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How to Calculate Furnace Size for a House

How to Calculate Furnace Size for a House

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Buying a new furnace is a major decision these days since there is so much choice on the market, including different brands, models and variants, technical capabilities, furnace types, and efficiency ratings. But one of the most essential factors to consider before purchasing a new furnace is the size that is ideal for your home.

Installing a correctly sized furnace is more than just estimating the square footage of your home. When sizing a furnace, there are several factors you need to consider. Now, we’ll review what those aspects are, why it’s essential to properly size a furnace, and how you can buy a furnace that’s the perfect size for your location, environment, and comfort goals.

The goal of this article is to guide you in choosing the required size of furnace for your heating needs. It is calculated by taking the required heating BTU per square foot for most homes and your climate zone. Our heating BTU calculator takes these critical things into consideration, allowing you to give an answer for common questions as “how many BTUs to heat a home?” or “What size furnace do I need?”

The BTU per square foot heating rule of thumb varies greatly depending on your climate and the area of your house or room you wish to heat up.

Why choosing the best Furnace Size Is So Important?

Although it may be tempting to choose a smaller furnace to save money on the purchase price or a larger furnace to boost space-heating, but with furnaces just as with so many things in our lives we should follow the rule of Golden mean: you need one that is just perfect, for your home.

A furnace which is far too powerful will cycle irregularly. This is problematic because it will generate hot and cold zones around the home, decrease efficiency, require additional maintenance, and shorten the furnace’s lifespan.

A furnace which is undersized will operate continuously and won’t be able to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. The additional workload will also increase your energy costs, cause maintenance issues, and shorten the life of your furnace.

Another drawback of having a furnace that is the incorrect size is that it will reduce your heating system’s overall efficiency.
The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is the thermal efficiency measurement of a furnace based on normal operation. The AFUE tries to represent the equipment’s actual, season-long average efficiency, taking into account all operating factors.

You won’t be able to get the efficiency rating you paid for if your furnace runs continuously or irregularly because it is the wrong size. That means more energy use and higher heating expenses.

Your furnace must be correctly sized for your home in order to perform at the efficiency level it is rated for.

How many BTU do I need for my house?

That is a crucial question that must be answered correctly. On the coldest winter days, a furnace that is way too undersized will not heat your home properly. Areas further away from the furnace may become uncomfortably cold in your home.

An oversized furnace will waste large amounts of energy, and create hot patches around vents close to the furnace before the heating cycle stops.

When you talk about furnace size, you are not talking about the actual physical dimensions of the unit. Rather, the size of a furnace is determined by its heating output and the amount of heat it can provide.

The output of a furnace is often measured in British thermal units (BTU) per hour. A BTU is a unit of measurement for energy, particularly the amount of energy necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Heat is now understood to be the same as energy. The joule (J) is the current SI unit for heat and energy; one BTU equals about 1055 J.

Furnace BTU

You need to remember, that “BTU/h” is sometimes abbreviated to just “BTU”. The modern unit of power for heating and cooling systems is the watt. 1000 BTU/h is approximately 293.1 W.

Some manufacturers have started to calculate furnace size in MBHs rather than BTUs. One MBH is 1000 BTU per hour, then you’re still using the same unit: 60 MBH is equal to 60000 BTU.

The general BTU per square foot heating rule of thumb varies from 30 BTU per square foot to 60 BTU per square foot based on your climate zone. That is a significant variation, with one furnace being twice as powerful as the other, so the size factors are explained here to help you in how to size a new furnace for a house.

A bigger furnace, such as one with an output of 120000 BTU per hour, will provide enough heat for a larger space. A smaller furnace will have a smaller BTU capacity, such as 40000 BTU per hour, and would be suitable for only a smaller pace.

Calculating BTU requirements for a house

Let’s start with this very useful map. The climate becomes progressively colder from zone 1 to 3.

Find your location on the map. If you’re on or close the border between two zones, choose the higher number, the cooler zone.

Canada climate zones

Take the square footage of your home. If you don’t know it, you can look up the blueprint of the house, or measure rectangles within your home. Multiply the width by length for each rectangle and add them together.

It is not quite accurate, but nevertheless very useful for our purposes. While you shouldn’t use this calculation to make a final decision about furnace size, you can use it to get an idea of the size range to look at when you buy a new furnace. You can get a basic estimate using the square footage of your house.

The general rule of thumb is that you need between 30 and 60 BTU per square foot. Depending on your climate zone, you can determine how many BTU per square foot you need.

Furnace BTU sizing chart

Square footageFurnace BTU for
Zone 1		Furnace BTU for
Zone 2		Furnace BTU for
Zone 3
100030000 BTU45000 BTU60000 BTU
125037500 BTU56250 BTU75000 BTU
150045000 BTU67500 BTU90000 BTU
200060000 BTU90000 BTU120000 BTU
250075000 BTU112500 BTU150000 BTU
300090000 BTU135000 BTU180000 BTU

Let’s say you live in the Greater Toronto Area (Zone 2), in a home which is 2000 square feet. The chart would tell that you need approximately a 90000 BTU furnace.

These are only examples with approximated values to show how these factors would affect the furnace size you need to buy, how many BTUs needed to heat a house.

Professional furnace sizing

The best way to ensure your furnace is the right size for your home is to get an evaluation from a professional HVAC expert at Furnace Pro.

Furnace Pro Inc. has been proudly providing professional Furnace Installation services to accurately calculate the square footage of your home, factor in all the other elements that can impact furnace size, and give you a precise BTU capacity for your furnace.

Life Expectancy Of A Furnace

What’s The Life Expectancy Of A Furnace?

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Investing in a home is a big step for anyone, especially if you live in Toronto and the GTA. With this city listed among the top 10 most expensive to live in, you’ll want to make sure you get the most from your home’s appliances. Here’s what you need to know about your furnace, including it’s life expectancy, the importance of maintenance, and a few tips to help you get the most out of it.  

Furnace 101 

Every homeowner can expect their furnace to last a minimum of 10-15 years before a new model will need to be installed. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t last longer. In fact, some homeowners have reported their heating system to run for as many as 30 years – which is the absolute maximum number of years.

Increasing The Life Expectancy Of Your Furnace

Furnaces don’t come cheap, so here are a few ways to help your heating system last a bit longer. First off, you’ll want to make sure you schedule regular maintenance (every 1-2 years). While you might be able to search and follow a YouTube video to do this yourself, we recommend leaving this task to the professionals. In our experience, being a novice and attempting to effectively maintain an important – and expensive – heating system like a furnace doesn’t work out well. There is a risk of being hurt as well as doing further damage.

Tips You CAN Do Yourself To Increase The Life Expectancy Of Your Furnace

Making sure all vents are clear and air filters are being changed regularly can help prevent stress on your furnace. Having good airflow is important, which is why using ceiling fans is another useful tip. Ceiling fans help circulate air in a home, allowing your furnace to work less in the winter to heat rooms that might be further away from the unit itself. A few final tips include baking and cooking more often – your stove and oven produce excess heat – , checking for air leaks from doors and windows, and being sure to close the curtains at night all play a positive role in reducing strain on your furnace. These small things all work together with your furnace to help your home stay toasty warm even on the coldest of days. 

Maintenance From Furnace Pro Inc Helps The Life Expectancy Of Your Furnace

Save yourself the stress of having to replace your furnace before its time by giving us a call at 647-547-6094 for some maintenance.  Rest assured, after more than 35 years of serving Toronto and the GTA, our technicians have seen and repaired it all, so we are ready and waiting to help. Call today and let’s add a few more years to the life expectancy of your furnace.

furnace installation in toronto

Furnace Installation In Toronto And The GTA

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Finding the right person for any job usually starts with knowing what to look for. Just like with a vehicle, anyone can handle an oil change, but you want to make sure you look around when it comes to steering or brake repair. Same goes for furnace installation. While some professionals claim they can handle the task at hand, you really don’t want to gamble with your home’s heating system.   

Tips For Finding The Right Person For Your Furnace Installation In Toronto

When trying to determine the difference between professional installers, there are 3 areas to consider: experience, area served, and online reviews.

Years of experience with furnace installation in Toronto

There really isn’t a substitute for experience when it comes to furnace installation. After all, if the person you hire has been doing this for years, or represents a company that has a successful track record, chances are you won’t be experiencing any issues. On the other hand, someone new to the field of HVAC or who is a general handyman, might not know how to troubleshoot any issues. Worst case scenario, they make a mess of the job and now you’re paying extra to get a real pro to try and fix everything. 

Parts of Toronto and the GTA served

Another big indicator that you’re dealing with a professional over an amateur is learning how big of a service area they provide. One guy with a truck in Toronto won’t be willing to help if you’re in Brampton, but a larger service might. The bigger the organization, the more resources they have at their disposal to serve customers better. Some even have 24/7 support if you need it.   

Online reviews tell the story

The final indicator of a good furnace installation expert is their online reviews. If they have the experience then you should see plenty of feedback online. Naturally you don’t have to read every word people have written, but skimming through them will give you a better idea of what you’re getting into. Independent furnace installers may be able to fake a couple reviews from their friends, but only those with years of experience will have plenty of real testimonials for your perusal.

For Professional Furnace Installation In Toronto, Call Furnace Pro Inc

Not everyone is looking to do the homework it takes to always find the right person for the right price. But if you’re reading this, chances are you won’t want to gamble with your furnace installation. So if you’re looking for a company with more than 30 years of experience serving Toronto and the GTA, Furnace Pro Inc is ready and waiting. Just call 647-547-6094 today. We’re even available 24/7 in case you ever need us for an emergency repair. Put our team of experienced professionals to work for you, and set your mind at ease.

furnace installation

Always Hire A Professional For Furnace Installation

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As a small business owner in Toronto and the GTA, I sincerely recommend hiring a professional to handle any HVAC installation. Late last year I was in a bit of a situation at my office. The heat was never working properly in the winter, but always seemed to get the job done regardless. Just before the holiday break, our furnace gave out completely. We needed furnace installation services fast.

With the holidays only a week and a half away, my upstairs tenant in the building we share recommended his brother-in-law to take a look. It sounded like a good idea at the time, so we gave him a call – assuming this was a furnace installation or HVAC expert. He was not.

Can I Void The Warranty If I Handle The Furnace Installation?

After taking a look and claiming to have fixed the issue, the furnace was producing warm air. The final day before the break I did a walkthrough and noticed the furnace had died. Long story short, I contacted a professional. They weren’t able to come until after the New Year.

Luckily, I saw a Furnace Pro Inc van in my neighbourhood and approached them in person. The technician was nice enough and even took a few minutes to give me a second opinion. He said that the “earlier repairs” weren’t bad enough to void my warranty, but that has happened when dealing with a novice furnace installer.

Furnace Pro Inc Is The Right Choice For Furnace Installation

Toronto and the GTA is a big place, but Furnace Pro Inc is up to the task. When it comes to HVAC issues, don’t hesitate to give them a call. They’re nice, knowledgeable, and efficient. Real professionals. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for help with their furnace. Luckily I was able to avoid the need for a new furnace until the following spring, but when it finally called it quits, I booked Furnace Pro Inc to handle my furnace installation. Now my office is toasty warm, every winter.

Our expert team at Furnace Pro Inc work hard to put our customer first for over 30 years. If you ever have a problem, we can be there to take your call 24/7, and dispatch someone to your home or office within hours. Leave your HVAC to our professionals for a job well done. Give us a call if you need anything at 647-547-6094. We’d be more than happy to help with furnace installation, repairs, maintenance and more.

our old furnace

Case Study: Our Old Furnace

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Billy and Jean were sitting in their Toronto home one cold winter weekend last year and all of a sudden they felt a chill. Thinking nothing of it they grabbed a blanket and cuddled up, but the chill only got worse and before they knew it they could see their breath right in their living room. It quickly became obvious that something was wrong with their furnace.

Billy fiddled with the thermostat, but it changed nothing. He went downstairs to “check” the furnace, but he knew he wasn’t an HVAC technician and yelled upstairs to Jean, “our old furnace is just finished I think”.

This isn’t uncommon. They had their furnace since they moved into their renovated Toronto home 15 years ago and haven’t changed it since. Their next step was a smart one, they called Furnace Pro Inc. They knew that it wouldn’t be long before they were dealing with frozen pipes and since they used Furnace Pro Inc for annual maintenance appointments, they knew a Furnace Pro Inc HVAC technician would be at their home to help in no time.

When we arrived we could see that Billy and Jean were cold and that they needed a new furnace. We got on it quickly and by the end of that Saturday they had a new furnace installed in their home.

Overall, Billy and Jean made the right choice knowing that Furnace Pro Inc provides 24/7 emergency services year round, even on the coldest days of winter. We know you don’t want to deal with frozen pipes, which can lead to additional costs and renovations if water ruins your home’s building materials.

If you find yourself in a situation like Billy and Jean worrying about “our old furnace” give us a call, no matter what time of day it is or even if it’s a weekend or a holiday. We’re available all the time to help out. Contact us at 647-547-6094.

When Should I Replace My Furnace?

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Yes, it’s not winter time yet, but summer is coming to an end and in the near future you will need to switch from using your air conditioner to using your furnace. Your furnace will have to keep you and your family warm all winter, but there’s one thing you may be asking yourself. When should I replace my furnace?

Answers: When Should I Replace My Furnace?

How did your furnace perform last winter?

This is when you should evaluate how well your furnace worked last spring or winter. If i broke down, produced hot air, consumed a lot more energy than usual or didn’t run well in general then you may need to have it evaluated by a professional for replacement.

Have you performed furnace maintenance lately?

Lots of people forget to take care of annual furnace maintenance or they don’t see value in it. These aren’t good choices as they can lead to having to make expensive repairs and even replace your furnace sooner than you’d like to. Lack of maintenance can also drastically affect the performance of your furnace. Quick tips: change your filter and clear out your stuff from around the vents.

Factor in whether you’ve performed maintenance regularly or not to whether your furnace needs a repair or replacement. If you haven’t performed maintenance lately, that may be all that’s needed to get your furnace back to working at full capacity again.

How old is your furnace?

Clearly the age of your furnace is one of the main factors in whether it needs replacing or not. Better brand and models will certainly last longer than others, but a furnace that is routinely maintained will last longer than it would otherwise. So understanding how strict your maintenance regimen was is part of the equation. Typically, a furnace starts to see decreased efficiency and starts to break down more often after 12 years of use, and you should consider replacing it between 16 and 20 years.

Contact Furnace Pro Inc for more information about furnace replacement or if you’re just asking yourself: When should I replace my furnace? Give us a call at 647-547-6094

new furnace installation

New Furnace Installation From Furnace Pro Inc

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New Furnace Installation Services

At Furnace Pro Inc we only hire the best HVAC technicians and provide ongoing training to ensure that all of the services we offer are executed to meet your expectations. This includes new furnace installation. Our highly trained and certified technicians will ensure that your furnace installation is done properly the first time. We adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines and standards with all new furnace installation services. There are also many government regulations that need to be properly followed to ensure safe and reliable new furnace installation.

Overall we take pride in doing things right the first time and new furnace installation is no exception.

New Furnace Installation Rebates

With most new furnace installation appointments you can often count on a rebate for your new purchase. Furnace Pro Inc staff and technicians will let you know which units we currently have rebates available for and help you choose one that suits your needs. We will guide you through the process of selecting your new high efficiency furnace explaining efficiency levels on any new furnace installation. Our staff will help you process your new furnace installation documentation with the OPA to ensure you receive your rebate in timely manner.

Furnace Repair & Furnace Maintenance

Now that you’ve got a new furnace installed in your home, it’s important to keep it operating well so it lasts for years to come. At Furnace Pro Inc we recommend an annual furnace repair and furnace maintenance appointment. This appointment will address and issues, small or large, with your furnace. This ensures that it will operate as efficiently and reliably as possible, for an extended period of time. Annual service and furnace tune ups can extend lifespan and operating efficiency. It is important to perform regular maintenance on furnaces to identify and analyze furnace problems and eliminate any potential heating issues.

Emergency Furnace Services

In the event of a furnace breakdown, you can count on a Novel care technician to be at your home quickly to assess your furnace and provide you with the best repair solution. If you need a new furnace installed we will do everything we can to get your new one installed as quickly as possible. We understand that on very cold days your home and family are at risk, and you can count on Furnace Pro Inc to help.

For more information about our new furnace installation services contact us: 647-547-6094.

furnace installation services

Furnace Installation Services: York Furnaces

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Now that you have decided to invest in a new furnace, the fun can really begin. First off, there are a bunch of things to consider. Do you want the most efficient unit? Can your home support it? Who do I get to install my furnace? What about warranties? All valid questions, and we’re going to shed a bit more light on the topic of furnace installation services in Toronto and the GTA as well as introduce you to one of the brands we are very familiar with – York Furnaces.

Trusted Worldwide

York has a rich history dating all the way back to 1874 when they started out making ice machines. Yes, ice machines. Good thing they’ve adapted themselves a bit since their inception to include more than just refrigeration units. Today, York is a brand trusted by some of the most famous buildings and structures worldwide such as the English Chunnel, Empire State Building and Sydney Opera House! This simply means their consumer products are more than capable of handling your home’s comfort, and you can enjoy peace of mind knowing York is a trusted name.

Here are a few more reasons to consider York for your home’s heating needs.

Plenty Of York Furnaces To Choose From

  • Designed to fit your style
  • Compact to save space
  • Made in North America

Having options in life is always better than having none. With York Furnaces, you’ll be able to see the stats on all available consumer models. Not only will you be able to choose the most efficient model for your home, you’ll also have much more compact ones to save space in your home. This can help, especially in Toronto or the GTA. Also, each unit is created right here in North America from the early design stage to final completion. This helps York ensure quality in every unit manufactured.

Awarded & Recognized: York Furnaces

  • Good Housekeeping Seal
  • Consumer Digest Best Buy Award

York furnaces have also collected ENERGY STAR® ratings on a number of units. This symbol is a fast way to let you know a product is energy-efficient. Additionally, York’s commitment to standing behind their products has earned them a Good Housekeeping Seal, which honours a company willing to replace any defective products within 2 years of being installed. They also have a Consumers Digest Best Buy Award which recognized the YORK® Affinity™ YP9C gas furnaces with high-efficiency modulating burners for its performance and quality.

What does any of this mean for you as a homeowner? It means when it comes to furnace installation services, York is a name you can trust for quality.

Furnace Installation Services: Toronto

No matter where you are in the city, there are a lot of people available to hire. The trick is finding the one you can trust to do the job right the first time without spending a fortune. How do you get that done? Sad to say, you have to do a bit of research.

Properly going over the qualifications of a furnace installation services expert doesn’t need to be overly complicated though. It can be simplified down to 2 questions. How long have they been in business? What area of the city do they serve? How they answer can tell you what you need to know before they get to work.

With over 30 years of furnace installation services experience, Furnace Pro Inc knows what it takes to keep customers happy. Our work ethic and customer service are things we pride ourselves on. Plus, we serve Toronto and the GTA! That’s a pretty big area but we have a lot of faith in our team to deliver quality service people can count on. When you’re ready to get started with a professional furnace installation services expert, contact us at 647-547-6094! We’ll make sure you and your loved ones will stay toasty warm all winter.

Toronto furnace installation

Toronto Furnace Installation: Lennox Furnaces

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The cold weather has finally seemed to settle in and now is not the time for a furnace that won’t keep up. Whether you have a family to keep warm or you just want to stay toasty as the snow falls, the right furnace can help ward off the icy chill of winter. Do you need Toronto furnace installation experts to install a Lennox or another high-end furnace brand?

To get started, you’ll want to look into some brands and talk to people about your options. Keep in mind though, not everyone will be able to offer the help you specifically need. There are many factors when deciding on which furnace to go with and who you should hire to install it. After all, Toronto and the GTA is full of “professionals” just lining up to get paid. The trick is hiring the right one who will be worth it before committing to such a big investment.

To help, we’d like to share one of the brands we know best for your consideration. Obviously you will conduct your own research, but here are some fast facts to get you started.

Established In 1895? Lennox Must Be Doing Something Right

With over 100 years of experience, you can bet that Lennox knows a thing or two about furnace installation. Not many companies have lasted this long, and Lennox isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon. Not only are their products considered among the best, their customer service helps separate them from the rest. Here are a couple of things they have built their reputation on, including:

Keeping Customers Informed

  • Mobile apps available
  • Recall lists and notifications
  • Reviews and ratings

It’s always important to make informed decisions, especially about a major purchase like a furnace. That’s why Lennox ensures there is plenty of information available from mobile apps to recall lists, so you always have the facts you need.

Keeping Customers Safe

  • Installation mandatory from authorized dealers
  • Warranties must be upheld for at least the first year by the installer

Safety is an important issue in every business and Lennox has gone the extra mile. Not only are authorized dealers required to provide installation of each furnace they sell, they must also be equipped to handle any requirements that are included within the first year of the warranty. That’s 2 ways of simplifying the furnace installation process while maximizing the safety for you.

Authorized Toronto Furnace Installation Near You

Whether you are in Toronto or the surrounding GTA, there will be many options available out there to help you with furnace installation. In fact, there might be a few too many self-proclaimed “experts” out there, and that could mean trouble for some people. When you’re in a hurry, fully checking out a furnace installation expert’s qualifications may not be possible, but there are a few things you should always consider before hiring just anyone.

You’ll want to factor in how many years they’ve been in business as well as how big of an area they serve. Their years of experience will give you an idea of whether they know what they’re talking about or are new on the job, while the area served tells you what kind of reputation they have. If they serve a larger area it’s usually because they have the team in place to get the job done.

To help speed up your search even more, take a closer look at Furnace Pro Inc for your Toronto furnace installation needs. We have over 30 years of experience while serving Toronto and the GTA. Our team of experts can handle all your HVAC needs including furnace installation, but if you’re tired of just reading about what we have to offer, contact us directly at 647-547-6094! We’d be happy to evaluate your situation and discuss real options that make sense for your home and your budget.

furnace installation toronto

Furnace Installation Toronto: Bring The Heat This Winter

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We’ve been lucky so far in Toronto and the GTA this winter. Sure, we’ve had some colder days, but the snow hasn’t been too bad. It’s important to remember that just because the ball dropped on New Year’s doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. There’s still plenty of winter left and a wonky furnace won’t cut it when the mercury drops, and that’s where you might need professional furnace installation Toronto services.

If you’re looking to get your home a new furnace, here are a couple of things to consider when searching for your next investment.

Price Isn’t Everything

When it comes time to buy anything, we’re all guilty of looking for the best deal. After all, no one wants to overpay for anything. Why would you? However, it’s important to remember the old saying of “you get what you pay for”. There’s a time and place to be frugal. You may not need a thousand dollar watch when you tell time by checking your phone, or you prefer a fuel-efficient vehicle without all the bells and whistles, but pinching pennies on a heating system for your home isn’t recommended.

You’ll want to select something with a bit of quality behind its name – not to mention customer service before, during, and after the furnace installation has taken place. This doesn’t have to be the most expensive option either of course. You’ll want to invest in the one that makes sense for your home’s needs and your budget.

How Do I Know Which Furnace To Buy?

One of our furnace installation Toronto experts can help you find the answers you need on this particular topic. Yes, there are things to look for such as efficiency rating, price, integrity of the brand, etc, but your home may not be best suited for the best of the best. In some homes, the ducts may not be able to support the highest rating and would be money poorly spent. Another example could be if your home has certain rooms that are always colder. They would need to be addressed first to avoid overspending on a furnace that would be working harder to compensate for areas of your home that aren’t properly insulated. To avoid these problems, we recommend consulting with a professional who can take a closer look at what your home can support as well as what your heating needs will be.

Furnace Installation Toronto: Experts Know Best

Finding “professionals” to install anything is easy, but finding the right ones can be a challenge. You’ll want to do a bit of research here. That might include google searches for furnace installation Toronto and furnace installation GTA, or even asking friends and family if they know someone they’d recommend. Sometimes it takes no time at all, but to help you along, why not consider Furnace Pro Inc?

Our furnace installation Toronto experts at Furnace Pro Inc take pride in helping you stay warm all winter. We know what it takes to deliver a quality service people can count on, as well as answer questions to help keep our customers informed. It’s this level of customer service combined with our work ethic that has helped us achieve over 30 years of experience in the field of furnace installation Toronto and other HVAC services. So don’t be a stranger, contact us at 647-547-6094 to get started, or you could learn about a couple of brands of furnaces before committing to a decision. We’re more than happy to help and would never leave you out in the cold.