to run (a high-efficiency furnace has an AFUE of 90 percent or more; an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner has a SEER rating of 15 or higher) | When you have an older, low-efficiency furnace or air conditioner that costs too much to operate, especially if the heating/cooling costs are increasing as the unit ages |
Warranty | When the unit is still under warranty and the manufacturer will cover the cost of the repair or replacement parts | When the unit isn't under warranty (which typically means it’s more than 10 to 20 years old), especially if the repair is expensive |
Cost | When the repair will cost less than 50 percent of the price of a new furnace or air conditioner | When the repair will cost more than 50 percent of the price of a new furnace or air conditioner |
Age | When the unit is less than 10 years old | When the unit is 15 years or more, especially if the repair will be expensive, the unit isn't under warranty, and you could stand to upgrade the efficiency |
The HVAC Services Market in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge
Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge are separate cities with their own unique histories and distinct characters. However, the three cities are very close together, they share some history, and together they make up the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, so they’re sometimes referred to as the Tri-Cities or the KWC.
The history of the area in modern times dates back to the mid 1800s, and one of the things that makes Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge so charming is the old architecture and historic buildings.
Most homes in the KWC today are heated by natural gas furnaces, but there are also lots that still have boiler systems, and a few—especially in more rural nearby areas like Drumbo and Puslinch—that rely on oil heating.
KWC summers get warm, so most homes with forced air furnaces have central air conditioners, and houses that rely on boilers typically have ductless systems to keep cool in summer.
Prices for furnaces, air conditioners, and HVAC maintenance tend to be a bit cheaper in the Tri-Cities than in other places in Southern Ontario. It helps that there are lots of HVAC contractors in the area that service all the neighbourhoods within the three cities.
Prices tend to increase the farther you get away from the cities and into the country because there are fewer contractors serving the areas, and because they have to travel farther.
No matter who you choose as your HVAC expert, all technicians working in the industry in Ontario must first complete an apprenticeship program and get their Certificate of Qualification, and don’t be afraid to ask to see credentials if you’re working with a new contractor for the first time.
Available HVAC Maintenance, Repairs, and Services in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge
Furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, water heaters, and other HVAC systems are complex machines that require regular attention, so a good HVAC company will offer a range of services that keeps your equipment working efficiently and reliably.
But just as importantly, a good HVAC company will also be responsive and available whenever you need them—including in the middle of the night. HVAC emergencies wait for no human, so a reliable company will be ready to respond any time those emergencies crop up.
Here’s a list of the services offered by most HVAC companies in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge:
- Round-the-clock emergency services
- Regular repairs
- Replacing parts
- Diagnostics and troubleshooting
- Sales and installation of all HVAC equipment
- Annual service, cleaning, and tune ups
- Installing and calibrating new thermostats
- Load calculations to size new furnaces and air conditioners
- Regular maintenance like changing filters, recharging refrigerant, and calibrating systems
Explore the Major HVAC Brands and Products in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge
The number of brand names you’ll come across when shopping for a new furnace, air conditioner, water heater, or boiler can be overwhelming. Just remember that things like efficiency, features, warranty, and cost-versus-value are far more important than the name on your new appliance.
There are some popular HVAC brands in Canada, and they’re popular precisely because they deliver in the categories we just mentioned.
If you want somewhere to start when you’re shopping, then these are some of the most popular furnace and air conditioner brands in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge:
- American Standard
- Bryant
- Carrier
- Goodman
- KeepRite
- Lennox
- Napoleon
- Rheem
- Trane