Furnace Buyer’s Guide 2025
Whether you’re upgrading to a high-efficiency model or buying a furnace for the first time, this Furnace Buyer’s Guide will walk you through the essentials—furnace types, sizing tips, efficiency ratings, installation costs, maintenance and repair advice, plus rebates you can tap in Ontario.
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How to Choose the Right Furnace in Ontario
Winter in Kitchener–Waterloo can feel endless, and your furnace is what keeps your home warm and welcoming.
By the end of this furnace buying guide, you’ll know exactly how to choose the right system for your home and your budget, and also how Aire One Heating & Cooling can help you make the best decision as a trusted HVAC Company in Kitchener–Waterloo.
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How a Furnace Operates
How Your Furnace Delivers Cozy Comfort
A furnace turns fuel or electricity into heat, then pushes that warm air through your home’s ductwork. Gas and propane units burn fuel in a sealed chamber, sending flue gases safely outside. Electric models use resistance coils, while oil furnaces rely on home-delivered heating oil.
What sets furnaces apart from systems like heat pumps is that they generate their own heat rather than moving it from one place to another. This makes them incredibly reliable, especially when temperatures dip far below freezing, as they often do here in Waterloo Region. A correctly sized and well-maintained furnace doesn’t just heat your home effectively; it runs more efficiently, lasts longer, and helps keep energy costs under control.
Whether you are upgrading an older model or purchasing a new one, Aire One Heating & Cooling is here to guide you through the process with local expertise and dependable service in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Furnace Types: Choosing the Right Fuel for Your Home
The type that’s best for your home depends on several factors — including fuel availability, your heating needs, and budget. Below are the most common options for Canadian homeowners:
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces are the most popular choice in Ontario and across Canada. They use natural gas to generate heat and tend to be more affordable to operate than electric or oil. Gas furnaces provide strong, reliable heat and handle the long, cold winters in Kitchener–Waterloo well.
However, gas furnaces require a natural gas connection. If your home doesn’t have access to natural gas lines, you’ll need to consider other options.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces are generally less expensive to purchase and easier to install because they don’t require a gas line. They are ideal for homes without access to natural gas or where installation of gas lines isn’t practical. The downside is that electric furnaces often cost more to run during extended cold weather because electricity is generally pricier than natural gas.
Oil Furnaces
Oil furnaces are typically found in older or rural homes where natural gas isn’t available. Oil must be stored on-site in a tank, and the fuel can be more expensive and require more maintenance.
While oil furnaces provide reliable heat, many homeowners are shifting away from oil due to its cost and environmental concerns.
Propane Furnaces
Propane furnaces operate similarly to gas furnaces but use propane stored in a tank on your property. They’re a good alternative where natural gas isn’t accessible.
The fuel costs for propane can be higher than natural gas, and you need space for the propane tank. Propane furnaces still deliver efficient and steady heating, making them a viable option for many homes.
If you’re unsure which fuel type fits your home and needs best, it’s smart to talk to a licensed HVAC contractor. The local experts at Aire One Heating & Cooling Kitchener–Waterloo are ready to provide you with a tailored recommendation for your Kitchener–Waterloo home.
Not Sure How to Choose?
With Aire One, you’re not just buying a furnace—you’re getting a partner who knows local winters and cares about keeping your family comfortable all season long. Reach out today to get personalized recommendations, a professional installation, and a system that keeps your family cozy for years to come. Your warm home starts with one simple step!
Choosing the right furnace size
How to Choose the Right Size Furnace
Choosing the right furnace size matters more than you might expect. A unit that’s too big will keep turning on and off, wasting energy and wearing itself out faster. Too small? It’ll struggle to keep up and end up running nonstop.
How to Measure the Size of a Furnace
The amount of heat that a furnace can generate is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Beyond square footage, a number of factors, including insulation levels, window types and numbers, ceiling height, and local climate, will determine how much you need.
Here’s a general estimate for furnace sizes based on home size in Canadian conditions:
| Home Size (sq ft) | Recommended Furnace Size (BTUs) |
|---|---|
| 1,000 – 1,200 | 40,000 – 50,000 |
| 1,200 – 1,500 | 50,000 – 60,000 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 60,000 – 80,000 |
| 2,000 – 2,500 | 80,000 – 100,000 |
| Over 2,500 | 100,000 – 120,000+ |
HVAC professionals use a Manual J heat-load calculation and follow Canada’s CSA F280 standard for accurate sizing. The size, insulation, air leakage, number of windows, ceiling height, and even local weather conditions are all taken into account in this computation.
By doing a Manual J calculation, HVAC contractors can recommend a perfectly sized furnace — not too big, not too small — so your system runs efficiently, keeps you comfortable, and avoids unnecessary wear.
Need an accurate furnace sizing for your home in Kitchener–Waterloo? The Aire One Heating & Cooling team offers professional Manual J assessments based on CSA F280 standards. We make sure you get the right furnace that saves you money and keeps your home cozy all winter long.
Furnace Efficiency in Kitchener–Waterloo
Understanding AFUE Ratings: Your Furnace’s Efficiency Report
Imagine stepping onto a frosty floor on a bitter morning and finding your living room still cool. You turn up the thermostat, your old furnace strains to keep up—and your next gas bill arrives higher than expected. If your system is over ten years old, it’s likely leaking heat (and money) with every cycle, especially during our long, cold winters.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the single number that tells you how well your furnace turns fuel into heat:
Older Furnaces (10+ years)
60–70% AFUE means up to 40% of fuel escapes unused.
Mid-Efficiency Models
Around 80% AFUE, still allowing one-fifth of your heat to slip away.
High-Efficiency Furnaces
90–98% AFUE, converting nearly every dollar of fuel into cozy warmth.
A furnace with a higher AFUE rating helps keep more heat inside your home instead of wasting it — like fixing leaks in a bucket. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the AFUE rating when choosing the best furnaces for Canadian homes.
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Furnace Rebates in Canada
Getting a new furnace doesn’t just bring comfort—it can also bring serious savings. With furnace rebates in Canada, you may be able to lower your upfront cost by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
If you’re upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace, programs like the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Save on Energy Ontario reward homeowners for choosing models that use less energy and last longer. That means it’s easier than ever to afford one of the best furnaces for Canadian homes—especially when you choose an ENERGY STAR® certified model.
Want to know which rebates you qualify for? Contact Aire One Heating & Cooling today, and we’ll walk you through your rebate options and help you choose the right high-efficiency furnace for your home.
Built for Our Coldest Days
ENERGY STAR® Furnaces for Kitchener–Waterloo
When winter wraps Kitchener–Waterloo in icy cold, you need a furnace that’s not just tough, but smart. ENERGY STAR® certified furnaces are designed to perform better in these long, chilly months. They use about 6% to 9% less energy than standard furnaces—depending on whether they run on gas or oil—which means you get more warmth for less fuel.
Built to Handle Canadian Winters
Heating your home takes up the biggest slice of your energy use, often around 60%. That’s why upgrading to an ENERGY STAR furnace in Kitchener-Waterloo can make a real difference in your energy bills. These furnace models feature advanced technology like variable-speed blowers that quietly adjust airflow room by room. So your home stays evenly warm with fewer cold spots.
Quiet Comfort and Peace of Mind
ENERGY STAR furnaces don’t just save money — they’re also built to last and run smoothly. Their quiet operation means no clunky noises disturbing your home. Investing in an ENERGY STAR furnace means reliable warmth through the cold months, lower energy bills, and fewer unexpected repair headaches. It’s a smart way to stay comfortable and keep your home running efficiently.
Furnace Installation Cost
What’s the Cost of Installing a New Furnace in Ontario?
If you’re thinking about a new furnace, you probably want to know: What’s it going to cost? While the final price depends on several factors, here’s a realistic overview so you can budget with confidence.
In Canada, the total cost of installing a new furnace—which includes the unit, labour, and some typical add-ons—usually falls between $3,800 and $9,500, depending on your home, the type of furnace, and installation requirements.
What Other Factors Can Affect the Price?
The cost of installing a new furnace in Canada isn’t just about the unit itself. A few other things can bump up the total:
Ductwork repairs or upgrades – Older or leaky ducts might need fixing to ensure your new furnace runs efficiently.
Smart thermostat installation – Want to boost efficiency and control? Adding a smart thermostat can raise the upfront cost, but pay off in savings.
Size of your home and furnace capacity – Bigger homes usually need bigger (and more expensive) systems.
Permits and inspections – These vary by region but can add to the total bill.
And don’t forget furnace rebates—programs like the Canada Greener Homes Grant or local utility incentives can knock a chunk off your cost if you’re upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace.
Thinking about a new furnace? We can help you understand what makes the most sense for your budget, your home in Kitchener–Waterloo, and your heating needs.
Stay Warm and Save Money — Contact Aire One Today
Now that you’ve explored everything in this Furnace Buyer’s Guide, you’re better equipped to make the right choice for your home.
Whether you’re on the fence about swapping out that decade-old unit, eyeing a top-tier high-efficiency model, or just weighing different brands, Aire One Heating & Cooling has your back from first question to final install.
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Frequently Asked Questions
At Aire One KW, we’ve spent decades earning our reputation as Kitchener–Waterloo’s go-to HVAC Company. We treat your home like our own, offering honest advice on furnace sizing and brands, seamless installation, and reliable HVAC services—from tune-ups to emergency repairs.
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