What to ask before you sign a furnace quote

Why it matters: CSA F280 is the Canadian standard for sizing room by room. Copying the old furnace label repeats old mistakes, and oversized furnaces short-cycle. Our load calculation guide explains it.

Good answer: “Yes, the room-by-room calculation is attached. You need less heat than the old furnace gives, so we sized down.”

Weak answer: “Same size as the old one.”

Why it matters: Undersized return ducts make a new furnace loud and less efficient. A static pressure test shows whether the ducts need work. Transitions are normal; bigger duct changes typically run $500 to $3,000+.

Good answer: “We measured static pressure. The quote adds a second return and sealed transitions. Nothing else is needed.”

Why it matters: Model numbers let you compare like for like. Furnaces use AFUE, and new gas furnaces sold in Canada are about 95% or higher. Air conditioners and heat pumps use SEER2; heat pumps add HSPF2.

Good answer: “Furnace, coil and thermostat model numbers are on the quote, with the BTU size and efficiency beside each.”

Weak answer: “A 96% furnace, top brand.”

Why it matters: Before HST, installed: $4,000 to $6,500 for single-stage, $5,500 to $8,000 for two-stage, $7,000 to $11,000 for modulating. Higher tiers run quieter and more evenly. That is worth paying for in some homes, not all.

Good answer: “Your upstairs runs cold, so two-stage makes sense. Here is the single-stage price too, so you can choose.”

Why it matters: High-efficiency furnaces vent through plastic pipe with set clearances from windows, doors and the gas meter. If the water heater ends up alone in the old chimney, it may need a liner. New venting or a liner typically costs $300 to $1,500.

Good answer: “Out the north wall, clear of the window and the meter. The quote includes a liner for your water heater.”

Weak answer: “Venting as required.”

Why it matters: Condensing furnaces make water. With no floor drain nearby you need a condensate pump, typically $150 to $350. A blocked or frozen line can shut the furnace down.

Good answer: “Into the floor drain beside the laundry tub. No pump needed.”

Why it matters: Gas line work typically costs $300 to $1,200, and a new circuit for a heat pump or AC $500 to $2,500. In Ontario, electrical work for pay is normally done by a licensed electrical contractor who files an ESA permit.

Good answer: “Neither is needed. If that changes, we confirm the cost in writing first.”

Why it matters: Most furnace swaps take a day; heat pumps take longer. Ask how long you will be without heat, and whether installers are staff or subcontractors.

Good answer: “One day, with the heat off from about nine until mid-afternoon. Two of our own installers.”

Why it matters: For a home furnace, the technician usually holds a G2 or G1 gas certificate. For AC or heat pump refrigerant work, also ask for an ozone depletion prevention (ODP) card.

Good answer: “Our registration number is printed on the quote, and the installer will show you their certificate.”

Why it matters: If someone is hurt or your home is damaged, their coverage should respond, not yours. Ask for proof. We do not check any company's coverage.

Good answer: “Yes. Here is our insurance certificate, and we will email the WSIB clearance certificate today.”

Why it matters: Rules vary by municipality. A permit typically costs $75 to $300 and is not finished until it is inspected and closed. Keep it with the startup sheet and warranty papers.

Good answer: “Your city requires one. We apply, book the inspection and email you the closed permit.”

Weak answer: “Nobody bothers with permits for furnaces.”

Why it matters: The manufacturer covers parts, often for 10 years if the unit is registered within a set window after install. The installing company covers labour, and that term varies widely.

Good answer: “10 years parts and 2 years labour, both on the quote. We register it within a week and email you proof.”

Why it matters: After the labour warranty ends, a covered part can still mean a bill for diagnosis and labour. Ask too whether yearly maintenance is required to keep the coverage.

Good answer: “Contact us first. No charge within the labour warranty; after that, labour is at the standard rate listed here.”

Why it matters: A deposit to order equipment is normal. Paying most of the price before the work is done leaves you little leverage if something goes wrong.

Good answer: “A small deposit to book, and the balance after the job and the walkthrough.”

Why it matters: HST is 13%: $910 on a $7,000 job, enough to distort a comparison. Quotes often hold for 30 days. Ask what could change the price after you sign.

Good answer: “$7,000 before HST, $7,910 total. It holds for 30 days and is fixed once you sign.”

Why it matters: Ask for the rate, the term and the total cost of borrowing. Furnace rental plans in Ontario usually cost $40 to $80 a month on 10 to 15 year terms; ask for the buyout schedule. Compare them in our financing vs renting guide.

Good answer: “Cash price, financed price and the total over the term, side by side on the quote.”

Why it matters: A proper startup checks gas pressure, temperature rise, combustion, the condensate drain and the safety controls. Written readings give the next technician a baseline.

Good answer: “We run a combustion test and record every reading on a startup sheet you keep.”

Why it matters: Know the filter size and where it goes, the thermostat settings and the shutoff. Most manufacturers recommend yearly maintenance; a tune-up typically costs $120 to $250.

Good answer: “We will show you the filter, the thermostat and the shutoff, and leave the manuals.”