YOUR HOME YOUR WAY n THE BRANDON SUN n APRIL 2026
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Who do you call when the heat goes off? BY ABIOLA ODUTOLA
Brandon resident Huen Luo checks his furnace in his laundry room. (Weichen Zhang/The Brandon Sun)
W hen a Manitoba winter tightens its grip on Westman, a failing furnace isn’t just an inconve- nience — it’s an urgent problem. Indoor temperatures can drop quickly, pipes can freeze and what starts as a small issue can escalate into a costly emergency. For many homeowners, the first in- stinct is to call Manitoba Hydro. But what exactly happens when you do? Media relations officer Peter Chu- ra said the answer depends largely on the type of furnace and the nature of the problem. “Just to be clear,” Chura told the Sun. “We do not service or attend to electric furnaces.” For homes heated with natural gas, however, Hydro crews do play a key role, particularly when heat is lost or reduced. “If the furnace is not providing ade- quate heat, we will attend to ensure that there is no problem with the delivery of
natural gas to the customer,” he said. That distinction matters. While Hydro technicians may perform limited checks or light cleaning to help identify the is- sue, they do not fix common mechanical problems such as broken fans, clogged filters or worn internal components. In- stead, their visit helps rule out supply is- sues and guide homeowners toward the next step — typically calling a licensed HVAC technician. Understanding the difference between gas supply and furnace mechanics can save valuable time in an emergency. Hydro is responsible for the infrastruc- ture that delivers natural gas safely to your home. But once that gas reaches your fur- nace, the responsibility for maintenance and repair shifts to the homeowner and their contractor. That’s where companies like BHP Mechanical Service Group come in. Service technician Jordan Hope said
most “no heat” calls have little to do with the gas supply. “Faulty hot surface ignitors, faulty flame rods, worn motors and overall lack of cleanliness are the most common issues our team encounters,” he told the Sun. When gas is flowing properly, he said, the furnace may still fail to turn on or operate efficiently if key components are worn or dirty. Many of these issues, Hope said, are preventable. Regular maintenance is one of the simplest ways to avoid a mid-winter breakdown, yet it’s often overlooked until something goes wrong. “Furnaces should be inspected by a professional at the start of the heating and cooling season,” he said. That twice-a-year check can catch small problems, including a weakening ignitor or buildup on a flame sensor, be- fore they lead to a complete shutdown.
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