A poorly executed heating installation can become a real danger in Laval
In Laval, thermal comfort and occupant safety go hand in hand—especially during winter. Yet we often see that badly installed electric or gas furnaces jeopardize both. At AirGreen, we regularly step in to correct the mistakes made by careless contractors. In this article, we share with you the four critical signs that a poorly installed furnace is putting your home—and your health—at serious risk. These insights come from our hands-on experience in Laval, but they apply just as much across the North Shore, particularly in residential areas like Vimont, Sainte-Rose, Chomedey, or Duvernay.
A poorly done HVAC installation isn’t just an inconvenience: it’s a red alert
Before diving into the warning signs, let’s make one thing clear: a botched heating installation can lead to skyrocketing energy bills, premature equipment failure, and even serious fire or carbon monoxide risks in the case of natural gas furnaces. Here are the four warning signs you must never ignore.
1. The furnace emits a strange smell or smoke while operating
This is the clearest warning sign, and yet it’s often overlooked or dismissed. A burning smell, melting plastic odor, or gas leak are all red flags of a faulty installation. We were called to a Laval home with a poorly wired electric furnace that was overheating without tripping the breaker. The issue? An undersized electrical connection installed without following the manufacturer’s guidelines. The result: a latent fire hazard narrowly avoided.
Solutions provided by AirGreen:
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Full inspection of wiring and connections.
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Replacement of overheated components.
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Complete reinstallation following CSA B52 and RBQ standards.
2. Metallic noises, vibrations, or loud bangs
A properly installed furnace should operate quietly. If you’re hearing clicking, strange vibrations, or loud banging, it often points to poor anchoring, a misaligned fan, or a motor malfunction. In a recent case in Chomedey, we found a furnace hanging without proper acoustic insulation, creating structure-borne noise every time it started up.
What we did:
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Realigned the motor shaft.
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Installed anti-vibration mounts.
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Soundproofed the plenum.
3. Uneven or missing heat in some rooms
This is a very common issue and often wrongly blamed on the furnace size. In truth, it’s usually due to poor duct design, unbalanced airflow, or worse, an incorrect BTU calculation at the time of installation.
We recently replaced a 15 kW electric furnace in a two-storey home in Fabreville. The previous contractor had installed an undersized unit with an unbalanced duct system. The upstairs rooms were freezing, and the furnace ran constantly without ever reaching the setpoint.
What we did:
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Installed a LENNOX MMD 18 kW furnace.
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Fully revised the ductwork with both static and dynamic balancing.
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Added a smart thermostat to optimize energy usage.
4. Frequent breaker trips or abnormally high power usage
If your furnace regularly trips the breaker, that’s a clear sign the electrical requirements weren’t met during installation. In Laval, we’ve seen multiple cases where 240V circuits were shared with other appliances—completely non-compliant. In another case, the grounding was missing, putting the homeowner at risk of electrocution during a short circuit.
AirGreen’s interventions:
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Complete inspection of the furnace’s electrical circuit.
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Installation of residual current protection devices.
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Full compliance upgrade based on the Quebec Electrical Code.
Why do these errors happen so often?
These issues are neither minor nor rare. They’re usually the result of:
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A poorly done thermal assessment.
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Installers not certified by the RBQ.
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Lack of technical supervision.
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Ultra-low quotes where the installer cuts corners on parts or labor time.
At AirGreen, we frequently handle reinstallations of HVAC systems across the North Shore, including Laval, Blainville, Sainte-Thérèse, and Terrebonne. Our approach is simple: no furnace leaves our site without being fully calibrated and tested.
What should you do if you suspect a faulty installation?
We strongly recommend a full inspection of your heating system if you notice any of these signs. A simple thermal and electrical audit often pinpoints the issue and helps you avoid a complete system failure during the peak of winter.
Bonus: Best practices for a successful furnace installation in Laval
Before installation:
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Perform a thermal load evaluation (square footage, insulation, building orientation).
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Choose the right BTU capacity for the space.
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Check available amperage on your electrical panel.
During installation:
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Follow the Quebec Construction Code.
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Calibrate the blower fan.
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Install ductwork and pressure-test the system.
After installation:
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Full functional test.
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Client training on maintenance procedures.
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Provide RBQ and CSA compliance certificates.
AirGreen: Trusted HVAC Expertise in Laval
At AirGreen, we make no compromises on safety or quality. Whether you’re in Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore or the South Shore, our team of certified technicians ensures your HVAC installation is compliant, efficient, and safe. We’ve built our reputation on transparency, meticulous work, and truly listening to our clients’ needs.
Contact AirGreen today to inspect, repair, or reinstall your heating system in Laval. Don’t wait for a minor issue to become a major safety risk.