Furnace Repair, Tune-Up & Replacement Cost in Ontario (2026 Guide)
What a tune-up, a repair and a full replacement cost across Ontario and the GTA this year, which rebates are still open, and when to book to avoid the winter premium.
In short
A furnace tune-up in Ontario costs about $120–$250, most repairs land between $145 and $600 (major component failures reach $2,000+), and a full replacement runs $3,500–$7,500 for a typical GTA home. Most Toronto homeowners pay around $5,800. Booking in September or October costs the same as in January but avoids the emergency premium — winter replacements between December and February carry a 15–25% surcharge. Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program is still open and runs to 30 November 2026.
How much does a furnace tune-up cost in Ontario?
Between $120 and $250, depending on the company and your city. Toronto sits around $120–$180, smaller Ontario markets like Barrie start closer to $99, and premium or same-week service reaches $249. Most contractors also sell a maintenance plan that bundles the annual tune-up with priority booking and a discount on repairs.
A tune-up is not a quick look. A licensed gas technician should inspect and clean the burners, check the heat exchanger for cracks, test the ignition and flame sensor, measure gas pressure and combustion efficiency, check the blower motor, test safety controls and the thermostat, and confirm the venting is drafting properly. If a visit takes fifteen minutes, you did not get a tune-up.
How much do furnace repairs cost?
| Repair | Typical cost in Ontario |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $90–$180, often credited against the repair |
| Flame sensor, thermocouple, igniter | $145–$400 |
| Blower motor | $450–$1,200 |
| Control board | $500–$1,000 |
| Heat exchanger | $1,500–$2,000+ — usually the point to consider replacement |
The rule contractors use: if a repair costs more than a third of a new furnace and the unit is over fifteen years old, replacement is usually the better spend. A cracked heat exchanger is not a repair decision at all — it is a carbon monoxide risk, and the furnace should be shut down until it is resolved.
How much does a new furnace cost in Ontario in 2026?
Most GTA households pay $3,500–$7,500 installed. Toronto quotes span $3,700–$10,000, with the typical mid-efficiency natural gas installation around $5,800. A high-efficiency unit with standard installation generally lands at $4,300–$7,000 plus HST.
| Home size | Furnace capacity | Unit + installation |
|---|---|---|
| About 1,200 sq ft | 60,000–80,000 BTU | $3,200–$4,800 |
| 1,500–2,000 sq ft | 80,000–100,000 BTU | $4,000–$6,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft and up | 100,000+ BTU | $5,000–$8,000 |
Three things move the number most. Efficiency: a 98.9% AFUE furnace costs roughly $1,000–$2,000 more than a 95% AFUE model, installed. Location: GTA pricing runs 15–20% above southwestern Ontario. Timing: an emergency replacement in the depth of winter carries a 15–25% premium, because contractors are triaging no-heat calls.
Rebates available in Ontario right now
The Home Renovation Savings Program, delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, has been extended to 30 November 2026. It covers insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, smart thermostats, heat pumps and more, with no energy assessment required.
Two cautions. Funding windows can close before the published deadline, so do not plan around the last week of November. And a rebate is worth claiming only if the equipment suits your house — a heat pump makes far more sense replacing electric baseboards than a working gas furnace.
Who is allowed to work on your furnace
Any work on a gas furnace must be done by a technician certified for gas work in Ontario, and gas appliances and venting fall under the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. Ask for the certification number before the visit, not after. Ontario also requires a carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas in homes with a fuel-burning appliance — worth testing at the same time as the annual service.
When to book
September and October. Contractors have open schedules, prices are standard rather than emergency, and a problem found in autumn can be fixed on a normal timeline instead of during a cold snap. By late November the same companies are booking a week or more out, and by January the no-heat calls take priority over everything else.
Red flags when hiring for furnace work
Heating is bought in the cold, often within hours of the problem appearing. That urgency is exactly what the practices below are built on.
One exception overrides all of the above: if a technician reports a carbon monoxide risk, treat it seriously and get an independent second opinion the same day rather than dismissing it as a sales tactic.
Find a heating contractor in Ontario
Browse home services in Ontario to compare local HVAC companies by city, or read our guides on AC installation and repair cost and how to choose a contractor.
Frequently asked questions
Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program, delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, has been extended to 30 November 2026. Cold-climate air-source heat pumps qualify for $1,250 per ton up to $7,500 in homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood, and $500 per ton up to $2,000 in Enbridge gas-heated homes. No energy assessment is required, but the equipment must be on Natural Resources Canada’s qualified products list, and funding windows can close before the published deadline.
Usually yes. Late spring through early autumn is the low season for heating work, and it is the only time you can replace a furnace without the pressure of being without heat. Emergency replacements between December and February carry a 15–25% premium.
Fifteen to twenty years for a well-maintained gas furnace. Past fifteen, repair costs start competing with replacement, and the efficiency gain from a new unit begins to show on the gas bill.
Once a year, before the heating season. Most manufacturers require documented annual maintenance to keep the warranty valid, so skipping it can cost far more than the tune-up if a major component fails.
Most GTA households pay $3,500–$7,500 installed. Toronto quotes span $3,700–$10,000, with a typical mid-efficiency natural gas installation around $5,800. A high-efficiency unit with standard installation generally lands at $4,300–$7,000 plus HST, and GTA pricing runs 15–20% above southwestern Ontario.
Between $120 and $250 in 2026. Toronto sits around $120–$180, smaller Ontario markets such as Barrie start closer to $99, and premium or same-week service reaches $249. Most contractors also sell a maintenance plan that bundles the annual tune-up with priority booking and a repair discount.
Prices compiled in September 2026 from published pricing of Ontario HVAC contractors and cross-checked across the Toronto, Barrie and Hamilton markets. Rebate figures from Save on Energy. Ranges are for planning, not quotes — get at least two written estimates. Ontario24 is a classified directory and does not vet the businesses listed; see our safety tips.