Heating & Cooling Repair in Milwaukie, OR

Quick answer

Milwaukie requires a mechanical permit before anyone adds, alters, or replaces parts of a home's furnace, air conditioner, or duct system. HVAC Repair Guys repairs heating and cooling in Milwaukie and can walk you through what that permit covers. Selling soon? Milwaukie also requires a Home Energy Score when you list a house.

Key facts

County	Clackamas County
HVAC permits issued by	City of Milwaukie Building Division, 503-786-7623
Electric utility	PGE is named in the city's fee notice; check your bill
Contractor license check (Oregon CCB)	Look up the CCB number on the state site before work starts
Incentives to ask about	Energy Trust of Oregon. You may qualify, and we'll confirm.
Selling a home	Home Energy Score required at listing for homes listed after Oct. 1, 2020

When does a Milwaukie home need a mechanical permit?

Any time someone adds, alters, or replaces parts of the mechanical system, Milwaukie wants a permit in place before work starts.

The city's mechanical permit covers the furnace, air conditioner, heat ducts, return air vents, gas lines, exhaust fans, and range hood. Each permit type is its own permit, so plumbing and electrical work are handled separately.

A short list of small jobs is exempt under the Oregon residential code. The city links to it from its permits page.
Milwaukie contracts with Clackamas County for electrical plan reviews and electrical inspections.
When city inspectors are on leave, Milwaukie has contracts with Clackamas County and the City of Happy Valley to cover inspections, so a different inspector may show up.
Reach the Building Division at 503-786-7623 or building@milwaukieoregon.gov. The counter is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Inspections and fee payments run through the state's e-permitting system. Its help line is 1-800-442-7457.

What does Milwaukie's Home Energy Score rule mean for you?

If you list a house for sale inside Milwaukie city limits, you must get a Home Energy Score report and share it when the listing goes up.

The city adopted the rule on Jan. 21, 2020, and it covers homes listed after Oct. 1, 2020. Milwaukie calls itself the first city to require a score under the Oregon Department of Energy's statewide program.

A certified assessor scores the house itself using the U.S. Department of Energy method. The score does not measure how your family actually uses energy.

Not selling? Homeowners at or below 80% of area median income can get a free assessment. Contact 503-786-7688 or homeenergyscore@milwaukieoregon.gov.
Thinking about a heating repair before you list? Ask the assessor what drives your score before you spend money.

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

Which Milwaukie utilities should you name when you call?

The city's notice about utility license fees talks about the typical residential PGE bill and the typical residential NW Natural bill. Those are the likely companies, but your bill settles it.

That same notice points residents to Energy Trust of Oregon and to PGE's income-qualified bill discount. Energy Trust bases its offers on your type of home and the utilities that serve it.

Energy Trust's gas furnace offer requires a CO monitor on every floor that has a bedroom.
Energy Trust works with a network of trade ally contractors trained on its rules.
You may qualify for an offer on new equipment. We'll confirm before you rely on it.

How should you check a Milwaukie contractor's license?

Milwaukie's online permit system only offers permit types that match the licenses tied to an account. That's one filter, but do your own check too.

1Ask the contractor to write their CCB number on the written estimate.
2Search that number on the Oregon Construction Contractors Board website.
3If a name search comes up empty, try fewer words. A spelling difference can hide a real match.

Gas smell or CO alarm in a Milwaukie home: what comes first?

Get out first. Everything else can wait.

A carbon monoxide alarm means everyone goes outside now. Call 911 from there.
CO has no color, taste, or smell. EPA lists flu-like symptoms that clear up after you leave home as one warning sign.

NW Natural adds an odorant that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. If you catch that smell, even faintly, get out. Skip light switches, phones, lighters, and matches. From a safe spot outside, call 911, then NW Natural at 800-882-3377.

What should you have ready when you call about a Milwaukie home?

Clackamas County's cmap mapping tool shows which jurisdiction covers any property. The city points people to it, and it helps if you live near the edge of Milwaukie city limits.

Your address, and whether cmap shows it inside the city or in unincorporated Clackamas County.
Whether you plan to sell soon, since the Home Energy Score rule may apply.
The label details from your furnace, heat pump, or AC, if you can reach them safely.
When the problem started and what it looks, sounds, or smells like.

Common questions

Does replacing a furnace in Milwaukie need a permit?

Yes. Milwaukie requires a mechanical permit any time parts of the system are added, altered, or replaced, and it must be issued before work starts.

Do I need a contractor to pull a Milwaukie mechanical permit?

Not always. The city says an owner who doesn't plan to sell right away may do the work. Email building@milwaukieoregon.gov with the address and project to get instructions.

Who does electrical inspections for Milwaukie permits?

Clackamas County. Milwaukie contracts with the county for electrical plan reviews and electrical inspections.

When is a Milwaukie Home Energy Score required?

When you list a home for sale inside city limits. The rule covers homes listed after Oct. 1, 2020, and the report is shared at listing.

Can I get a free Home Energy Score in Milwaukie if I'm not selling?

Possibly. Households at or below 80% of area median income qualify for a free assessment. Call the city at 503-786-7688 to ask.

How can I tell if my address is in Milwaukie or unincorporated Clackamas County?

Look it up in Clackamas County's cmap tool. The city sends people there to see which office has jurisdiction over a property.