The right boiler contractor is verified by licence, sizing method, and a clear written scope, not by claims that are hard to check.
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Quick answer
Choosing a boiler contractor for installation or repair in British Columbia starts with confirming they hold a current Technical Safety BC gas licence, since gas boiler work legally requires one. Beyond licensing, look at whether they perform an actual heat-loss assessment before recommending a boiler size, whether they give you a clear written scope of work, and whether they are upfront that any quoted range is a ballpark until they see the job in person. A contractor who avoids these basics, or who pushes a specific number before assessing your home, is worth being cautious about.
Need a licensed gas fitter for your hot water / boiler? Call CANRO at (604) 359-1081 — residential natural-gas heating and hot water across Metro Vancouver since 1999.
In British Columbia, gas fitting work — including boiler installation, gas line modification, and venting — legally requires a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter. This is not a suggestion or a nice-to-have credential; unlicensed gas work is both a safety risk and can create problems with insurance and future home sales. A homeowner can ask a contractor for their licence number directly, and CANRO's own gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450 are the kind of specifics a legitimate contractor should be able to provide without hesitation.
Licensing covers the gas-fitting side; general contracting or plumbing licences alone do not automatically cover gas boiler work, so it is worth clarifying which specific licence applies to the job being quoted.
A boiler should be sized to a home's actual heat loss, not guessed from square footage alone or matched simply to whatever size is being replaced. A contractor who visits, looks at insulation, window area, ceiling heights, and the home's existing distribution system — baseboards, cast-iron radiators, or radiant floor loops — before recommending a specific model size is doing the job properly. One who quotes a size and price over the phone without seeing the home is skipping a step that affects both comfort and long-term efficiency.
A written scope should specify the boiler model being installed, whether an indirect tank or combi setup is included, what venting and gas line work is part of the job, and what is excluded. Ballpark figures are appropriate at the estimate stage — a boiler installation typically runs $6,500 to $14,000 or more, and a full replacement including removal of the old unit typically runs $7,500 to $15,000 or more — but a firm number should follow an in-person assessment, not precede it.
Ask what permits are required and confirm the contractor pulls them; municipal mechanical permits for gas boiler work are standard practice in Metro Vancouver municipalities, and a contractor skipping this step is a red flag.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can you provide your Technical Safety BC gas licence number? | Confirms legal authority to perform gas work |
| Will you do a heat-loss assessment before recommending a size? | Correct sizing affects comfort, noise, and efficiency |
| Will you pull the required municipal permit? | Permits protect you at resale and confirm inspected work |
| What is included and excluded in this quote? | Prevents surprise charges mid-project |
A contractor comfortable answering all of these directly, in writing, is generally a safer bet than one who is vague about licensing, sizing method, or scope.
Safety note
Any work on a gas-fired boiler or water heater — the burner, gas valve, venting, or pressure components — must be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter; CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450. If you ever smell gas, hear hissing at a gas line, or suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside before doing anything else.
Yes. Gas fitting, including boiler installation and venting work, requires a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter under provincial regulation.
Ask for the licence number directly and, if in doubt, you can confirm licence status through Technical Safety BC's own resources rather than relying solely on the contractor's word.
It is reasonable to compare a couple of assessments, especially checking that each one includes a proper heat-loss evaluation rather than a rough guess based on the old unit's size.
Most Metro Vancouver municipalities require a mechanical permit for gas boiler installation or replacement; your contractor should pull this and arrange the required inspection.
Price alone does not indicate quality — compare what is actually included, whether sizing was done properly, and whether the contractor is licensed and pulling permits.
Timeframes vary with scope — a straightforward swap is faster than a job that also involves gas line upsizing, re-venting, or converting from a tank to a combi system — your contractor can outline a realistic schedule after assessing the job.
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