Waywest Mechanical repairs, replaces and maintains gas and electric furnaces in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Waywest holds Technical Safety BC gas licensing, so furnace diagnosis, gas work, venting and permits are handled by one company. Services include no-heat emergency repair, high-efficiency furnace replacement, and pairing a furnace with a heat pump for dual-fuel heating. FortisBC rebates may apply to eligible high-efficiency models.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Signs your furnace needs attention
- No heat, or heat that never reaches the set temperature
- Short cycling — turning on and off frequently
- Loud banging, squealing, rattling or booming on start-up
- A yellow or flickering burner flame instead of steady blue
- Rising gas bills without a change in use
- Rooms that are much colder than others
- Soot, rust or moisture around the furnace or vent
- A furnace approaching or past 15–20 years old
Furnace repair
Most no-heat calls come down to a handful of components:
- Igniters and flame sensors that fail or get dirty
- Inducer and blower motors and their capacitors
- Pressure switches and blocked condensate lines on high-efficiency furnaces
- Control boards and limit switches
- Gas valves
- Thermostat and wiring problems
Because Waywest is TSBC licensed for gas, the technician who finds a fault in the gas train or venting can repair it on the same visit.
If you have no heat outside business hours during cold weather, call the 24/7 emergency line.
Furnace replacement
When a furnace is at the end of its life, replacing it is also the moment to decide what heats the house for the next fifteen years. The main options:
High-efficiency gas furnace. A modern condensing furnace uses much less gas than an older mid-efficiency unit and vents through plastic pipe out a side wall. FortisBC rebates may apply to eligible models — see rebates.
Heat pump with furnace backup. A dual-fuel system lets a heat pump handle most of the winter while the furnace takes over on the coldest days.
Heat pump only. For homes ready to move off gas entirely — see heat pumps.
What a furnace replacement includes
- Load calculation so the new furnace is sized to the house, not just matched to the old label.
- Duct inspection, because a new furnace on undersized or leaky ducts will not perform well — see ductwork.
- Removal of the old furnace.
- Installation of the new furnace, gas connection, venting, condensate drain and a new filter rack.
- Gas permit through Technical Safety BC.
- Start-up and combustion check, then a walk-through of the thermostat and filter changes.
Annual furnace maintenance
A yearly tune-up before the heating season cleans and checks the burners, heat exchanger, flame sensor, blower and safety controls. It is the best way to avoid the first-cold-night breakdown and is often required to keep manufacturer warranties valid. See maintenance plans.
Service area
Waywest repairs and installs furnaces in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, Chemainus, 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
Can I replace an oil furnace with a heat pump?
Yes. Many Vancouver Island homes are replacing oil furnaces with heat pumps, which removes the oil tank and adds summer cooling. Income-qualified households switching from oil may receive up to $13,000 through the CleanBC Energy Savings Program. Waywest checks rebate eligibility and the existing ductwork before quoting.
How often should a furnace be serviced?
Once a year, before the heating season. Furnace service and maintenance cleans and checks the burners, flame sensor, heat exchanger, blower and safety controls, which prevents most no-heat calls and keeps manufacturer warranties valid.
How long does a furnace last?
A gas furnace commonly lasts around 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance. Furnaces past that age that need frequent repairs, cycle unevenly, or have a cracked heat exchanger are usually better replaced than repaired.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
Common causes are a thermostat set to fan instead of heat, a dirty filter causing the furnace to overheat and shut off the burner, an ignition or flame sensor fault, or a gas supply problem. If replacing the filter and checking the thermostat does not fix it, call for service rather than repeatedly resetting the furnace.
Should I repair or replace my furnace?
Repair usually makes sense for a younger furnace with a single failed part, such as an igniter, flame sensor, inducer motor or control board. Replacement is worth considering when the furnace is older, repairs are becoming regular, efficiency is low, or you are thinking about adding a heat pump.
What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Get everyone outside immediately and call 911 or FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside. Do not go back in until the building has been cleared. Once it is safe, a licensed gas fitter should inspect the furnace and other gas appliances before they are used again.
Does a new furnace need a permit?
Yes. Gas furnace installations in BC require a gas permit through Technical Safety BC. Waywest is a licensed gas contractor and obtains the permit as part of the installation.
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.