# Contact Our Emergency Repair Technicians

> Lancaster Heating and Cooling offers 24/7 emergency HVAC repair, 365 days a year, for furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and heat pumps across Hamilton and Niagara. Call 905-388-3333 any time; if you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 from outside.

Source: https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/emergency/
Last updated: 2026-11-01

We're on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, because heating and cooling never fail at a convenient time. If your furnace, boiler, air conditioner or heat pump has stopped working, our licensed technicians are ready to help across Hamilton and Niagara, day or night.

**Call our 24/7 line: [905-388-3333](tel:+19053883333)**

> **Smell gas?** Leave your home immediately, then call 911 once you're safely outside.

## What to expect from an emergency visit

**A prompt arrival:** a Lancaster technician comes to your home or business as quickly as possible, day or night. You won't be left waiting until business hours.

**Clear pricing:** before any major work begins, you get a transparent estimate.

**A thorough diagnosis:** we inspect the equipment, thermostat and electrical components to pinpoint the problem.

**Repair on the spot when possible:** straightforward failures, like a switch or sensor, are fixed right away.

**A safe temporary fix when parts are needed:** if a part isn't on hand, we apply a safe temporary fix and book the follow-up before we leave.

**Warranty-backed work:** emergency repairs often include a service warranty.

## Common heating and cooling emergencies

**No heat:** usually age, ignition problems or a clogged filter. In winter, frozen pipes can follow quickly, so don't wait. See [furnace repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/heating/furnace-repair/), or try our [furnace troubleshooting checklist](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/furnace-not-working-checklist/) while you wait.

**Boiler problems:** thermostat or valve failure, scale build-up, pilot problems or frozen pipes. See [boiler repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/heating/boilers/).

**No cooling:** failed capacitors, refrigerant problems, dirty coils or sensors. See [AC repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/cooling/ac-repair/) and our [AC troubleshooting checklist](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/ac-not-cooling-checklist/).

**Water heater failure or leak:** see [water heater repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/water-heaters/repair/).

Emergencies happen less often when equipment is maintained. Our [service plans](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/service-plans/) include spring and fall inspections, plus priority service for members.

## Emergency repair questions

### What counts as an HVAC emergency?

An HVAC emergency is any failure that puts your safety, health or property at risk. Examples include no heat in freezing weather, a carbon monoxide alarm, a gas smell, a leaking water heater, or no cooling during a heat wave when someone at home is elderly, very young or unwell. If you're not sure, [call us](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/contact/) and we'll help you decide.

### My furnace stopped working in winter. What should I check while I wait?

Start with the simple things: make sure the thermostat is set to heat and has working batteries, the furnace power switch and breaker are on, the furnace door is closed properly and the filter isn't clogged. Our [furnace troubleshooting checklist](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/furnace-not-working-checklist/) walks you through each step. If none of that helps, don't keep restarting it; [call for repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/heating/furnace-repair/).

### How do I keep my pipes from freezing when the heat is out?

Keep as much heat in the house as you can and keep water moving. Close windows and doors, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, and let a cold tap drip slowly. Use a safe, approved space heater if you have one, never an oven or BBQ. If a pipe has frozen, shut off the main water valve before it thaws.

### Should I call you or the gas company if I smell gas?

Call the gas company first, from outside. Leave the building right away without using light switches, phones or anything that could spark, then call Enbridge Gas's emergency line or 911 from a safe distance. Once the utility has made the area safe, we can find and repair the leak and check your [gas lines](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/gas-lines/) and appliances.

### My carbon monoxide alarm is going off. What should I do?

Get everyone, including pets, outside into fresh air right away, then call 911 from outside. Don't go back in until emergency responders say it's safe. Carbon monoxide has no colour or smell, so treat every alarm as real. Afterwards, have your furnace, water heater and other fuel-burning appliances inspected before you use them again.

### Is a broken air conditioner an emergency?

It can be. During a heat wave, high indoor temperatures are a real health risk for older adults, infants and anyone with a medical condition, so a failed air conditioner deserves an urgent call. While you wait, close blinds, stay on the lowest floor and drink water. See [AC repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/cooling/ac-repair/) and our [AC troubleshooting checklist](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/ac-not-cooling-checklist/).

### Are you really available 24/7, including holidays?

Yes. We take emergency calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and holidays. A licensed Lancaster technician comes to your home or business as quickly as possible, so you won't be left waiting until the office opens. For regular service, our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

### Do you charge more for emergency calls after hours?

Yes. Extra charges apply after regular business hours and on weekends and holidays. Our regular diagnostic fee is $140/hr, and Gold and Silver [service plan](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/service-plans/) members pay a discounted $120/hr. All prices are subject to HST. Before any repair begins, our technician gives you an upfront, flat-rate price, so you can decide before work starts.

### Can you fix the problem on the first visit?

Often, yes. Our vehicles carry parts for most common repairs, so failures like a switch, sensor or capacitor can usually be fixed on the spot. If a part isn't on hand, we apply a safe temporary fix where possible and book the follow-up before we leave. Either way, we test operation and safety before we go.

### Who will come to my home for an emergency repair?

A licensed, factory-trained Lancaster technician, never a subcontractor. Our technicians repair all makes and models of furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, heat pumps and water heaters, so you don't need to find a dealer for your particular brand in the middle of the night.

### My water heater is leaking. What should I do?

Shut off the cold water supply valve on the pipe at the top of the tank to stop more water flowing in. For a gas water heater, turn the gas control knob to off; for an electric one, switch off its breaker. Move valuables away from the water and keep clear of the hot tank. Then see [water heater repair](https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/water-heaters/repair/) or call us.

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**Lancaster Heating and Cooling** — HVAC contractor serving Hamilton, Niagara and surrounding areas since 1955.
Phone (24/7 emergency): 905-388-3333 · Email: info@lancasterhvac.ca
Address: 1250 Stone Church Rd. E, Hamilton, ON L8W 2C8, Canada · Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 4:30PM
Request a quote: https://lancasterheatingandcooling.ca/quote/