Most furnace repairs in Ottawa cost between $200 and $700 in 2026, with the average call landing near $400 once parts and labour are combined. Expect a diagnostic or service-call fee of $120–$200 during regular business hours, often credited toward the repair if you proceed, and $250–$400 for after-hours, weekend, or holiday emergency calls in the middle of a January cold snap. Straightforward fixes like a flame sensor cleaning or thermocouple swap run $180–$300; an igniter is typically $300–$450; a blower motor or control board lands in the $600–$1,300 range; and a cracked heat exchanger — th...
Repair pricing is mostly parts plus labour, and licensed HVAC labour in Ottawa runs about $110–$160 per hour in 2026. Here is what common repairs cost fully installed: flame sensor clean or replacement $180–$300; thermocouple replacement $180–$280; hot surface igniter $300–$450; pressure switch $300–$500; draft inducer motor $600–$1,000; blower motor $700–$1,300 (ECM variable-speed motors sit at the top of that range); gas valve $600–$1,100; and integrated control board $650–$1,200. A condensate...
Nearly every Ottawa HVAC company charges a diagnostic fee to send a licensed technician. It is typically $120–$200 in normal hours and frequently waived or credited if you approve the repair. Ask on the phone whether it is credited before booking.
When the furnace quits at -25 °C, timing dictates price. Ottawa HVAC companies typically charge a premium of 1.5x to 2x their standard labour rate for evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays, and the emergency dispatch fee alone commonly runs $250–$400 before any parts. A repair that would cost $350 on a Tuesday afternoon can land near $600–$700 on a Sunday night in February. Because the region's coldest stretches produce a flood of simultaneous no-heat calls, response windows stretch even fo...
The standard rule of thumb is to replace rather than repair when the repair cost exceeds roughly 50% of the price of a new furnace, or when the unit is more than 15 years old and facing a major component failure. A new mid-efficiency-to-high-efficiency gas furnace installed in Ottawa runs about $4,500–$8,000 in 2026 depending on capacity, brand, venting changes, and whether ductwork modifications are needed. So a $1,200 blower motor in an 18-year-old furnace rarely makes sense, while the same re...
If you are leaning toward replacement, check current federal and provincial efficiency programs before you buy. Heat pump and high-efficiency upgrades sometimes carry rebates that require a pre-retrofit energy assessment, and those cannot be claimed after the equipment is installed.
In Ontario, any work on a natural gas or propane furnace must be performed by a technician holding a valid TSSA gas fitter certification (G2 or G3), and electrical connections fall under Electrical Safety Authority rules. This is not paperwork bureaucracy — improper gas or venting work causes carbon monoxide incidents every winter. Before a technician touches your equipment, you are entitled to ask for their gas licence number and the company's HVAC contractor registration, and to confirm liabil...
The cheapest repair is the one you avoid. Change the filter every one to three months — a clogged filter is the single most common cause of overheating, short cycling, and premature blower and limit-switch failure in Ottawa homes. Book an annual fall tune-up in September or October before the rush; it typically costs $150–$250 and includes burner cleaning, flame-sensor service, condensate line clearing, safety checks, and combustion analysis. Keep the outdoor intake and exhaust vents on high-eff...
Most furnace repairs in Ottawa cost $200–$700 in 2026, averaging around $400. Diagnostic fees are $120–$200 in regular hours and $250–$400 for emergency after-hours calls. Major component failures such as a blower motor or control board can reach $1,300.
Expect 1.5x to 2x standard labour rates for evenings, weekends, and holidays, plus an emergency dispatch fee of $250–$400. A repair that costs $350 on a weekday afternoon often runs $600–$700 during a weekend cold snap.
A hot surface igniter replacement typically costs $300–$450 installed in Ottawa, including the service call. If the furnace is still within its parts warranty, you may pay labour only, roughly $180–$280.
Replace when the repair exceeds about 50% of a new furnace's cost or when the unit is over 15 years old and needs a major part. A new furnace installed in Ottawa runs about $4,500–$8,000. A cracked heat exchanger always means replacement because of the carbon monoxide risk.
Yes. Anyone working on a natural gas or propane furnace in Ontario must hold a valid TSSA gas fitter certification (G2 or G3), and the company should carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage. Ask to see the licence before work starts.