Furnace and heat pump quotes in Hamilton
A new gas furnace in Hamilton typically costs $4,000 to $11,000 installed, before HST. Radiators? Ask for a boiler quote.
Get a Free Quote
What furnace and boiler work costs in Hamilton
A standard high-efficiency gas furnace typically costs $4,000 to $6,500 installed in Hamilton, before HST, and a two-stage model $5,500 to $8,000. In a radiator home, a heating boiler typically runs $6,000 to $11,000 and a combi boiler that also makes hot water $7,000 to $13,000.
Many older lower-city homes still heat with radiators, so boilers matter here too. The other big swing is venting on narrow lots: when you compare furnace quotes, check that line first.
- Single-stage gas furnace (95 to 96% AFUE)
- $4,000 to $6,500
- Two-stage gas furnace (96% AFUE, ECM blower)
- $5,500 to $8,000
- New furnace and central AC in one job
- $8,000 to $15,000
- Heating-only hydronic boiler
- $6,000 to $11,000
- Combi boiler for heat and hot water (high efficiency)
- $7,000 to $13,000
- Multi-zone ductless mini-split (3 to 5 indoor heads)
- $9,000 to $18,000
Typical Ontario prices in CAD, before 13% HST. Reviewed October 2026. Ranges, not quotes.
Below the escarpment, on the Mountain, and the newer suburbs
Hamilton housing changes with the landscape, and so do the quotes.
Below the escarpment: the lower city
Century homes, semis and row houses on narrow lots in neighbourhoods like Kirkendall, Durand and Crown Point.
- What you often find
- Boilers and cast iron radiators in some homes, furnaces still venting into old chimneys, tight side yards and low basements.
- What it means for your quote
- Venting is the big question: where the pipes can exit and how the chimney is handled. Radiator homes also weigh a boiler against a combi boiler.
On the Mountain
Postwar bungalows, split-levels and 1960s to 1970s homes across much of the Mountain.
- What you often find
- Original ductwork, central air added later, furnaces in finished basements, and exposed lots that catch more wind.
- What it means for your quote
- Usually a forced-air swap. Ask whether the old ducts can carry the air a new system needs, and whether the AC should go at the same time.
Newer suburbs
Newer subdivisions in Ancaster, Waterdown, Binbrook and upper Stoney Creek.
- What you often find
- Builder-grade furnaces and air conditioners installed together, larger two-storey homes, some with zoning.
- What it means for your quote
- Often a simpler swap, since the venting is already set up. Insist on a heat loss calculation rather than copying the builder unit.
Narrow lots and side-yard venting
On a lower-city semi, finding a legal exit for the vent pipes is often the hardest part of the job.
Clearances from openings
The pipes must sit set distances from windows, doors, other air intakes and the gas meter. A narrow side yard can rule out the easy spot.
Shared driveways and walkways
The gas code does not allow a vent to end over a paved walkway or driveway between two houses that serves both. Many lower-city semis share exactly that.
The neighbour's wall
High-efficiency exhaust carries moisture. Aimed at a nearby wall, it can frost or stain it, so the direction needs planning.
Front, back or roof
When the side yard will not work, the pipes go out the front, the back or the roof. New venting typically adds $300 to $1,500 and belongs on the quote.
Old duct wrap or boiler insulation? Test it first
White or grey paper-like tape on old ducts, or insulation on old boilers and pipes, can contain asbestos. Do not disturb it. A lab test is the safe first step, and removal follows Ontario rules for asbestos work, usually as a separate cost. Ask how the contractor will handle it before you sign.
Got radiators? Your options
| Option | Typical range | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Replace the boiler | $6,000 to $11,000 | The radiators work well and the water heater is separate |
| Combi boiler | $7,000 to $13,000 | The water heater is also due |
| Add ductless cooling | $3,500 to $6,500 one zone; $9,000 to $18,000 for 3 to 5 heads | You want AC without running ducts |
| Convert to forced air | Priced case by case | Rarely cheapest: new ducts through finished walls |
A boiler quote should list the boiler output and how it was sized, the pumps, expansion tank, controls and venting, and whether the system will be flushed. See what a boiler quote should include.
Furnace, boiler or both? Get a written quote for your Hamilton home after a free visit.
Get A Free QuotePermits, utilities and timing in Hamilton
Timing. Furnace and boiler schedules fill in the first cold weeks of the fall; AC work peaks in the first heat wave. Spring and late summer give you the widest choice of dates. No heat? Choose Urgent in the form; a diagnostic visit typically costs $100 to $200.
Permits. Needs depend on the work, so check with the City of Hamilton and get it in writing who applies. Hire a TSSA-registered contractor for the gas work and ask for the registration number.
The Mountain. Exposed lots above the escarpment can catch more wind and drifting snow, so place vents and outdoor units with care.
Hamilton at a glance
- Natural gas
- Enbridge Gas
- Electricity
- Alectra Utilities in most of the city (formerly Horizon Utilities)
- Building permits
- City of Hamilton, which has included Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown and Binbrook since 2001
- Housing
- Century homes in the lower city, postwar homes on the Mountain, newer suburbs
Checked October 2026. Rural addresses: check your electricity bill.
What a Hamilton quote should include
- Brand, model number, efficiency and capacity of the furnace or boiler
- A heat loss calculation (CSA F280), not the old unit's size
- The exact vent route and exit point
- For radiator homes: pumps, controls, expansion tank and flushing
- How any suspect duct or pipe insulation will be tested and handled
- Who arranges any permit, plus warranty, deposit and install date
Already have a quote?
Run it through the quote checker, or read what a furnace replacement quote should include.
Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Binbrook and Grimsby
Requests from around Hamilton work the same way; your postal code finds a participating company that serves your area.
- Stoney Creek
- City of Hamilton. Older homes below the escarpment, newer ones above.
- Ancaster
- City of Hamilton. An older village core and large newer homes.
- Dundas
- City of Hamilton. Older valley homes with lower-city venting questions.
- Waterdown and Binbrook
- City of Hamilton. Mostly newer subdivisions.
- Grimsby
- Town of Grimsby, Niagara Region. Permits go through the town.
Furnace quotes in OakvilleFurnace quotes in LondonAll city quote pages
Common questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, the company can answer it during your free estimate.
How much is a new furnace in Hamilton?
A standard high-efficiency gas furnace typically costs $4,000 to $6,500 installed, before HST, and a two-stage model $5,500 to $8,000. Lower-city semis can land higher when the venting needs a longer route, while newer homes in Ancaster, Waterdown or Binbrook are often simpler swaps. A written quote after the visit is the real number.
My lower-city house has radiators. Can I get central air?
Yes, but usually not with new ducts, which would have to run through finished walls and floors. Most radiator homes add a ductless mini-split instead, typically $3,500 to $6,500 for one zone or $9,000 to $18,000 for three to five heads, before HST. The boiler keeps doing the heating.
What if my ducts have old white tape or wrap on them?
Leave it alone and mention it in your request. In older homes, that kind of wrap or tape can contain asbestos. Have it tested before anyone cuts or removes it, and ask the contractor how they will handle it. Removal follows Ontario rules for asbestos work and is usually a separate cost.
Do Stoney Creek, Ancaster and Waterdown have their own permit office?
No. Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown and Binbrook have been part of the City of Hamilton since 2001, so permits go through the city. Grimsby is a separate town in Niagara Region. Either way, get it in writing who applies for any permit.
Get a real number for your Hamilton home
Answer a few quick questions. A participating local HVAC company will confirm the details and book a free in-home estimate.
Takes under a minute. No cost, no commitment.