A workmanship warranty covers the installer's own labour and setup, not the equipment itself, and it is the coverage most homeowners forget to ask about.
Tell us what you need—we’ll call you back fast.
Quick answer
A workmanship warranty is a promise from the installing contractor, separate from the manufacturer's product warranty, that the installation itself was done correctly and that the contractor will return to fix installation-related problems at no extra labour charge for a stated period. It does not cover the appliance parts, and it will not fix problems caused by the equipment failing on its own rather than by how it was installed. Homeowners in Metro Vancouver should get the workmanship term in writing at the time of the quote, since it varies by contractor and is not standardized the way some manufacturer warranties are.
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.
Every gas boiler or water heater installation carries at least two separate warranties that homeowners tend to blur together. The manufacturer's warranty covers the appliance and its components against defects in materials or workmanship at the factory. The installer's workmanship warranty covers something entirely different: whether the contractor who put the appliance in your home did the job correctly — proper venting, correct gas line sizing, sound electrical and condensate connections, and correct commissioning of the controls.
This distinction matters because a large share of early appliance problems trace back to installation, not manufacturing. A boiler that short-cycles because the gas pressure was never properly set, a water heater that leaks at a fitting the installer sweated or threaded incorrectly, or a condensing unit whose condensate line was pitched the wrong way and backs up — none of these are manufacturing defects, and the manufacturer's warranty will not address them. The installer's workmanship warranty is what covers a callback for exactly these kinds of issues.
CANRO backs its own installation work with a workmanship warranty stated at the time of quote and confirmed on the invoice, separate from whatever term the manufacturer offers on the appliance. We tell every homeowner clearly which problems fall under which warranty before work begins, because it affects who you call first if something goes wrong.
What it does not include is equally important: it will not cover a part that fails on its own due to a manufacturing flaw (that is the manufacturer's job), normal wear items like anode rods or gaskets reaching end of life, or damage caused by the homeowner, another trade, or an unrelated event such as a power surge or frozen pipe.
| Aspect | What to Ask Before You Sign |
|---|---|
| Length of coverage | How many months or years of labour coverage is included, and does it apply to the whole job or specific tasks? |
| What triggers a free callback | Is a diagnostic visit free within the term, or only the repair labour once a workmanship fault is confirmed? |
| Written confirmation | Is the workmanship term stated on the invoice or contract, or only mentioned verbally? |
| Licensing behind the warranty | Is the work performed by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter, which many manufacturers require anyway for their own warranty to remain valid? |
| Transferability | Does the workmanship warranty transfer to a new homeowner if the house is sold during the term? |
Because workmanship warranty terms are not standardized across the industry the way some manufacturer terms are, there is no single 'typical' length that applies everywhere in Metro Vancouver. A homeowner comparing quotes should ask each contractor to state their workmanship term in writing and compare that alongside the price, rather than assuming all quotes carry the same protection.
In British Columbia, gas fitting work must be performed by a contractor licensed through Technical Safety BC. This is not just a legal requirement; it also underpins the workmanship warranty itself. If an installation was performed without a licensed gas fitter, a homeowner may find that the manufacturer's product warranty is void regardless of what the installer promised, because most manufacturers require proof of licensed installation as a condition of coverage.
CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450. We say this not as a marketing point but because it is the specific credential that makes both our workmanship warranty and the manufacturer's product warranty stand up if either is ever needed. A homeowner working with an unlicensed installer, even a lower quote, risks having no meaningful warranty coverage at all if something goes wrong.
Keeping your original invoice, the technician's commissioning notes if provided, and any correspondence makes this process faster whenever it is needed, sometimes years after the original install.
Safety note
Gas fitting work in British Columbia must be performed by a Technical Safety BC licensed contractor. If you ever smell gas near a boiler or water heater, leave the home first and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 before contacting any contractor about a warranty issue.
No. The workmanship warranty comes from the installing contractor and covers the quality of the installation itself, while the manufacturer's warranty covers defects in the appliance's own parts. They are separate promises from separate parties and usually run for different lengths of time.
The term is stated at the time of quote and confirmed on your invoice, since it can vary by the scope of the job. Ask for it in writing before work begins so you have a clear reference later.
No, normal wear items and parts that fail on their own due to age or a manufacturing issue fall under the manufacturer's warranty, not the installer's workmanship coverage. Workmanship warranties address problems caused by how the job was done, not by the equipment aging normally.
This depends on the specific contractor's terms, so ask directly whether the warranty is tied to the original owner or the property. Keep the original invoice with the house documents either way, since a new owner may need it to make a claim.
They can promise one, but in BC gas work must legally be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed contractor, and using an unlicensed installer can also void the manufacturer's product warranty. A workmanship promise from an unlicensed installer carries real risk on top of being potentially illegal.
Call the installing contractor first so they can determine whether the issue is related to the installation (their workmanship warranty) or a defective part (the manufacturer's warranty). They should be able to diagnose which applies and guide the next step.
Family-run, TSBC-licensed (gas LGA0043870 · boiler LBP0046450), serving Metro Vancouver homes since 1999. Residential, natural gas only.
Call (604) 359-1081 Email info@canroheat.ca“Canro does an amazing job! Super professional and skilled with everything—boilers, furnaces, and AC. Always a pleasure working with them!”
“Five stars for Canro. We needed a replacement of a 30-year-old boiler. A new high-efficiency unit was installed—clean, professional work.”
“I can’t speak highly enough about George, who was recommended for a boiler service call for my parents’ home. George is excellent.”
25+ years keeping Metro Vancouver homes comfortable. Honest advice, upfront pricing, work that lasts.