It’s 11:00 PM on a Friday in December. Outside, the temperature has plummeted to -25°C, and the wind chill is making it feel closer to -35°C. You’re settling in for the night when you notice an eerie silence: your furnace hasn’t kicked on in over an hour. Or perhaps you hear a loud metallic bang followed by the sound of the system shutting down completely.
In many parts of the world, a broken heater is an inconvenience. In Calgary, it’s a legitimate emergency.
At Shift Heating & Cooling, we know that our local winters don’t forgive equipment failures. A furnace breakdown here isn’t just about being uncomfortable; it’s about the safety of your family and the integrity of your home’s plumbing. As Calgary’s trusted experts in furnace repair, we have seen firsthand how quickly a cold house can turn into a frozen disaster.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly when to hit the panic button (and when you can wait), safety steps to take immediately, and how our 24/7 emergency team gets your heat back on—fast.
1. What Qualifies as a “Furnace Emergency”?
Not every furnace glitch requires a technician at 2:00 AM, but in Calgary’s climate, the line between “annoyance” and “emergency” is thin. Here is how to tell the difference:
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Total Heat Loss Below Freezing: If the outside temperature is below 0°C (which is most of the winter here) and your furnace is producing no heat, this is an emergency. Your home’s insulation will only hold heat for so long before the internal temperature drops dangerously low.
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The Smell of Rotten Eggs (Gas Leak): This is the most critical safety warning. Natural gas is odorless, but utility companies add mercaptan to give it a distinct sulfur smell. If you smell this, evacuate your home immediately, call ATCO Gas or 911, and then call us for a repair once the site is safe.
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Loud Screeching or Banging Noises: A gentle hum is normal; a metal-on-metal screech is not. This often indicates a seized blower motor or a loose component that is about to cause catastrophic failure. Continuing to run the unit can destroy expensive parts, turning a $300 repair into a $3,000 replacement.
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Alerts: Never ignore a CO alarm. A cracked heat exchanger in your furnace can leak this deadly, odorless gas into your bedrooms. If your alarm goes off, open windows, get everyone outside, and call for professional help immediately.
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Short Cycling: If your furnace turns on for 30 seconds and shuts off repeatedly, it is failing to heat your home. In deep winter, this won’t keep up with the heat loss through your windows and walls.
2. The “Frozen Pipe” Clock: Why Speed Matters
The biggest financial risk of a furnace breakdown isn’t the repair bill itself—it’s your plumbing. When your home’s internal temperature drops below freezing, water inside your pipes expands and bursts copper and PEX lines.
In a standard Calgary home with average insulation, you typically have 12 to 24 hours of residual heat before pipes in exterior walls begin to freeze. However, during an extreme cold snap (like the -30°C stretches we see in February), that window shrinks dramatically.
This is why Shift Heating & Cooling prioritizes speed. We offer same-day emergency service and aim to have a technician at your door within 1-2 hours for urgent heating failures. We don’t want you to deal with a flooded basement on top of a broken furnace.
3. What To Do While You Wait for Your Technician
Once you have called Shift Heating & Cooling for furnace repair in Calgary, follow these steps to keep your home safe and as warm as possible while our van is on the way:
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Close Blinds and Curtains: Windows are the biggest source of heat loss. heavy drapes act as extra insulation.
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Contain the Heat: Gather the family (and pets) into one central room. Close the doors to unused bedrooms and basements to trap existing heat in the living area.
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Use Space Heaters Safely: If you have electric space heaters, use them in that central room. Warning: Never use a gas oven or outdoor camping stove to heat your home—this creates a massive carbon monoxide risk.
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Protect Your Pipes: If the house is getting very cold, turn your faucets on to a slow drip. Moving water is harder to freeze. If it looks like the repair might take a while (e.g., waiting for a rare part), locate your main water shut-off valve just in case.
4. The Shift Heating & Cooling Difference
When you search for “furnace repair Calgary,” you’ll find plenty of options. But here is why homeowners in communities from Seton to Sage Hill trust Shift:
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We Are Fully Stocked: Nothing is worse than a technician arriving, diagnosing the problem, and then saying, “I have to order the part—see you in two days.” Our vans are warehouses on wheels. We stock universal parts for major brands like Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and Goodman, allowing us to complete most repairs in a single visit.
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Transparent Pricing: Emergency repairs can be stressful for your wallet. We provide upfront quotes before we touch a tool. You will know exactly what the diagnostic fee is and what the repair will cost—no surprise overtime billing after the work is done.
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Local Expertise: We understand Calgary’s unique challenges. We know how local wind patterns affect venting and how dry Alberta air impacts ignitors. We aren’t just fixing a machine; we are calibrating it for this climate.
5. Preventing the Next Emergency
Once the heat is back on, the best way to avoid a repeat panic is regular maintenance. Most emergency breakdowns are caused by dirt buildup or wear-and-tear that could have been caught months earlier.
Conclusion
A silent furnace in the dead of winter is a scary situation, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Shift Heating & Cooling, we are more than just HVAC techs; we are your neighbors. We are committed to keeping Calgary warm, safe, and comfortable, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If your system is acting up, don’t “wait and see.” Call the experts in furnace repair in Calgary today at Shift Heating & Cooling. We’ll be on our way before the house gets cold.
