Furnace Installation — Toronto GTA

Licensed TSSA G2 install + ECRA/ESA-permitted tie-in

Furnace installation in Ontario is a gas-fired appliance install regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) under CSA B149.1 Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code. RenoHouse coordinates every furnace install through a TSSA G2-licensed gas technician partner, with ESA permit for the line-voltage tie-in (humidifier, smart thermostat C-wire, condensate pump) and Toronto Building permit when venting changes breach the exterior wall. Pricing $4,200 – $9,500 installed Q2 2026 GTA, 1-day swap on most homes, all paperwork pulled by us.

Quick answer

Add $1,200 – $3,500 if Enbridge service upsize required for combined BTU load (furnace + tankless + range + dryer > 250 CFH meter capacity). Hybrid dual-fuel pairing with heat pump: see Heat Pump Conversion page — combined retrofit unlocks HRS rebate stack.

What's included

• TSSA G2 site assessment & Manual J load calc by certified HVAC partner
• Tear-out and recycle of old furnace + venting
• New furnace + secondary heat exchanger commissioning (high-eff)
• New venting (concentric or two-pipe PVC for condensing; B-vent for mid-eff)
• Gas line tie-in & leak test (pressure-decay test mandatory per CSA B149.1)
• Condensate drain + neutralizer (high-eff only)
• ECRA/ESA-permitted 120V circuit tie-in
• New programmable or smart thermostat (basic Ecobee Lite included; premium upgrade available)
• Start-up commissioning report (combustion analyzer printout — required by TSSA)
• 10-year parts warranty from manufacturer + 2-year RenoHouse labour
• All permit close-out paperwork

Brand selection (Q2 2026 Toronto distributor availability)

We do not install Goodman or Keeprite as a default — the parts availability is fine, but the customer-warranty experience differs from premium tiers. We will install them at homeowner request.

Toronto-specific install considerations

• Knob-and-tube homes (Cabbagetown, Riverdale, Parkdale): existing furnace circuit often runs on K&T — must be replaced under ESA permit. Adds $300 – $600 (separate K&T rewire page if whole-house scope).
• Heritage Conservation Districts (Annex, Cabbagetown, Wychwood): exterior venting placement may need Heritage Permit review — case-by-case, adds 4–8 weeks.
• High-rise condo boiler-to-suite conversions: most Toronto condos forbid individual furnaces (central boiler loops). We do not install furnaces in central-boiler condos.
• Basement apartments under Bylaw 474-2023: separate furnaces in separate dwelling units permitted but require TSSA pressure-test each unit independently. Common in multiplex conversions.
• Etobicoke / Mimico radon zones: high-eff condensing furnaces with sealed combustion are safer than open-flame mid-eff in radon-prone basements.

GTA neighbourhood pricing reality

Permits & compliance — what we pull

• TSSA G2 permit (the gas fitter; our subcontractor signs) — pressure test, combustion analysis, certification
• ESA permit for line-voltage tie-in (humidifier, condensate pump, C-wire)
• Toronto Building Permit when venting changes breach exterior wall or affect heritage facade
• Enbridge service inspection if meter / regulator change is required for upsized BTU load
• No Building Permit required for simple like-for-like swap (no envelope change)

Rebates & financing (Q2 2026)

• HRS Smart Thermostat $75 — claimable if Ecobee Premium / Nest Learning / Honeywell T9 paired at install. Active program, no May 31 deadline (deadline is HEAT PUMP scope only).
• Greener Homes Grant up to $5,600 — only applicable when furnace is part of hybrid heat-pump-furnace dual-fuel system (covered under our Heat Pump Conversion page).
• Enbridge HER+ retired Dec 31 2025 — do not reference; replaced by HRS.
• HRS heat pump rebate $500/ton or $1,250/ton — only on heat-pump scope, deadline May 31 2026.
• Canada Greener Homes Loan up to $40,000 interest-free 10 years — eligible for furnace ONLY when part of dual-fuel system.
• Toronto HELP Loan up to $125,000 via property tax — eligible for deep-retrofit bundle.

Honest scope — what we do and don't do

RenoHouse coordinates: site visit, Manual J, equipment selection, rebate paperwork, all permits, the TSSA G2 sub-contractor partner's work, ECRA/ESA tie-in by our Master Electrician, condensate plumbing tie-in by our 306A plumber, drywall/paint wrap around new venting.

RenoHouse does not itself perform: the gas connection, combustion commissioning, or TSSA pressure-test sign-off. Those are signed by our certified gas-fitter subcontractor partner. The customer has one contract with RenoHouse, one warranty point of contact, and TSSA paperwork delivered at close-out.

FAQ

Q: How much does a furnace install cost in Toronto in 2026? A: $4,200 – $9,500 installed depending on efficiency tier, BTU, venting changes, and electrical scope. Most Toronto homes 1,500–2,500 sq ft land at $5,400 – $7,200 for a 96% AFUE 2-stage. Free on-site Manual J assessment quotes the exact number.

Q: Do I need a permit for a furnace replacement? A: TSSA G2 permit always (our gas-fitter partner pulls). ESA permit for the 120V tie-in. Toronto Building Permit if venting changes breach exterior wall. Simple like-for-like furnace swap (same fuel, same venting path) does NOT need a Building Permit, only TSSA + ESA.

Q: Should I go 80% AFUE or 96% AFUE? A: In Toronto's climate the payback on the high-eff 96% AFUE is 6–9 years on the fuel savings alone (gas $1.20-$1.50/m³ 2026 forecast). High-eff is also condensing (sealed combustion) — safer in tight homes and radon-zone basements. Mid-eff 80% is rarely the right choice for primary heating; we install it only for secondary suites, rental conversions, or where venting constraints prevent condensing.

Q: Will my new furnace work with my existing AC? A: Yes if the AC is < 8 years old and properly sized. Heat exchanger and blower coil compatibility is straightforward. Manual J checks airflow CFM and refrigerant compatibility (R-410A AC pairs with any new furnace; R-22 AC needs swap soon regardless). If AC is > 12 years old we discuss replacement bundling — installed together is $1,000–$2,000 cheaper than separately.

Q: Can you install during FIFA 2026? A: Indoor furnace swaps yes, with full permitting. Downtown Toronto postal codes (M5A, M5B, M5C, M5G, M5H, M5J, M5T, M5V) have limited Enbridge work windows May 1 – July 31 2026 during FIFA match windows. We can install on non-match days and complete commissioning the next business day. Plan for 2–3 day buffer in the downtown core during this window.

Q: How do I know what size furnace I need? A: Manual J load calculation (ACCA standard). Rule-of-thumb (35–45 BTU/sq ft for typical Toronto detached) is acceptable for rough estimate; we always run a proper Manual J before ordering equipment. Oversized furnaces short-cycle, deliver lower comfort, and wear out faster. Right-size at install is free.

Q: How long does the install take? A: 1 day for like-for-like swap (8–10 hours). 1.5–2 days if venting changes (condensing retrofit from mid-eff). 2–3 days if Enbridge gas-line upsize is required. Heat is off 4–6 hours mid-day during cutover; we coordinate to minimize disruption.

Q: What about the old furnace? A: We haul away and recycle at MetalWorks Toronto (steel) / Enbridge meter-side recovery (gas valve). Refrigerant in any attached coil is recovered by ODP-certified tech (Ontario Reg 463/10). All in price.

Q: What's your warranty? A: 10-year parts from the manufacturer (Lennox / Carrier / Trane / Bryant standard). 12-year heat exchanger from Trane / Carrier. 2-year RenoHouse labour warranty on the install. Lifetime warranty on the venting work.

Q: Can you finance the install? A: Yes — three options. (1) Greener Homes Loan if part of deep retrofit (hybrid w/ heat pump). (2) Toronto HELP Loan if eligible (property tax repayment). (3) Standard financing through our partner Financeit at competitive rates — pre-approval in 24 hours, no early payoff penalty.

Q: Do you do furnace repair as well? A: Yes, but most furnaces > 12 years old are not worth repair past $1,500. Common repair: igniter ($280-$420), inducer motor ($580-$850), pressure switch ($320-$480), flame sensor cleaning ($180). Above $1,500 we recommend replacement quote. Diagnostic fee $180 (waived if we do the work).

Toronto/GTA neighborhood considerations

• Forest Hill / Rosedale / Lawrence Park (heritage): Original octopus-coal-converted-to-gas in many 1920s homes, asbestos heat-paper duct wrap (Reg 278/05 Type 2 abatement $4-$8/lin ft of duct). Boiler / radiator system common — furnace conversion requires full ductwork install ($14K-$28K added). Modulating-condensing Carrier Infinity 98 or Lennox SLP99V at 98% AFUE preferred. Typical job $9.8K-$18K with abatement; $24K-$42K full ducted retrofit.
• North York / Scarborough / Etobicoke (50s-70s): Original 1960s-80s 80% AFUE atmospheric furnace at end-of-life. Standard like-for-like swap to 96% AFUE condensing (Lennox EL296V, Trane S9V2, Carrier 59SC5) with new PVC vent through rim joist or sidewall, condensate-drain to floor drain. Typical $5.8K-$8.4K installed.
• Mississauga / Brampton / Vaughan (90s+): Mid-life 90-95% AFUE Carrier or Lennox at end-of-life. Two-stage variable-speed upgrade (Lennox EL296V, Trane XV95). Typical $5.4K-$8.2K.
• Caledon / King City / Aurora (rural propane): Propane-fueled furnace, often 100K-150K BTU unit on larger sq ft. Heat-pump conversion increasingly preferred over straight propane-furnace swap (HRS rebate $5,000-$7,500 + Greener Homes Grant $5,600). Where propane retained: Carrier 59TP6 propane-rated 96% AFUE.
• Downtown condos: Centrally-heated, no furnace in unit. Not applicable.

Permit + rebate: Ontario TSSA gas-permit + ESA electrical-permit on every install. Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) $50-$300 on high-AFUE replacement. HRS + Greener Homes only on full heat-pump conversion (separate slug).