Furnace Repairs You May Need Before Winter

The 7 Furnace Repairs You Absolutely Need to Make Before Winter Hits Niagara

So grab a coffee, take 8 minutes, and let’s walk through the seven of the most common furnace problems we fix every October and November across the Niagara region — what they look like, why they happen here, and exactly what to do about them before Jack Frost shows up for real.

1. The Dirty Furnace Syndrome (The Silent Efficiency Killer)

Your furnace has been sitting idle since April. In those six months it’s collected dust, pet hair, construction dust from that reno you did, and even dead bugs. When you fire it up for the first time, all that gunk gets baked onto the heat exchanger and blown through your ducts.

What you notice:

• A burning dust smell the first few times it runs (normal for 10–15 minutes, not normal if it lingers for hours)
• Weak airflow from the vents
• The house takes forever to warm up
• Higher-than-usual gas bills right out of the gate

Why it’s a big deal: A dirty heat exchanger makes the furnace work harder, shortens its life, and in worst cases can crack from overheating.

Fix: A professional fall tune-up with full cleaning (blower wheel, burner assembly, heat exchanger, and flame sensor) solves this 100 % of the time. Takes us about 90 minutes and saves most families 2–3 extra years on their furnace life.

2. Pilot Light or Ignition Problems (The Classic “Click-Click-Click… Nothing”)

Older furnaces have a standing pilot light (that little blue flame that should always be on). Newer ones use electronic ignition (hot-surface ignitor or spark ignition).

What you notice:

• Clicking noise but no heat (electronic ignition trying and failing)
• Pilot light keeps going out or won’t stay lit when you try to relight it
• A yellow/orange flame instead of crisp blue (means it’s dirty or burning incomplete)

Why it happens in Niagara: Drafts from poorly sealed windows, low gas pressure in older neighbourhoods, or simply a thermocouple that’s finally worn out after 12–15 years.

Fix: We clean the pilot assembly, replace thermocouples or hot-surface ignitors (usually under $300 parts & labour), and make sure the flame is burning clean and safe.

3. Cracked Heat Exchanger (The Silent, Dangerous One Nobody Sees Coming)

This is the scariest and most common failure we find on furnaces over 12–15 years old.

A heat exchanger is the metal “firebox” that separates the burning gas from the air you breathe. Over years of heating and cooling, tiny cracks form. Those cracks can leak carbon monoxide into your home.

What you notice (sometimes):

• Soot around registers
• Headaches, nausea, or flu-like symptoms that go away when you leave the house
• A strange metallic burning smell
• Yellow/orange flame instead of blue

Most of the time you notice nothing — until it’s serious.

Fix: Every single fall tune-up we do includes a full heat exchanger inspection with a camera. If we find a crack, we shut the furnace down immediately and walk you through safe, same-week replacement options. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s also the one repair that can literally save lives.

4. Blower Motor or Wheel Issues (The “It Runs But Barely Blows Warm Air” Problem)

The blower pushes warm air through your ducts. If the motor is dying or the wheel is caked in dust, you get weak airflow and cold spots, and the furnace overheats and shuts down on safety.

What you notice:

• Air coming out of vents feels lukewarm at best
• Some rooms stay cold no matter how long it runs
• Strange humming or screeching noises when the fan runs

Why it’s common here: Niagara humidity + dust = perfect recipe for blower wheels to get gummed up.

Fix: Clean the wheel, lubricate or replace bearings, or swap the motor if it’s on its last legs. Most homes see dramatically better heat distribution the same day.

5. Thermostat or Wiring Gremlins (The “It Won’t Turn On At All” Panic)

You turn the thermostat up… and nothing happens. Or it short-cycles (turns on for 2 minutes, off for 5, repeat).

What you notice:

• Furnace completely dead even though there’s power to the house
• Heat comes on randomly or not at all
• Thermostat screen blank or flashing

Why it happens: Old mercury thermostats fail, wires get chewed by mice in the attic, or smart thermostats lose Wi-Fi (yes, really).

Fix: We upgrade a lot of customers to new smart thermostats (Ecobee or Carrier Cor) while we’re there — better comfort and control from your phone.

6. Dirty or Clogged Flame Sensor (The 30-Second Fix That Feels Like Magic)

This tiny metal rod “watches” the flame. If it gets coated in dust or carbon, the furnace thinks the flame isn’t lit and shuts down after 2–3 minutes after starting.

What you notice:

• Furnace starts, runs for a minute or two, then shuts off
• You hear the blower keep running but no heat
• Happens over and over (short-cycling)

This is the #1 call we get the first cold week of November.

Fix: We clean the sensor (takes literally 30 seconds) and the furnace runs perfectly again.

7. Limit Switch or Safety Switch Trips (The “Overheating” Alarm)

Your furnace has several safety switches that shut it down if something’s wrong (blocked vent, overheating, etc.).

What you notice:

• Furnace runs for 5–10 minutes then shuts off completely
• You have to wait 30–60 minutes before it will try again
• Sometimes the blower runs non-stop

Fix: Usually caused by dirty filters, blocked vents, or a failing blower. We find and fix the root cause so it stops tripping.

Bonus: The One Thing Almost Everyone Forgets — Your Filter

A clogged filter is responsible for half the problems above. Change it (or clean it if reusable) every 1–3 months. Mark your calendar or set a phone reminder — it’s the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.

Your Fall Furnace Action Plan (Don’t Wait Until It’s –10 °C)

Here’s the exact checklist we give every customer:

1. Change your filter today (we’ll check the size while we’re there)
2. Book your fall tune-up now (September–October is perfect — our schedule fills fast in November)
3. Ask for the “7-Point Winter Readiness Inspection” (includes heat exchanger camera check)
4. Sleep easy knowing you’re not going to be the one calling at midnight when the first snow flies

Ready to Make Sure Your Family Stays Warm All Winter?

Give us a call or text anytime at (289) 289-2288 and say “I want the fall furnace check.”

We’ll send one of our senior technicians (never a salesperson) to do a full 21-point tune-up and safety inspection — and if anything needs attention, we’ll show you exactly what and why, with photos.

No pressure. No obligation. Just peace of mind.

Because in Niagara, winter always comes faster than we think and we’d rather help you get ready now than rescue you later.