If you've collected two or three quotes for a new furnace, you've probably noticed they don't line up. One is a single number. One is two pages of model numbers. One includes a thermostat and the others don't mention it. Comparing them on price alone is how people end up paying more for less, or less for a job that grows once work starts.
Here is a practical way to put quotes side by side so you're comparing the same job.
Step 1: Make sure each quote is for the same scope
Before you look at price, list what each quote actually covers. Write these down in a column for each contractor:
- Removal and disposal of the old furnace
- The new furnace (brand and full model number)
- Venting (new venting for a high efficiency furnace, or reuse of existing)
- Gas line connection and any changes
- Condensate drain and, if needed, a condensate pump
- Return air or ductwork changes
- Thermostat (included, reused, or optional)
- Permits, if your job needs one
- Start-up, testing and cleanup
- Warranty registration
If one quote is missing an item, ask that contractor directly whether it's included. A lower quote may not actually be the lower-cost option if required items such as venting or a condensate pump are excluded and added later.
Step 2: Compare the equipment, not the brand name
Don't compare brand names alone. Compare the exact model and installation scope. Equipment price differences often reflect efficiency, burner staging and blower type, while the total installed price is also heavily affected by labour, venting, ductwork, accessories and installation complexity.
- Efficiency (AFUE). For typical residential gas furnaces manufactured on or after July 3, 2019, the federal minimum efficiency is generally 95% AFUE, with specific exceptions for certain furnace categories, including some replacement non-condensing units. A small jump above that rarely changes your gas bill much but can change the price.
- Burner staging. Single-stage furnaces run at full output. Two-stage and modulating furnaces can run lower for longer, which is quieter and more even, and costs more.
- Blower motor. Variable-speed blowers are smoother and more efficient than basic motors.
Ask each contractor for the exact model number, then look up the specification sheet on the manufacturer's site. Two quotes for "a 96% furnace" can be for very different machines.
Step 3: Check the size and how they got it
Each quote should state the furnace's capacity in BTU. If the sizes differ, ask how they decided. A proper sizing comes from a heat-loss calculation for your house. The Ontario Building Code points to CSA F280 as the method for sizing heating equipment in houses. Copying the old furnace's label is not a sizing method. Older homes often had oversized furnaces, and repeating that mistake costs more up front and can make the house less comfortable.
Step 4: Separate the warranty from the marketing
Warranty language is where quotes get confusing. Look for three separate things:
- Manufacturer parts warranty (terms vary by brand, and some require registration within a set time. Carrier Canada, for example, generally requires product registration within 90 days for its enhanced parts warranty, although registration requirements can vary by jurisdiction.)
- Heat exchanger warranty (often longer than the parts warranty).
- Labour warranty, which is the contractor's own promise and varies the most.
A "lifetime" or long warranty may depend on registration, annual maintenance, or a paid plan. Ask for the terms in writing and ask what happens if you skip a yearly service.
Step 5: Look at who does the install
In Ontario, only businesses registered with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) as fuels contractors are legally allowed to do gas work such as installing a furnace. You can search a company by name in TSSA's registry of registered fuels contractors. The registry lists companies, not individual technicians, so also ask to see the installer's TSSA gas technician certificate. Ask whether the installers are employees or subcontractors. Installation quality affects how the furnace performs more than the brand on the cabinet.
Step 6: Normalize the price
Once the scope matches, adjust the quotes so they're comparable:
- Add the cost of anything one quote excludes that another includes.
- Make sure all prices are either before or after HST (13% in Ontario).
- Ignore "instant savings" that expire today. Ask for a price that's valid for at least a week.
- Remove financing and rental. If one price assumes a monthly plan, ask for the cash price.
Illustrative example only (not real data): Quote A is $6,900 plus HST and excludes a thermostat and condensate pump. Quote B is $7,600 plus HST and includes both. If those two items would add about $500 to Quote A, the real gap is roughly $200, not $700.
Know your rights before you sign at home
Ontario bans unsolicited door-to-door sales of furnaces and related products. A business can only sign a furnace contract with you at your home if you contacted it first and invited it over to buy or lease one, or in a few other limited cases. If you did invite them and sign at home, you can cancel within 10 days of receiving a written copy of the contract, without giving a reason. If the contract is missing information the law requires, you may have up to one year to cancel. Ontario's official guidance also suggests asking whether the company will register a security interest (a lien) on the equipment or a notice on your home's title before you sign. Questions or a complaint: Consumer Protection Ontario, 1-800-889-9768.
Step 7: Compare against what people actually paid
A quote tells you what one company wants to charge. It doesn't tell you what's normal. The most useful benchmark is what homeowners near you actually paid for a similar furnace, on completed jobs.
That's what ActualPaid is for. We only count completed, verified invoices, never quotes or ads, and we only show a local price once a city has at least 10 verified jobs. If you've had a furnace installed recently, you can upload your invoice and see how your price compares. If you're still comparing quotes, check the Barrie furnace replacement page or the Innisfil furnace replacement page to see where the local data stands. Here's how verification works.
A simple comparison sheet
| Quote A | Quote B | Quote C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace model number | |||
| BTU and how sized | |||
| AFUE / staging / blower | |||
| Venting, gas, condensate included? | |||
| Thermostat | |||
| Permit (if needed) | |||
| Labour warranty (years) | |||
| Installers: employees or subs | |||
| Price before HST | |||
| Valid until |
Fill this in for every quote, and the right choice is usually obvious.
Sources checked October 28, 2026: TSSA registry of registered fuels contractors (tssa.org); Natural Resources Canada, gas furnace energy efficiency standard; ontario.ca, Door-to-door sales and home service contracts, and O. Reg. 17/05 as amended by O. Reg. 487/17; Carrier Canada warranty lookup (carrier.com/residential/en/ca); Ontario Building Code, Article 9.33.5.1. This guide is general information, not legal advice.