Oil Furnace Service & Repair in Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
P3 Mechanical & Electrical services and repairs oil-fired furnaces across Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island, and converts them to gas or a heat pump when a system reaches the end of its life. An annual service and tune-up takes a couple of hours; a conversion is a far larger job and is priced on its own. Both are quoted in writing after we test combustion and look at the tank, not over the phone.
Servicing an oil furnace, or moving off one
Oil burners foul faster than gas ones. The nozzle, oil filter, and ignition electrodes are consumables, and a burner left untuned drifts out of adjustment until it smokes, sooties the heat exchanger, and burns more fuel for the same heat. An annual clean and combustion test prevents that.
The tank often forces the decision. Many Island homes still have one from decades ago, insurers ask about its age and construction, and a buried tank found during a sale can turn into soil testing at the owner’s cost. At that point replacing the tank is one option and switching to a heat pump or gas is the other — we price both.
What's included
- Nozzle, oil filter, and ignition electrode replacement
- Burner cleaning, adjustment, and a combustion efficiency test
- Heat exchanger and flue inspection for cracks and blockage
- Pump pressure check and fuel line inspection
- Tank condition check, including vent and fill lines
- Repairs to controls, blower motors, and no-heat faults
Pricing & what's covered
Free estimate
We price the job after an in-home visit, once someone has seen what's there.
- One-year warranty on our labour. Equipment and parts are covered separately, under the supplier's or manufacturer's own warranty.
- We'll go over licensing and equipment with you at the visit.
How it works
Assessment — we test combustion and inspect the heat exchanger, flue, and tank before quoting.
Written quote — parts and labour agreed up front, with a conversion priced beside the repair.
Service or repair — consumables replaced, burner tuned, and efficiency re-tested afterwards.
Conversion — if you switch, we handle the new system, the permits, and the rebate paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How often does an oil furnace need servicing?
Once a year, before the heating season. The nozzle, filter, and electrodes are consumables, and a tuned burner uses noticeably less fuel than one left alone for several winters.
How much does an oil furnace service cost?
An annual service is a few-hundred-dollar job rather than a few-thousand-dollar one: the nozzle, oil filter, and electrodes are inexpensive consumables and the visit is mostly labour. Parts beyond those are quoted before we fit them, and if the combustion test turns up something larger we price the repair beside a conversion instead of adding to the bill unannounced.
My oil furnace shut down and will not restart — what now?
Check the tank level and the burner reset button. Press reset once only — repeated resets pump unburned oil into the combustion chamber, which is a real fire hazard.
Should I replace my oil furnace with a heat pump?
Often the numbers favour it. CleanBC Better Homes and BC Hydro both run rebate programs aimed at households moving off oil, and what you qualify for depends on your household income tier and the equipment installed rather than on one published amount. A heat pump also cools in summer, which an oil furnace cannot. We price the repair and the switch side by side so the comparison is yours to make.
Will my insurance still cover an older oil tank?
Many insurers ask about a tank’s age and construction, and each sets its own limit past which they will not renew. Ask yours before your renewal date, not after.
What happens to the old tank if I switch heating systems?
It has to be drained, cleaned, and disposed of properly, and a buried tank carries extra municipal requirements. Leaving one in the ground is what becomes a remediation bill at sale.
Ready to get it fixed?
Call now, or send us the details online and we'll follow up.