Lochinvar Boiler Repair in Metro Vancouver

Lochinvar is an American boiler manufacturer founded in 1919, headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee. The company is part of A. O. Smith Corporation and is well regarded in North American commercial and light industrial HVAC for producing high-quality condensing boilers with proprietary control technology. In Metro Vancouver, Lochinvar units are most commonly found in commercial buildings, multi-family residential complexes, and institutional facilities.

The Lochinvar Knight XL and Knight WH are their flagship condensing wall-hung boilers, covering outputs from 80 to 285 MBH for residential and light commercial applications. The Crest Series handles larger commercial outputs up to 5 million BTU/h, and is found in Metro Vancouver hotels, schools, and larger strata buildings. All Lochinvar Knight units feature the SMART system— Lochinvar's proprietary touch-screen control and communication platform.

The SMART system is a significant differentiator: it provides detailed fault logging, real-time operational data, and remote connectivity options. This makes Lochinvar boilers particularly useful in commercial applications where building engineers need visibility into boiler plant performance. However, it also means that accurate fault diagnosis requires a technician who understands the SMART system's sub-code architecture.

Lochinvar uses a three-digit fault code system displayed on the SMART control touchscreen. Here are the five most common service issues we encounter on Lochinvar installations in Greater Vancouver:

• SMART System Communication Faults:The SMART touch-screen controller communicates with sensors and safety devices via a digital bus. Communication faults — often displayed as system or network errors — can occur due to wiring corrosion in commercial environments, PCB component aging, or ground faults introduced during third-party electrical work in the mechanical room. These faults require diagnostic equipment capable of reading Lochinvar's communication protocol.
• E117 — Ignition Failure: Code E117 indicates the boiler failed to establish ignition within the permitted trial period. Causes include a degraded igniter electrode, gas valve issues, incorrect burner-to-heat exchanger alignment (more relevant on commercial Crest units), or inadequate combustion air supply in tight commercial mechanical rooms. E117 should be investigated promptly — repeated ignition attempts without resolution can result in unburned gas accumulation.
• E125 — Water Temperature Sensor Out of Range: The water temperature sensor is reading outside the expected range. This can indicate a failed sensor, a wiring fault between the sensor and the SMART board, or an actual abnormal water temperature condition caused by flow restriction or burner modulation issues. We carry Lochinvar temperature sensor replacements for Knight series units.
• Heat Exchanger Scale Buildup:Lochinvar's Knight series uses a stainless-steel fire-tube heat exchanger. In Metro Vancouver commercial applications where the system volume is large and water chemistry is not actively monitored, scale and corrosion inhibitor depletion can reduce thermal transfer and eventually cause pitting. We recommend water treatment and annual inhibitor testing for all commercial Lochinvar installations.
• Combustion Blower Issues: The combustion blower (induced draft fan) provides combustion air to the burner. Blower bearing wear — common in units with high annual run hours in commercial applications — results in abnormal noise, incomplete combustion air delivery, and eventually fault codes related to abnormal flue conditions. Blower motor replacement on Knight units is a routine repair.

Our technicians are Red Seal Gas Fitter certified and have completed commercial boiler training covering the Lochinvar SMART system platform. We service Lochinvar Knight installations in commercial buildings, strata complexes, and hotels across Metro Vancouver, including working within building management frameworks and providing service reports compatible with institutional facility requirements.

We carry Lochinvar Knight igniter assemblies, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and combustion blower motor kits on our commercial service vehicles. For Crest series components, we coordinate with Lochinvar's Canadian distributor for parts with typical 2–4 business day lead times.

A flat diagnostic fee covers travel and fault diagnosis on all Lochinvar service calls. Typical Knight Series repair cost ranges in BC: E117 igniter replacement is $220–$360 CAD. Temperature sensor replacement (E125) is $180–$280 CAD. Combustion blower motor replacement is $380–$580 CAD. Heat exchanger chemical descaling is $280–$450 CAD.

Commercial Crest Series repairs are quoted individually based on unit size, access, and parts required. We provide written quotes and compliance documentation for all commercial repair work.