Heating a Farmhouse in the Fraser Valley
About two-thirds of Chilliwack's land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, and many families live in farmhouses that have been added to over generations. Heating them well takes some thought.
Request an HVAC technicianWhat you have
Oil furnaces, propane furnaces, boilers, wood stoves and baseboards are all common in rural homes.
Heat pumps
Ducted or ductless heat pumps can replace or supplement older systems and add cooling.
Keep a backup
Many rural homes keep a wood stove or furnace as backup during outages and cold snaps.
Insulation first
Older farmhouses often lose heat through walls, windows and attics. Insulation upgrades make any system work better.
Additions
Rooms added over the years may sit at the end of long duct runs. Ductless heads can serve them directly.
Outbuildings
Shops and barns may need their own heating. Separate systems keep them independent of the house.
Electrical service
Rural homes may need service upgrades for heat pumps.
Oil tanks
Old oil tanks should be inspected or removed properly when switching systems.
Dust
Farm dust loads filters fast. Check them monthly in busy seasons.
Next
Get a whole-house view
A contractor who looks at insulation, windows and the heating system together can suggest the most effective order for upgrades.
Outages
Rural power outages can last longer. Know how to restart your system safely when power returns.
Wood heat
Wood stoves and inserts need yearly chimney sweeping and inspection. Many families keep them as backup when switching the main system.
Plan in stages
Many families upgrade in steps: insulation and windows, then a heat pump for the main floor, then other rooms. A plan helps each step build on the last.
Fuel costs
Ask the contractor to compare running costs for propane, oil and electricity in your home rather than relying on general claims.
More heating and cooling guides
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Repairs, replacements and new installs. Tell us what's going on and we'll pass it straight to a heating and cooling contractor, who will call you to go over the job and give you a quote.
- Heat pump, furnace and AC repairs, replacements and new installs
- Chilliwack, Sardis, Yarrow, Agassiz and Harrison
- Get a quote before any work starts
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