Windsor has the most humid summers of any city in Ontario and winters that swing from mild lake-effect slush to a week of minus 15. That combination punishes HVAC equipment. Air conditioners here run from May into late September, often 12 hours a day in July, so a 15-year-old unit that would still be fine in Ottawa is on its last legs in Riverside or LaSalle. Furnaces get a shorter season than up north but cycle constantly through freeze-thaw weeks, and the humidity means condensation, rust and clogged condensate lines are routine service calls.
Most Windsor-Essex homes heat with natural gas from Enbridge, and gas work is regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). Anyone installing or servicing your furnace, gas water heater or gas line must hold a TSSA gas technician licence (G2 or G1 for residential furnaces). The electrical side of an installation needs an ESA permit and inspection. We confirm licensing before a contractor joins our network, and you should ask to see the card on the day of the job.
Heat pumps are the big shift. Modern cold-climate heat pumps hold their rated output well below minus 20, which covers almost every day in Essex County, and in summer they replace your air conditioner outright with better dehumidification. The Ontario Home Renovation Savings Program and the Canada Greener Homes Loan have offered rebates and interest-free financing for qualifying heat pump installations, though eligibility rules, amounts and whether gas-heated homes qualify have changed more than once. Ask your contractor what is current and get the details in writing before you count on it.
Tell us what is going on with your system using the form on this page. Whether it is a no-heat emergency in January, an AC that is icing up in a July heat wave, or a planned furnace and heat pump replacement, we match you with a local company sized for the job.
Common hvac jobs we arrange
- ▸Furnace repair and no-heat emergency service
- ▸High-efficiency gas furnace replacement
- ▸Central air conditioner repair and replacement
- ▸Cold-climate heat pump installation
- ▸Ductless mini-split systems for additions and older homes without ducts
- ▸Hybrid (dual-fuel) heat pump and gas furnace systems
- ▸Tankless and tank water heater replacement
- ▸Annual furnace and AC maintenance tune-ups
- ▸Thermostat and smart thermostat installation
- ▸Humidifiers, dehumidifiers and HRV/ERV ventilation
- ▸Duct repair, sealing and new duct runs
- ▸Gas line installation for ranges, dryers and BBQs
- ▸Refrigerant leak diagnosis and repair
Typical costs (2026)
Ballpark ranges from recent local jobs. Your quote depends on the scope, materials and access. Get an exact number with a free quote.
| Job | Typical range | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace repair (ignitor, flame sensor, blower motor, control board) | $200 – $1,200 | Diagnostic fee usually $120 to $200, often waived if you proceed with the repair. Blower motors and boards are the expensive parts. |
| High-efficiency gas furnace replacement (96%+ AFUE, 60-80k BTU) | $4,800 – $8,500 | Two-stage or modulating units, new venting through the wall, and electrical upgrades drive the range. |
| Central air conditioner replacement (2-3 ton) | $4,500 – $8,500 | New units use low-GWP refrigerants (R-454B or R-32). Higher SEER2 ratings and a new coil or lineset cost more. |
| Cold-climate heat pump with air handler or paired with existing furnace | $9,000 – $19,000 | Variable-speed cold-climate models are the top end. Rebates, where available, can reduce the net cost by several thousand dollars. |
| Furnace and AC replaced together | $9,500 – $16,000 | Bundled installs save on labour and are the most common replacement in 1990s-2000s homes. |
| Ductless mini-split (single zone, 12k-18k BTU) | $4,500 – $8,000 | Each additional head adds roughly $2,500 to $4,000. |
| Tankless gas water heater installed | $4,200 – $7,000 | Gas line upsizing and new venting are the variables. Tank-style replacements run $1,800 to $3,500. |
| Annual maintenance tune-up (furnace or AC) | $120 – $250 | Many companies offer a combined plan for both units at a discount. |
Why hire a local pro
- ✔Sizes equipment for Windsor humidity, not just temperature. An oversized AC short-cycles and leaves the house clammy, which is the most common complaint we hear about out-of-town installs.
- ✔Holds TSSA gas licensing and works with Enbridge on meter upgrades and new gas lines in the Windsor-Essex service area.
- ✔Knows the ductwork realities of 1920s Walkerville homes with gravity-furnace trunk lines versus 1960s South Windsor bungalows versus 2010s LaSalle builds with flex duct in the attic.
- ✔Stocks parts for the brands actually installed around here, so a repair is often same-day instead of waiting a week for a part from Toronto.
- ✔Can tell you which rebate programs are actually paying out this season and handle the paperwork.
Ready to get quotes?
Tell us about the job in about 2 minutes. We'll match you with a vetted local pro and you'll hear back fast. Free, no obligation.
HVAC FAQs
Should I repair or replace my furnace or air conditioner?
A reasonable rule: if the unit is over 12 to 15 years old and the repair is more than about a third of replacement cost, replace. Air conditioners in Windsor age faster than the national average because of the long humid season. Also consider refrigerant: older AC units use R-410A, which is being phased down in Canada, and a major refrigerant repair on an old R-410A unit rarely makes sense.
Do heat pumps actually work in a Windsor winter?
Yes. Windsor is one of the mildest parts of Canada, with winter design temperatures around minus 17. Cold-climate heat pumps keep most of their capacity to minus 25 and keep working beyond that. Many homeowners install a hybrid system that keeps the gas furnace as backup for the coldest days, which also makes the switch less risky if your ducts are undersized.
What rebates are available for a heat pump in Ontario?
The Ontario Home Renovation Savings Program (through Save on Energy and Enbridge) has offered rebates on cold-climate heat pumps and related upgrades, and the Canada Greener Homes Loan provides interest-free financing up to $40,000 for eligible retrofits. Amounts, eligibility by heating fuel, and energy-audit requirements have changed several times. Confirm current terms with your contractor and the program websites before you sign.
Who is allowed to install a gas furnace in Ontario?
Only a TSSA-licensed gas technician. For residential furnaces that means a G2 or G1 licence. The company should also arrange the ESA electrical permit for the installation. Unsolicited door-to-door sales of furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters have been banned in Ontario since 2018, so anyone knocking on your door to sell HVAC is already breaking the rules.
How big a furnace or AC do I need?
Smaller than you probably think. Most Windsor-Essex homes between 1,200 and 2,000 sq ft need a 60,000 to 80,000 BTU furnace and a 2 to 3 ton air conditioner. A proper contractor does a heat loss and heat gain calculation (CSA F280) rather than matching whatever was there before. Oversizing causes short cycling, poor dehumidification and early failure.
Why is my AC freezing up or not keeping up in July?
The usual culprits are a dirty filter, a dirty outdoor coil, low refrigerant from a slow leak, or an undersized return. In Windsor humidity an iced coil is common. Turn the system off, let it thaw, change the filter and call for service. Running a frozen unit can burn out the compressor.
Should I rent or buy a water heater?
Rental is common in Windsor-Essex because of legacy utility programs, but over 10 to 15 years you typically pay two to three times the purchase price. If you are already having HVAC work done, buying a tank or tankless unit outright usually wins. Check your rental contract for buyout terms and removal fees first.
How often should I have my furnace and AC serviced?
Once a year each: furnace in early fall before the heating season, AC in spring before the first heat wave. Most warranty terms require documented annual maintenance. Change your filter every one to three months, more often if you have pets or renovation dust.
Heating, Cooling & HVAC Contractors by area
HVAC guides
- AC Repair vs. Replace in Windsor: Humid Summers, Aging Units and the R-410A Phase-Down
How to decide between repairing and replacing your air conditioner in Windsor-Essex, what repairs cost in 2026, and why the refrigerant change matters.
- Furnace Replacement Cost in Ontario (2026): Furnace vs. Heat Pump for Windsor-Essex Homes
What a new gas furnace costs in Windsor-Essex in 2026, how heat pumps compare in our mild humid climate, and which Ontario rebates may apply.