Waywest Mechanical repairs, replaces and maintains residential and commercial boilers in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Waywest holds Technical Safety BC licensing for gas, boiler and pressure vessel work, and handles hydronic heating systems including in-floor radiant heat, radiators, combination boilers that also supply hot water, and multi-boiler commercial plants. Services include emergency repair, high-efficiency boiler replacement and annual maintenance.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Residential boiler systems
Hydronic heating uses hot water circulated through pipes to heat a home. It is quiet, even and comfortable, and common in Island homes with:
- In-floor radiant heat in concrete slabs or under finished floors
- Baseboard or panel radiators
- Combination (combi) boilers that provide both heat and domestic hot water
- Indirect hot water tanks heated by the boiler
Residential mechanical rooms like the one we service in Qualicum Beach can combine a boiler, storage tanks, circulator pumps and zone valves into one system. Keeping all of those parts working together is where experience matters.
Commercial boiler plants
Apartment buildings, commercial properties, schools and facilities often run on multiple boilers with shared piping, pumps and controls. Waywest handles:
- Boiler plant replacements, including removal of aging equipment
- Multi-boiler installations with staged or modulating controls
- Circulator pumps, expansion tanks and hydronic piping
- Burner service and combustion tuning
- Pressure vessel requirements under TSBC regulation
On Latimer Road, for example, Waywest removed a room of aging, corroded boilers and installed four SL-series high-efficiency condensing boilers with new piping and controls. See the Latimer Road boiler room project.
Signs your boiler needs service
- No heat, or some zones cold while others are warm
- Pressure dropping, or water from the relief valve
- Banging, gurgling or kettling noises
- Leaks or rust at the boiler base or fittings
- The boiler locking out and needing frequent resets
- Hot water running out on a combi or indirect system
- A burner flame that is yellow or unstable
If a boiler is leaking or you have no heat in cold weather after hours, call the 24/7 emergency line.
Boiler replacement
Replacing a boiler is an opportunity to improve efficiency, but only if the new system suits the old piping. We look at:
- Heat load of the building, which is often lower than the original boiler size
- Water temperatures the heating system needs — condensing boilers are most efficient at lower temperatures
- Venting and combustion air requirements
- Water quality, strainers and air and dirt separation to protect the new heat exchanger
- Domestic hot water integration
- Rebates from FortisBC where applicable — see rebates
Annual boiler maintenance
A yearly service inspects and cleans the burner and heat exchanger, checks safety controls, relief valves and expansion tanks, tests combustion, and confirms system pressure and circulation. It prevents most mid-winter failures. See maintenance plans.
Service area
Waywest services and installs boilers in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, the Comox Valley and across our Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
How long does a boiler last?
Cast-iron boilers can last several decades, while modern high-efficiency condensing boilers typically last around 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance. Water quality, venting condition and annual servicing make a large difference to lifespan.
Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?
Pressure loss usually means water is leaving the system: a leak in piping or radiators, a failing pressure relief valve, or a faulty expansion tank. Topping it up repeatedly hides the problem and can introduce oxygen that corrodes the boiler, so the cause should be found.
Can I replace an old boiler with a high-efficiency one?
Usually, yes. A condensing boiler needs different venting, a condensate drain and often better water treatment, and works best with lower water temperatures such as in-floor heat. Waywest assesses the existing system before recommending equipment.
Do boilers need a permit and licensed contractor in BC?
Yes. Boiler installations and gas work in BC fall under Technical Safety BC regulation, and larger boilers and pressure vessels have additional requirements. Waywest is TSBC licensed for gas, boiler and pressure vessel work.
Do you service commercial boilers?
Yes. Waywest services and replaces commercial and institutional boiler plants, including multi-boiler systems with circulating pumps, controls and expansion tanks, for apartment buildings, commercial properties and facilities.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.