Furnace Replacement

Emergency heating system
replacement policy

If Canadian homeowners must replace their furnace, boiler or hot water heater under emergency conditions or for immediate health and safety reasons, they can still qualify for Canada ecoENERGY grants and provincial rebates.

Some conditions apply:

Emergency heating system replacement — NRCan allows homeowners to get grants without a prior energy audit if they have replaced their furnace, boiler or hot water heater under emergency circumstances. These rules are in effect from October 15, 2009 to March 30, 2010.
Qualifying circumstances — If the furnace, boiler or hot water heater breaks down and cannot be repaired, or must be immediately replaced for health and safety reasons.
Time limit — Energy audit must be booked within five (5) calendar days of the replacement, and the Home Energy Advisor must conduct the audit within 30 calendar days of the replacement.
Greater efficiency — New gas-fired furnaces must have an efficiency (AFUE) of 94% or better and oil-fired furnaces must have an AFUE of 85% or better to qualify under the emergency heating equipment replacement rules.
New system documentation — Your invoice should include the new system supplier’s business name, address and phone number, the date of installation, the manufacturer’s name and model number of heating equipment, and the AFUE of the product or a note indicating that it is ENERGY STAR qualified.
Old system documentation — Your heating contractor must provide you with information about the old system’s fuel type, type of system, type of venting, manufacturer’s name and model number of heating equipment, rated efficiency, output and input from the nameplate, and last upgrade, if any.
Higher efficiency — To qualify for ecoENERGY grants, any new equipment must have a higher efficiency than that of the original equipment it replaces.
Hot water heater replacement — Hot water heater replacements are also eligible under emergency replacement rules. Documentation for new and existing systems must include type, fuel, storage capacity, make, model, efficiency rating and a confirmation with your energy advisor that the new equipment is eligible.
Central air conditioner — Central air conditioner replacements are also eligible under emergency replacement rules. Both indoor and outdoor coil replacements must be completed. The indoor coil must be installed at the same time as the emergency heating system replacement. However, the outdoor coil installation may wait until suitable weather. The post-retrofit audit can happen after both coils are replaced.

Grants + rebates

You can receive Canadian government grants + Ontario or BC rebates for a shopping list of home energy renovations.

Furnace – install a new high-efficiency gas or oil ENERGY STAR qualified furnace
Windows & doors – look for ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors and skylights for your climate zone
Insulation – upgrade insulation levels in your attic, roof, walls, basement, crawl space, and exposed floors
Air conditioner – replace existing window air
conditioner(s) or central air conditioner system with ENERGY STAR qualified units
Hot water heater – upgrade to an instantaneous or high-efficiency gas water heater
Heat pump – enjoy the heating and air conditioning benefits of an energy-efficient air-source heat pump system
Geothermal – go geothermal with big incentives for ground- or water-source heat pumps
Solar – go solar with a solar-panel powered hot water system
Boiler – install a high-efficiency gas or oil ENERGY STAR qualified boiler
HRV – improve you home’s air quality with a heat recovery ventilator or HRV
Toilet – save water with new low-flush, dual-flush water-efficient toilets
Air sealing – improve the air tightness of your home

And there’s more.

Government grants

Take advantage of Canadian government grant + Ontario or British Columbia rebate programs for your home energy renovations.

Ontario Home Energy rebates — Ontario homeowners can get up to $5,000 in home improvement grants through the Ontario government’s Ontario’s Home Energy Savings program, which is in effect until March 31, 2011. Click here for more
LiveSmart BC rebates — BC homeowners are eligible for up to $5,000 and more in home energy grants through the BC government’s LiveSmart BC rebate program, which is in effect until March 31, 2011. Click here for more
Home Energy Audits — To qualify for Ontario Home Energy Savings grants, or LiveSmart BC rebates, homeowners must get a home energy audit before and after their home improvement work. Get up to $150 cash back on the cost of your first energy audit with a rebate from Ontario’s Home Energy Audit program. In British Columbia, the LiveSmart BC program also subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. Click here for more

Easy to start — Canada

All you do is make one call — 1-877-732-9888 — to book a home energy audit with a HomePerformance Energy Advisor – your first step to qualifying for provincial rebates for home energy renovations.

Book your energy audit with a certified HomePerformance Energy Advisor. Your Energy Advisor will help you make the right energy saving choices for your Canadian home. Click here

Government grants — conditions

Some conditions apply.

Home energy audit — To qualify for Ontario Home Energy grants and LiveSmart BC rebates you must get an ecoENERGY home energy assessment before and after your upgrades. You will receive grants for improvements started after your first audit.
Renovations — You can complete the improvements yourself or hire a contractor. We recommend you document your renovations with receipts, photos and product literature to be sure you get full credit for all improvements.
18 months — You need to apply for Ontario Home Energy grants and LiveSmart BC rebates within 18 months of your first audit, or before March 31, 2011, whichever comes first. Use the opportunity to complete as many upgrades as possible.
Existing homes only — Newly built homes occupied for less than six months do not qualify for Ontario Home Energy grants and LiveSmart BC rebates. Once a newly built home has been occupied for more than six months, there is no limit to how old a home can be to qualify for government rebates.
Local codes & by-laws — All improvements or renovations must meet Canadian local building codes and by-laws. Pay special attention to the placement of vapour barriers when adding insulation to the building envelope. Before undertaking improvements or renovations, find out about the appropriate products and installation techniques to ensure that your home’s building envelope and indoor air quality will not be compromised.
Higher efficiency — To qualify for Ontario and BC government grants, any new equipment must have a higher efficiency than that of the original equipment it replaces.
Questions about eligibility — If you are not certain about the eligibility of your house, or any specific renovations you are planning, you should request clarification from the Ontario and BC governments. Homeowners are responsible for clarifying that their house and planned improvements are eligible for Ontario Home Energy grants and LiveSmart BC rebates before undertaking any upgrade work and related expenses.

More rebates & incentives

Ontario Home Energy rebates

Ontario homeowners can get cash back for your first ecoENERGY assessment with a Home Energy Audit rebate from the Ontario government.

Home Energy Audit program — Rebate of up to $150 of the cost of your first energy audit.
Up to $150 — To be eligible for an Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate you must receive an ecoENERGY assessment from a certified energy advisor.
You are not required to carry out a renovation to your Ontario home to receive the Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate.
Your advisor applies for the Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate on your behalf.

As an Ontario homeowner, you can qualify for tax-free rebates from the Government of Ontario.

Ontario Home Energy Savings grants — Get rebates of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements from the Ontario government. Click here
You begin — by completing an ecoENERGY assessment with a certified energy advisor. You are eligible for a rebate of up to $150 on the cost of your first ecoENERGY assessment (see Home Energy Audit program, above).
Your advisor — will apply for Ontario’s Home Energy Savings rebates on your behalf, after you have completed your energy-efficient renovations and your Ontario home has been re-assessed. You have 18 months from the date of the first energy audit to make some or all of the improvements your advisor recommends for your Ontario home, and complete a second audit.
Ontario Rebates List — Shows tax-free grant amounts from the Government of Ontario. Click here

BC rebates

BC homeowners can qualify for tax-free rebates from the Government of British Columbia.

LiveSmart BC rebates — Get tax-free rebates of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements from the BC government. Click here
LiveSmart BC audit — The BC government subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. This subsidy is subject to available funds. Click here
Other BC rebates — BC homeowners qualify for additional $2,000 rebates from Solar BC when installing solar hot water systems. There are additional rebates for low-flow toilets, and even more grants, rebates and incentives from local governments and energy utilities.

Your advisor can help

By choosing a HomePerformance Energy Advisor to do your home energy audit, you’ll receive information on government home energy renovation grants and rebates, and other energy improvement incentives available in your area.

Enjoy all the benefits

Do it right

Each Canadian home has its own specific energy-savings needs, and yours is no different. The right renovations add up to big savings. By following the expert advice of a Canada-certified energy advisor, you’ll make the energy renovations or "retrofits" that are right for your home — and help improve your energy costs and the Canadian environment.

Three easy steps

Call for a home energy audit ... 1-877-732-9888
Choose the right renovations for you
Save energy and money

Energy renovations help ...

Save energy — Your home won’t need as much energy to stay comfortable.
Save money — Less energy used = lower energy costs for you.
Grants + Rebates — Qualify for tax-free provincial rebates for home energy renovation, sent directly to you.

And that’s not all. Here are more benefits ...

Greater comfort – Your home will be warmer in Canadian winters, cooler in Canadian summers.
Better health – You’ll eliminate indoor health concerns like chills and drafts, and keep your home free of airborne pollutants and pollen.
Increased home value – By making energy renovations, you’ll increase the resale value of your home. An official Canada EnerGuide label proves you’ve done the work.
Simpler home maintenance – No more scrubbing moldy windowsills! Keep airborne dust and dirt outside where it belongs.

When you improve your home in Canada, you make a difference to the rest of the world. You’ll help address important global issues like ...

Climate change – Energy renovations help reduce your Canadian home’s greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting you from the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
Energy security – By reducing your Canadian home’s energy use, you’ll be less deeply affected by energy price fluctuations and supply interruptions.

And there’s even more. Click here to learn how Canadian homeowners like you are saving thousands of dollars and tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, by making the right energy-saving home renovations. Canadians can make a difference.

Get started today!

Learn more about Renovation Grants in Canada ...

Home Renovation

Window - replacement
Door - ENERGY STAR
Attic, roof - insulation
Exterior wall - insulation
Basement - insulation
Crawl space - insulation
Air sealing - air tightness, blower door test
HRV - heat recovery ventilator

Equipment

Furnace - high efficiency
Hot water heater - tankless, high efficiency
Air conditioner - central, window replacement
Heat pump - air source
Geothermal - heat pump
Boiler - gas, oil
Solar - hot water system
Toilet - efficient low flush

To qualify you need a Canadian home energy audit before your renovations. For more information on tax-free government grants + Ontario and BC rebates – Click here