Error Code – NO HEAT!
AKA, Are you sure they haven’t changed your gas meter?
What Homeowners Need to Know About FortisBC’s New Gas Meter Installations — and Why Your Heating or Water Heater Might Stop Working Afterward
FortisBC is in the process of upgrading natural gas meters across the Lower Mainland, including the North Shore, Burnaby, and Vancouver. These new advanced meters are part of a province-wide effort to modernize the natural gas system and improve safety, efficiency, and accuracy.
The upgrade itself is straightforward — but for many homeowners, it can come with an unexpected side effect: your furnace, boiler, or water heater might suddenly stop working after the meter is replaced.
If this happens, it’s not usually because something is broken. It’s most often because your gas service was left shut off for safety reasons, or because your natural gas appliances need to be re-lit, or because air entered your gas lines during the changeover, OR any combination of those three. Here’s what’s really happening — and how you can prepare.
Why FortisBC Might Leave Your Gas Off
When FortisBC replaces your meter, they’ll try to knock on your door first. If someone is home, they’ll explain that they need to shut off your gas supply to complete the installation. Once the work is done, they’ll turn the gas back on and relight any appliances that need it.
If no one’s home, however, FortisBC must leave your gas turned off. This is a safety requirement. Here’s why that’s so important:
- A gas appliance could have been left on. If someone had a burner running on the stove and then forgot about it, gas could build up in the house
- A stuck-open valve could cause a leak. Older valves or equipment can occasionally fail. If gas was reintroduced while a valve was stuck open, gas could build up inside the house.
Gas buildup is dangerous. Natural gas is mainly methane. Methane is dangerous because it displaces oxygen in the air. That means if a lot of it builds up indoors, there may not be enough oxygen to breathe — leading to asphyxiation (suffocation). Not only that, but it’s explosive. Even a small spark — from a light switch or appliance — could ignite it.
That’s why FortisBC’s technicians can only restore gas service when an adult is present to confirm all appliances are off and the home is safe. It’s also why only a licensed gas technician may turn on the gas to the home.
So, if you come home to find your furnace not running or your water heater cold, the first thing to check is whether a new gas meter has been installed. If it has, your gas may still be off.
Why Some Systems Still Need Attention
Most newer furnaces, boilers, and water heaters have electronic ignition systems instead of traditional pilot lights. Even if your meter is turned on, they don’t need to be “relit” manually after a gas shutoff — but that doesn’t mean they’ll always restart smoothly.
When the gas line is opened again after a meter change, it’s possible for a bit of air to enter the line. So your equipment may try to ignite but fail to produce a flame. After several failed attempts, many modern systems automatically go into safety lockout mode to prevent repeated ignition failures.
This can make it seem like something is wrong with your new equipment — when in reality, it’s just air in the line causing the ignition system to trip its safety feature.
A Real Example from One of Our Customers
We recently saw this exact situation with one of our customers. We had just replaced the gas valve on his furnace, and everything worked perfectly… for a day. Then suddenly, it stopped.
The customer called our office in the late afternoon, after our technicians had already gone home. Rob, our involved and present owner, took the call personally — concerned, because brand-new parts are rarely defective. After hearing the details, he asked, “Are you sure FortisBC didn’t change your gas meter today?”
The customer didn’t think so, he said ‘no’. With the weather not looking so good, Rob decided to swing by on his way home to check.
As he was pulling into the customer’s driveway, Rob’s phone rang. It was the customer. “Guess what?” he said, “It turns out that I do have a new gas meter!”
Sure enough, FortisBC had completed the upgrade earlier that day while no one was home, leaving the gas shut off as required.
What Homeowners Can Do
There’s nothing wrong with the new meters or with your heating equipment — but it’s important to know what to expect so you’re not left in the cold.
1. Watch for notices.
FortisBC will typically leave a door hanger or notice if they plan to work in your area. Keep an eye out for these, as they often contain important scheduling or contact information.
2. Try to be home (or have someone home).
If you can, arrange to be present during the installation. That way, the technician can safely turn on the gas and relight or restart your appliances right away.
3. If you can’t be home, check for a new meter.
If your heating or hot water stops working unexpectedly, take a quick look at your gas meter. If it looks new, or more obviously the valves are turned off, there’s your sign. Here’s what you’re looking for: In the blog picture at the top, the meter for unit 301 is on, the meter for unit 105 was off, and unit 103 is locked out (usually when it can’t be turned on safely, or sometimes when a bill is unpaid for a long time)
4. Don’t try to relight or reset everything yourself, because that would be illegal.
Contact FortisBC or a qualified gas technician to handle it safely.
5. Be patient after the gas is turned back on.
Even when your appliances don’t have pilot lights, they may take a few ignition attempts to clear any air from the lines. If the system locks out, it might need a technician to reset it.
The Bottom Line
If your gas appliances suddenly stop working after a day of FortisBC activity in your neighbourhood, don’t panic. It’s likely just the result of a new gas meter installation and the safety protocols that go with it.
Check for a new meter, look for notices, and contact FortisBC to have your gas service restored safely. A bit of awareness goes a long way toward keeping your home warm, your hot water running, and your heating system trouble-free during this upgrade process.
And if it’s none of those, contact R&B!
