How many furnace quotes should you get?

The short answer: usually two, sometimes one

The old advice is to get three quotes. It made sense when prices were hard to find. Today you can check a quote against typical Ontario ranges in a minute with the quote checker, and a complete written quote tells you exactly what you are paying for. That changes the maths when you compare furnace quotes.

If your first quote is complete, sits inside the typical range for the equipment and comes from a company you are comfortable with, a second quote mostly confirms what you already know. If any of those three is missing, a second quote is worth the time. A third is for hard cases: big jobs, unusual homes, or two quotes that disagree. The Quote Guide covers what to look for in each.

When one quote can be enough

For a gas furnace, that means a price inside $4,000 to $6,500 for single-stage or $5,500 to $8,000 for two-stage, installed, before HST, plus any add-ons your home needs.

When a second quote pays off

A second quote is worth an hour of your time when:

• The first quote is vague

  No model number, “venting as required”, no sizing method, or one lump sum. You cannot check it, so you need something to check it against.

• The price sits outside the typical range

  Well above can mean work your home really needs, or padding. Well below can mean missing scope. A second quote tells you which.

• It pushes a tier you are unsure about

  A modulating furnace (typically $7,000 to $11,000) or a high-efficiency AC (typically $6,500 to $10,500) can be the right call. A second opinion on the tier is cheap insurance.

• The job is big

  Ducted cold-climate heat pumps typically run $9,000 to $18,000, dual fuel $11,000 to $20,000 and geothermal $25,000 to $45,000. At that size a 10% difference is real money, and design matters more.

• You asked about a repair and were told to replace

  A cracked heat exchanger can justify it. When the advice is a surprise, get a second diagnosis.

• You felt rushed

  A “today only” price, or pressure to sign before the visit ends, is a reason to slow down and compare.

One quote, or two or three: the trade-off

What extra quotes really cost you

Quotes are free, but your time is not. Each in-home estimate means booking a slot, being home for an hour or more and answering the same questions again, often on time off work. Then come the follow-up calls, emails and sometimes pressure to decide.

Timing matters too. In the fall and winter rush, waiting a week for a third estimate can push your install date back. With no heat in January, waiting means a cold house and a risk of frozen pipes. Then one quote, plus a repair to get the heat back on if possible, is often the sensible path.

How to compare quotes like for like

Most comparisons go wrong because the quotes cover different things. Work through these steps before you look at the bottom line. The quote comparison worksheet lays them out for up to three quotes and saves on your device.

1. 1

   Put the quotes side by side

   Line by line, one column per quote, in the worksheet or on paper.

2. 2

   Match the equipment

   Same type and tier (single-stage, two-stage or modulating), similar input BTU or tonnage, same efficiency. If the tiers differ, ask each company to price the other tier.

3. 3

   Match the scope

   Venting, condensate, duct transitions, thermostat, gas line, electrical, permit and removal. Mark anything one quote lists and the other does not.

4. 4

   Price the gaps

   For each missing line, ask that company for a price, or add a typical add-on cost from the list below to see the likely difference.

5. 5

   Compare the terms

   Labour warranty years, deposit, payment schedule, how long the price holds and the install date.

6. 6

   Then compare price and company

   Now the price difference means something. Weigh it against the warranty, timing and how well your questions were answered.

Why fair quotes still differ

Two honest companies can quote the same home differently. The typical ranges are wide for real reasons:

• Venting route

  A short sidewall run is quick. A long run, a roof exit or a chimney liner adds parts and hours.

• Ductwork

  Some homes need only transitions. Others need a new return or plenum work first.

• Brand and tier

  Companies buy from different distributors at different prices, and two-stage and modulating units cost more than single-stage.

• Season and workload

  A company booked solid in November prices differently from one with open days in May.

• Labour warranty and overhead

  Five years of labour coverage costs more to offer than one, and so do own staff and stocked trucks.

• Access

  A tight basement, an attic install or a furnace that has to move adds time.

When quotes are more than 20% apart

A gap of more than about 20% almost always means the quotes cover different work. Here is a typical example built from the ranges above:

Quote B is 29% higher. But Quote A is a single-stage furnace (typical range $4,000 to $6,500) and Quote B is two-stage ($5,500 to $8,000). Add a thermostat ($150 to $600), a permit ($75 to $300) and possibly new venting ($300 to $1,500) to Quote A, and its real cost lands anywhere from $6,125 to $8,300. The gap is mostly tier and scope. The right question is not “who is cheaper?” but “do I want two-stage, and what does Quote A cost with the same scope?”

If two quotes are still more than 20% apart after you match tier and scope, ask each company to explain its price. One may have spotted a problem the other missed, such as an undersized return. Or one may simply be high, and a third quote earns its keep. See furnace quote red flags for gaps to look for, and how to negotiate a furnace price for what to do next.

Quote gap check

See how far apart two quotes are and what to check first. Nothing you enter leaves this page.

Quote A price

$

Before HST, or with HST for both.

Quote B price

$

Enter it the same way.

What is being quotedGas furnaceCentral air conditionerFurnace and AC togetherHeat pumpSomething else

Same equipment tier and size?Not sureYes, same tierNo, the tier differs

Single-stage, two-stage or modulating, and BTU size.

Same work listed on both?Not sureYes, same scopeNo, the scope differs

Venting, ducts, thermostat, permit, removal.

Compare the two prices

Timing: when to ask for quotes

Ask before you need them. Heating companies are busiest from October to January, when the first cold snaps expose failing furnaces, and again in summer heat waves for air conditioners. Lead times stretch and there is less room to compare.

Spring and early fall are the easy seasons. If your furnace is in its mid-teens or older, or has needed repeat repairs, get a quote while it still runs. You can compare at your own pace, pick an install date that suits you and avoid deciding in a cold house.