Heating and Cooling Repair in Camas, WA

Quick answer

In Camas, mechanical permits for furnace, heat pump, and air conditioner work go through the City of Camas Building Division, and Clark Public Utilities supplies the power. Camas sits west of the Columbia River Gorge, where occasional high east winds blow through. We repair heating and cooling systems here, and no work starts until you approve it.

Key facts

County	Clark County, Washington
Mechanical permits (inside city limits)	City of Camas Building Division, 616 NE 4th Avenue
Electrical permits	Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Electric utility	Clark Public Utilities, which serves all of Clark County
Contractor check	L&I Verify, before you sign anything
Winter weather to plan for	Occasional high east winds through the Columbia Gorge

Who handles HVAC permits in Camas?

The City of Camas Building Division handles mechanical permits for homes inside city limits. Its office is at 616 NE 4th Avenue, and staff answer permit questions at permits@cityofcamas.us or 360-817-1568.

Camas lists furnaces and air conditioning units among its over-the-counter projects, where plans may not be required. Wiring is a separate permit. The city says every electrical permit comes from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), not from Camas.

A Camas mailing address doesn't always mean the home is inside Camas city limits. The Clark County GIS Property Information Center, linked from the city's building pages, shows which side of the line your parcel is on. Outside the line, Clark County issues the permit.

How do I schedule an HVAC inspection in Camas?

You book it online. Camas takes inspection requests through its Civic Access portal, and the city says you can request one for as early as the next day.

Keep the city's work-hour rules in mind if you're planning a system replacement rather than a repair.

Camas doesn't do building inspections on weekends or holidays.
For inspection questions, call 360-817-1568 and press 1 for building inspections.
Construction work is allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, under Camas Municipal Code 9.32.050.
Sundays are off-limits, along with New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Not sure what's wrong yet?

Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.

Find your symptom Compare repair vs. replace

Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
You approve the price before work starts
Sources listed for outside facts

Do east winds from the Gorge affect heating in Camas?

They can. Clark County's natural hazard mitigation plan says occasional high easterly winds blow through the Columbia Gorge year-round, and that from October through March, Camas's prevailing winds come from the east-southeast.

Wind pushes cold outside air in through small gaps around doors, windows, and attic openings. On those days your system may run longer to hold the temperature, and rooms facing the wind can feel cooler. That by itself doesn't mean anything is broken.

ENERGY STAR says sealing air leaks and adding insulation can make a home more comfortable, and it names drafts and cold floors as problems those projects can fix.

Before the windy season, rake leaves and trim branches back from your outdoor heat pump or AC unit so air can flow through it.
Look at your filter. ENERGY STAR suggests checking it monthly, because a dirty filter can raise energy costs and damage equipment.
If the same rooms run cold every time the east wind picks up, note which ones. That pattern helps a technician sort out air leaks from duct or airflow problems.

Is Clark Public Utilities my electric company in Camas?

Yes. Clark Public Utilities says it provides electricity to all of Clark County, and Camas is in Clark County.

For natural gas, NW Natural's Washington tariff names Camas among the cities where it provides gas service. Not every street has a gas line, so your bill is the final word.

If your home is heated with electricity and a repair no longer makes sense, Clark Public Utilities runs a heat pump program and a ductless heat pump program. Both require a contractor from the utility's network. You may qualify — we'll confirm the current rules with the utility before you count on it.

What if I smell gas in my Camas home?

Walk out right away. A faint smell still counts, and it isn't your job to find the leak.

1Leave light switches, phones, and anything that could spark alone until you're outdoors. Don't start a car in the garage.
2Take everyone with you and move well away from the house.
3Once you're a safe distance away, dial 911. After that, reach NW Natural at 800-882-3377; the line is answered 24 hours a day.
4Keep the whole household outdoors until fire crews or the gas company clear the house.

A carbon monoxide alarm is a separate warning. EPA describes CO as a colorless, odorless gas, so your nose won't warn you. Get everyone into fresh air and call 911.

What should I have ready when I call from Camas?

A few details up front help the technician start in the right place.

Your address, so we know whether you're inside Camas city limits or in unincorporated Clark County. That decides who would issue any permit.
What the system is doing, and whether it started during a cold, windy stretch.
How you heat: gas furnace, heat pump, or both.
The name of anyone else you're getting a quote from. Look them up on L&I's Verify tool first, and look us up the same way.

Common questions

Can I request a Camas HVAC inspection by phone?

No, Camas takes inspection requests through its online Civic Access portal. The city says you can request one for as early as the next day. For questions about an inspection, call 360-817-1568.

Does Camas issue the electrical permit for a new heat pump?

No. Camas says all electrical permits are issued by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. A heat pump swap can involve both a city mechanical permit and an L&I electrical permit, so ask your contractor who is pulling each one.

Are there days when construction crews can't work in Camas?

Yes. Camas bans construction work on Sundays and on six holidays under CMC 9.32.050. Weekday work runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., so plan a replacement install around those hours.

Why does my Camas house feel colder when the east wind blows?

Wind forces cold air in through small gaps, so the house loses heat faster and the system has to run longer. Clark County's hazard plan notes occasional high easterly winds through the Gorge near Camas. If some rooms stay cold even while the system runs, have it checked.

Who supplies natural gas to homes in Camas?

NW Natural's Washington tariff lists Camas among the cities where it provides gas service. Your gas bill confirms whether it serves your home. If you ever smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and NW Natural's 24-hour line at 800-882-3377.

Where do I take HVAC permit questions in Camas?

Take them to the Camas Building Division at 616 NE 4th Avenue, or email permits@cityofcamas.us. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes from noon to 1 p.m.