What to expect for furnace replacement and repair costs in Toronto, Mississauga and the GTA

Published February 23, 2023 at 1:20 pm

It's vital – not just during the cold winter, but year round – to ensure your furnace is up to snuff so it's ready when you need it to be.

If your furnace needs to be fixed or replaced altogether, then you’ll want to know how much to expect for the cost.

Many residents with furnace troubles have gotten help from Air Makers, a major heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company serving Toronto and the GTA since 1998.

According to their expert team, costs can vary greatly depending on whether you’re replacing the furnace or simply repairing a specific component. Read on to find out the exact cost for each.

Fully replacing the furnace

In most cases, the cost of a brand new furnace ranges between $2,500 to $8,000, including installation. There are several factors that will affect the cost:

Efficiency and installation: Cheaper furnaces often cost around $2,500 or less, but are best avoided as they’ll increase your energy consumption and often won't come with warranties or customer support. Medium ranged furnaces will cost between $3,000 and $5,500, will usually boast high efficiency, and are installed by representatives of well-established companies with insurance coverage and licenses.

Furnaces that cost more than $5,500 offer more features and extended warranties. For instance, you can change the source of fuel from gas to oil or electricity to gas. However, they’re more complicated to install, requiring extensive skills to ensure they’ve been installed correctly.

Size: The size of a furnace is usually measured by its heat output in BTU (British Thermal Units), and the size you get should depend on the size of your house. The average price of a 40,000 BTU furnace is $3,250, while that of the 100,000 BTU is $4,500. You can also get 60,000 BTU or 80,000 BTU at the price of $3,500 and $4,000, respectively.

Location: Most places in Canada have propane and natural gas furnaces priced between $3,000 and $5,000. Rural areas usually have higher prices because they don't have many manufacturers residing there, while metropolitan areas like Toronto, Mississauga and the GTA are cheaper.

Replacing or repairing specific parts

Furnaces are complex appliances made of many different parts. In some cases, replacing a specific component may be cheaper than repairing it – for example, if the component is too damaged and will still cause problems even after repairing it. See below for the average cost to replace or repair each part.

Blower motor: Also known as a squirrel cage fan, this furnace component is responsible for getting air through the ducts. Its blades can quickly become damaged if not cleaned regularly. The average replacement cost is $1,500, with some brands being cheaper than others, and the repair cost is between $400 to $1,500.

Heat exchanger: This part produces the heat that the fans push into your home. The heat exchanger is likely to crack after prolonged use, which can cause carbon monoxide (CO) to be released into your living space. It helps to have a CO detector and to replace your heat exchanger over time. The cost to replace it ranges from $500 to $1,500, and the cost to repair it ranges from $100 to $200.

Gas valve: It allows the gas you’re using, whether natural gas or propane, to get into the HVAC unit. The valve sometimes cuts off the gas supply if necessary. A replacement will cost you at least $200 (expensive brands will cost $600), while repairing it will usually cost around $200 to $1,000.

Control and circuit board: The circuit control helps you manage all the components in the furnace. A new, high-efficiency control board will run you about $600, while cheaper brands and models cost between $75 and $200. Repairing it will cost $200 to $600.

Draft inducer motor: This component gets the combustion gases into and through the heat exchanger, and its primary purpose is to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the exchanger. If you only want to replace a fan blade in the motor, you can pay as little as $20 – however, replacing the entire unit costs $600 to $1,500. Repairing it will cost $200 to $1,500.

Ignitor: Most people experience problems with their ignitor, which is the part that ignites the gas to heat the air in your home. Replacement costs usually aren't more than $250 ($500 after hours), and repair costs $150 to $300.

Thermocouple: Thermocouples check the pilot light and shut off the gas supply if the light is off. A replacement will usually cost an average of $200, while repairing it will cost around $100 to $250.

Coil: This part works by absorbing heat generated by the furnace so that the blower motor can distribute it through your air ducts. Replacing the coil can cost as low as $600 or more than $2,000, depending on the type you want. The cost for repairing it is similar.

Fuel pipe: Fuel pipes remove carbon monoxide from your home. The replacement cost ranges from $200 to $800 depending on the length you want, or $400 to $800 to repair it.

Relay switch: Also known as a limit switch, this component ensures the other furnace parts get electricity. The cost to replace or repair it is usually between $150 and $300.

Flame sensor: The aptly named flame sensor checks if there is a flame in the furnace, and turns off the gas if there isn't any. Regular cleaning is essential for prolonged use. Replacement never costs more than $250, and the repair cost ranges between $75 and $250.

Combustion chamber: The combustion chamber produces the heat that warms up your home, and ideally should use oil efficiently to reduce your energy bills. Replacing or repairing it will be in the range of $200 to $600.

Transformer: This part changes the electricity into the voltage required for the furnace to work. The transformer itself costs $20 to $40 to replace (but expect to pay at least $100 with labour charges), and $100 to $175 to repair.

Thermostat: The thermostat allows you to control how much heat the furnace will produce, and when. You’ll need $600 to change your thermostat, or around $100 to $600 to repair it.

With so many moving parts working together, it can be difficult to diagnose furnace-related problems and figure out whether repairing or replacing is the solution. In most cases, it's best to get the furnace inspected by a professional HVAC company like Air Makers.

Their expert team specializes not just in heating, but also in air conditioning, ventilation, and assisting with government rebate programs to help residents save money. They also offer free consultations for repairs and new installations.

For more info, visit the Air Makers website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.