A space heater can bridge a cold night or two, but it isn't a real substitute for a working furnace. Here's how to use one safely and why the furnace still needs fixing.
Tell us what you need—we’ll call you back fast.
Quick answer: Using a space heater for a short stretch while you arrange furnace repair is fine if you follow basic safety rules. It is not a safe long-term replacement, though: portable heaters are a leading cause of house fires and carbon monoxide risk, they can't safely heat a whole home, and a furnace left broken through a Metro Vancouver winter can freeze pipes. Treat the heater as a temporary bridge, not a fix.
Have a heating or cooling question about your home? Call (604) 359-1081 or request a free written quote.
There's nothing wrong with plugging in a space heater to take the edge off while you wait for a furnace repair or a written quote. The problem is treating it as a permanent solution. A portable heater is designed to warm one room, not a whole house. Run several of them to compensate and you overload circuits, run up your BC Hydro bill fast, and multiply the fire risk in every room.
There's also the reason your furnace stopped working in the first place. A furnace that won't ignite, short-cycles, or throws a fault code often points to something that gets worse and more expensive the longer it's ignored. Leaving it broken through a wet Metro Vancouver cold snap can also let indoor temperatures drop far enough to freeze and burst pipes, which is a much bigger repair than the furnace itself.
If you're bridging a night or two, follow the basics that prevent most heater-related fires:
A licensed CANRO technician can take a look — honest assessment, no pressure.
📞 (604) 359-1081Request a free quoteMake sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm on each level, especially near sleeping areas. If your furnace failed in a way that involved a strange smell, soot, or a yellow flame, treat it as urgent rather than something a heater can paper over. Keep taps dripping slightly on the coldest nights and open cabinet doors under sinks so warmth reaches the pipes, which lowers freezing risk while the heat is off.
Any time your furnace stops producing heat in winter, it's worth getting it looked at quickly rather than living on space heaters. Some no-heat problems are simple, low-cost fixes; others aren't, and only a licensed technician can tell you which you're dealing with. CANRO Heating & Cooling is a licensed HVAC contractor in Burnaby serving Metro Vancouver since 1999, holding Technical Safety BC gas licence LGA0043870 and Red Seal certification. We offer same-day and after-hours furnace service. A visit includes a diagnostic and a free written quote before any work goes ahead. Call (604) 359-1081 or email info@canroheat.ca.
⚠️ Safety note: Gas furnaces vent combustion byproducts, so a furnace fault combined with poor venting can create a carbon monoxide risk. Make sure you have working CO alarms, never use gas, propane, or kerosene appliances indoors for heat, and if you smell gas leave the home and call your gas utility and a licensed technician.
Family-run, upfront pricing, serving Metro Vancouver homes since 1999.
📞 (604) 359-1081Request a free quoteReviewed by the CANRO Heating & Cooling service team — July 07, 2026. Technical Safety BC gas licence LGA0043870 · boiler licence LBP0046450 · Red Seal certified · WorkSafeBC and liability insured · 4.9★ from 85+ Google reviews · serving Metro Vancouver since 1999 · (604) 359-1081.
“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.