Heating Services in Coquitlam: Repair, Maintenance & Installation

Which Heating Service Do You Need?

Most people land here with a problem, not a part name. Start with what's happening in your home, then use the menu above or the sections below to find the right page.

• No heat, or the heat keeps cutting out: that's a repair. Our heating repair page covers the common faults our technicians fix.
• Everything works, but it hasn't been serviced in a year or more: book heating maintenance before the cold weather arrives.
• Your system is old, noisy, or costs more to run every winter: look at your installation and replacement options.
• Not enough hot water, or water on the floor by the tank: see the water heater section below.
• You smell gas: leave the house first, then read the gas safety note further down this page.
• You're not sure what kind of system you have: the quick guide below will help. Or just call and describe it, and we'll work it out with you.
  

These three services are organized by what needs doing, not by the type of equipment. Each one covers furnaces, boilers and water heaters.

• Heating Repair: for anything that has stopped working or started acting strange. Think no heat, short cycling, a pilot that won't stay lit, or a breakdown on the coldest night of the year. The page walks through common faults, what a repair visit looks like, and how to weigh repair against replacement.
• Heating Maintenance: for a system that runs fine today and that you'd like to keep that way. A yearly visit checks the burner, safety controls, venting and water heater parts, so small problems get caught early. It's the best way to get full life out of your heating equipment, and our maintenance services cover gas and electric systems alike.
• Heating Installation & Replacement: for a new furnace, boiler or water heater, or for retiring an old furnace that's past its prime. Furnace installation, boiler installation and water heater installation all need the gas, venting and permit side done right. We size the new system for your home and handle that part too.

If your home has floor or wall vents that blow warm air, you have a forced-air furnace, and it gets its own page. Our furnace service page goes deeper on gas furnace problems, annual tune-ups, and when a new furnace makes more sense than another furnace repair. It also covers a few furnace issues that are common in homes here in the Tri-Cities.

Your water heater is part of your home heating too, and it's often the piece that fails first. We repair, maintain and install tank and tankless water heaters, gas and electric.

• Hot Water Tank Services: the most common setup in local homes. This section of the site covers leaking tanks, hot water tank replacement, and the brands we service, each with its own page.
• Tankless Water Heaters: on-demand units that heat water as you use it instead of keeping a full tank hot. They save space and can be more energy-efficient, but they need correct sizing and regular flushing. The tankless page covers repair, maintenance and switching from a tank.
• Electric Water Heaters: for homes without a gas line, or owners who prefer electric. These use heating elements instead of a burner, so the common problems and the fixes are different from a gas tank.

A boiler heats water instead of air and sends it through pipes to radiators, baseboard heaters or tubing under the floor. That's called hydronic heating. Radiant in-floor heating warms the floor itself, so the heat is quiet and even, with no air blowing around. It's a bigger job to install than a forced-air furnace and needs an experienced installer, but a well-maintained system can last for decades.

We work on residential and commercial boilers, from radiator systems in older homes to high-efficiency condensing units. Our boiler service page covers boiler repair, installation and maintenance, plus the boiler brands we service.

What Heats Your Home? A Quick Guide for Tri-Cities Homeowners

Not sure what's on the heating side of your home's HVAC system? A quick walk around the house usually tells you.

• Vents in the floor or walls that blow warm air: a forced-air furnace, usually gas. See furnace repair and maintenance.
• Radiators or baseboard heaters fed by water pipes: a hot water boiler. See boiler repair and service.
• Warm floors with no vents or radiators: radiant in-floor heating, run by a boiler or a combi unit.
• A tall tank in the basement, garage or utility closet: a tank water heater.
• A small box on the wall with pipes underneath: a tankless water heater or a combi boiler.

The housing mix across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby and New Westminster shapes what we see. Many older detached homes still have the classic pairing: a gas furnace and a gas hot water tank side by side in the basement. Many newer townhouses were built with a wall-hung combination boiler instead, usually called a combi. One combi unit heats both the home and the tap water. That saves space, but it also means one breakdown can leave you with no heat and no hot water at the same time, so it helps to call someone who works on both sides. If you have a combi, mention it when you call.

Planning to add a gas appliance, like a tankless water heater, a gas range or a fireplace? The existing gas line has to be able to carry the extra load, and an older line sized for one furnace and one tank may not. A licensed gas fitter should check this before the new appliance goes in.

Anything that touches a gas line, from a furnace to a boiler to a gas water heater, legally requires a licensed gas fitter in BC. We're a Class A gas-fitting company, so we handle gas installation, maintenance, alterations and leak detection ourselves instead of subcontracting that part of the job. That's part of what makes us a reliable heating and plumbing service that homeowners keep calling back.

If you smell gas: a rotten-egg smell can mean a gas leak. Don't flip light switches or use anything that could spark. Get everyone outside, then call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line from a safe distance. Once the gas company has made it safe, we can find and repair the problem. It's also worth having a working carbon monoxide alarm near the bedrooms in any home with fuel-burning heating equipment.

Some problems can wait for a regular appointment. Others can't. Call our emergency service line for emergency repair any time, day or night, if:

• Your home has no heat in cold weather, especially with a baby, an older relative or someone unwell in the house
• You have no heat and no hot water at the same time
• Your hot water tank or boiler is leaking
• Your carbon monoxide alarm goes off (get everyone outside first, and call 911 if anyone feels sick)

Other issues, like a furnace that's noisy but still working or a water heater that's slow to recover, can usually wait for a regular service call. Not sure which one you have? Call (604) 873-3753 and we'll help you decide.

How Long Do Heating Systems Last?

Most water heaters last 10 to 12 years, while tankless water heaters and well-maintained boilers can run 15 years or more. Furnaces typically last 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance. An old furnace or an aging tank near the end of that range is worth planning a furnace replacement or a new tank for, rather than waiting for a breakdown in January. A new system is a big decision for your home comfort and your budget, so it's better made on your schedule than in a hurry. Newer high-efficiency furnaces and boilers also use less gas than many older models, so better energy efficiency is part of the payoff.

Whatever you have, an annual tune-up with routine maintenance is the cheapest way to get the most life out of it. See our heating maintenance page for what that involves.

Why Coquitlam Homeowners Choose KCs for Reliable Heating Service

You shouldn't have to diagnose your own heating system before you pick up the phone. Tell us what's happening, and we'll work out whether it's the furnace, the boiler, the water heater or the gas supply. Because we do repair and maintenance on all of them, you won't get passed between a plumber, a furnace company and a gas fitter. Whatever your heating needs, you get one reliable service call instead of three.

We've served Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities since 1993 as a licensed, insured, BBB-accredited, family-run company led by master plumber Jack Japuncic. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and our technicians carry common parts on the truck, so most repair services are done in a single visit.

We're also your local team for plumbing repairs and drain cleaning, so whatever else comes up, one call covers it.

Do You Offer Emergency Heating Service?

Yes. Our emergency line is open 24 hours a day for homes in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby and New Westminster. Call (604) 873-3753.

What Heating Systems Do You Work On?

We handle maintenance and repair for gas furnaces, boilers, combi boilers, hot water tanks, tankless water heaters, electric water heaters, and radiant floor and hydronic systems.

Are You Licensed for Gas Work?

Yes. We're a Class A licensed gas-fitting company and handle all gas installation, alteration and repair work ourselves.

Do You Offer Maintenance Plans?

Yes. Ask about setting up a regular maintenance schedule so your furnace, boiler or water heater gets serviced every year without you having to remember. See our heating maintenance page for details.

How Much Does Heating Service Cost?

It depends on the system and what it needs. Our rates page has the details, or call us and we'll talk it through.

What Should I Do If I Smell Gas?

Leave the house right away without flipping any switches. Call FortisBC's 24-hour emergency line from outside. Once it's safe, call us to find and repair the leak.

Which Page Do I Need for My Specific Problem?

If your system is broken, start with the repair page. For a tune-up, it's maintenance, and for a new system, it's installation. Each type of equipment also has its own page with more detail, and you can always call us if you're not sure.

Whatever the problem, call KCs Plumbing & Heating at (604) 873-3753 or request service online. Not sure which service you need? That's fine. Describe what's going on, and we'll figure out the rest together.

Serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, and New Westminster. Call (604) 873-3753 today.

Written by Jack Japuncic, Master Plumber, founder of KCs Plumbing, Heating & Drain Services.