HVAC in Magrath

Magrath at a glance

Magrath is a town in Cardston County, about 32 km south of Lethbridge, with 2,481 people in 2021. Its post office opened on March 1, 1900.

What that means for your heating

A town with homes from across more than a century has everything from older forced-air systems to newer heat pumps. Older furnaces deserve a yearly safety check of burners, venting and the heat exchanger. See maintenance and tune-ups.

The Garden City

Magrath was once known as "The Garden City" for its natural setting and plentiful trees. Mature trees shade homes in summer, easing the AC's work, but leaves and seeds can clog outdoor units. Clear them each fall and spring. Many homes stand on wide lots under old trees, and some have basement suites or additions added long after the house was built. Those spaces often sit at the far end of the duct run and feel colder in winter and warmer in summer than the rest of the house.

Canada's first big irrigation system

Magrath was founded in 1899 by settlers from Utah and Idaho, recruited by the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company to build irrigation works. The ninety-mile system they finished in November 1899 was the first large-scale irrigation project in Canada, and the town was known for years as "The Irrigation Capital of Canada". Its layout followed a planned grid of wide streets. Homes on large, tree-lined lots often have detached garages and workshops that are hard to heat with the main furnace. A ductless mini-split can heat and cool them on their own.