Build an HVAC Emergency Kit — What Vancouver Homeowners Need
Published: July 21, 2026 — CANRO Heating & Cooling — Greater Vancouver, BC
Basic Emergency Kit
Portable electric space heater (1,500 watt), flashlights with spare batteries, spare furnace air filters (your specific size), thermostat batteries, a radiator key (for boiler systems), a wet/dry vacuum (for condensate drain clogs), and a basic tool kit (screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers).
Documentation Kit
Keep in a waterproof folder: equipment model and serial numbers (located on the nameplate), manufacturer contact information, your HVAC company phone number and after-hours emergency number, warranty documents and registration, and the gas shutoff valve location (marked with a tag). Take photos of your equipment and store them on your phone.
Preventive Supplies
Consider having on hand: a spare capacitor for your HVAC system (most common failure — ask your technician which size), pipe insulation for emergency freeze protection, a carbon monoxide detector (if you do not have one — required by code), and a garden hose (for water heater flushing or emergency draining of a leaking tank). These items can save you an emergency service call.