Furnace checks in Alberta: who does them, how often, and protection plans

ATCO Gas offers a furnace and appliance inspection at no direct cost. It is a safety check, not a tune-up, cleaning or repair, and there may be a wait. A yearly professional check is advice from Alberta’s safety codes tips and Health Canada, not a yearly legal check. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 from outside.

Does ATCO Gas inspect furnaces for free?

ATCO Gas can inspect furnaces at no direct cost to you, says its furnace and appliances page. The visit is a safety check of appliance operation, vents, clearances, leaks and carbon monoxide. ATCO Gas does not do tune-ups, cleaning or repairs. Demand is high in fall and winter, so you may wait.

You book through an online form on that page. The page does not say which addresses qualify. If another company delivers gas to your home, it does not say the offer reaches you, so ask that company. ATCO Energy’s tune-up plans are separate and are covered below. ATCO Gas’s gas safety guide says it helps with “making sure your gas appliances are running smoothly”.

Our guide to Alberta energy companies explains the different roles of distributors and retailers.

How often should a furnace be serviced?

A furnace should be serviced each year, says Alberta’s safety codes advice. Health Canada also calls for a yearly check by a professional, or as the maker instructs. Include your other gas appliances in that care. Ask a qualified technician what work each appliance needs and keep the service record.

Who is allowed to work on my furnace?

Only a certified gas fitter should install, repair or remove gas appliances, says Alberta’s safety codes advice. That includes work on your gas furnace. A permit is needed to install, alter or add to a gas system. Ask your local permit office which rules apply before work starts.

The Alberta Safety Codes Authority guideline allows a certified gas fitter or an owner living, or planning to live, in the single-family home to apply. Local rules matter: Calgary requires a homeowner applicant to be an Alberta certified journeyman gas fitter.

What if I smell gas or my CO alarm goes off?

If you smell gas or your CO alarm goes off, leave your home at once. ATCO Gas says to call from a neighbour’s home for a gas leak. Health Canada says to get fresh air when a CO alarm sounds. Call for emergency help from outside before going back.

If you smell gas or your CO alarm sounds, call 911 from outside. For a gas leak, ATCO Gas says to call ATCO Gas, emergency services or the fire department. If a CO alarm sounds, Health Canada says to return only after a professional has fixed the problem.

Health Canada says the most important place for CO alarms is in hallways outside sleeping areas. Follow the maker’s instructions.

What do furnace protection plans cover?

Furnace protection plans cover the care and repairs set out in their terms. ATCO Energy lists two plans with an annual tune-up. The repair cover differs by plan. A separate company, Furnace Family, bills and fulfils these plans. Read the limits before you sign and ask which equipment qualifies for cover.

ATCO Energy also sells Home Protection Plans, a different product. ATCO Energy’s Home Protection Plans cover the repair or replacement costs of home systems and appliances, while Furnace Family’s maintenance plans focus on preventative care, annual servicing and emergency breakdowns (read 30 October 2026) [source]

Both plans: 10% discount on repair services (read 30 October 2026) [source]

These plans are not eligible for ATCO Energy’s quarterly rebate program. BillRobin sells no furnace plan.

We found no furnace plan on the ENMAX home page or sitemap, or on the Direct Energy Alberta Calgary page, on 30 October 2026. Direct Energy’s page lists a surge protection plan.

Read the plan’s terms before you sign; check what it excludes and how to cancel.

Can someone sell me a furnace at my door?

Unsolicited furnace sales at your door are banned, says the Government of Alberta. The ban also covers water heaters and other listed household energy products. A knock at your door is no reason to sign for a new furnace. Take time to check the seller and the written terms.

The ban took effect on 1 January 2017. It applies to unsolicited sales. Keep that scope in mind when reading the rule.

Does a tune-up lower my gas bill?

Ask your technician whether a tune-up could lower your gas bill. Alberta’s safety codes advice calls for yearly service but gives no bill saving figure. Your bill depends on gas use and your plan’s charges. Check both when you look at winter costs, and keep repairs separate from energy prices.

See ways to lower a winter gas bill and how to work out furnace running costs.

A bill check, free during our launch

BillRobin is an Alberta service. We compare every plan we can confirm for your home, show them in order of estimated cost, and you decide. We never switch your plan, never phone you and never ask for banking details or a social insurance number.

Send us your gas and electricity bills as PDFs. No PDF? Screenshots or a photo work too. We compare the plans at your address, free during our launch period.