Toronto Home Heating Systems: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know (2025)
Buying your first home in Toronto – whether a cozy condo or a family house – comes with a lot of learning curves. One of the most important yet overlooked aspects is the heating system. Toronto’s cold winters make a reliable and efficient heating setup essential. This guide breaks down the common home heating systems in Toronto and Ontario, explains how they operate, and clarifies who pays for what in houses versus condos. We’ll also touch on green initiatives (like LEED certifications and heat pumps) that are shaping the future of home heating. Let’s dive in with a friendly, easy-to-understand breakdown tailored for first-time home buyers.
Types of Home Heating Systems in TorontoToronto homes use a variety of heating systems depending on the building’s age, style, and whether it’s a house or a condo. Here are the most common types you’ll encounter and how they work:
Forced-Air Furnaces (Natural Gas): The gas furnace is the workhorse of Ontario home heating and is especially common in houses. It works by pulling in cool air, heating it by burning natural gas (or propane/oil in some cases), and blowing the warmed air through ducts into each room. Furnaces heat quickly and many also support central air conditioning. Natural gas furnaces are popular because natural gas has been the cheapest fuel in Ontario for heat. (Electric furnaces also exist, but due to high electricity costs they’re rare for primary heating.) A furnace in a house is wholly owned by the homeowner, who must pay for fuel (gas bill) and maintenance like filter changes and the occasional tune-up or repair.
Boiler & Radiator Systems (Hydronic Heating): Some older Toronto homes and low-rise buildings use boilers that heat water to warm the house. Hot water flows through radiators or in-floor piping (radiant floors) to emit heat. The heat is gentle and even, though a bit slower to adjust. Boilers can be fueled by natural gas, oil, or electricity. In a house, the boiler is the owner’s responsibility to maintain and the fuel cost is on you. In a condo or apartment building with radiators, there is typically a central boiler in the building; the condo corporation maintains that, and your unit’s warmth is covered through condo fees (more on this below). Boilers often last a long time (20-30+ years), but if you’re buying a house with an old boiler, plan for eventual replacement. Also, note that a boiler-heated home usually does not have ductwork for air conditioning – cooling would require window AC units or a separate system.
Electric Baseboard Heaters: Many condos (especially older high-rises from the 1970s-1980s) and some smaller homes use electric baseboard heaters in each room. These are those long units along the bottom of the wall. They warm up by electric resistance – essentially like a big space heater attached to the base of the wall. Each room typically has its own thermostat. The advantage is simplicity: no furnace or pipes needed, and you can control each room’s temperature individually. However, the operating cost is much higher. Electricity in Ontario costs more per unit of heat than gas – electric resistance heat can be about three times more expensive than heating the same space with natural gas. On the plus side, electric baseboards are low-maintenance (just occasional dusting and ensuring nothing is flammable nearby). If you buy a condo or house with baseboard heating, budget for higher hydro (electric) bills, especially in deep winter. Some condos include electricity in the maintenance fees (which means everyone’s heating cost is averaged into the fees), but most newer ones have separate hydro meters so you pay your own usage.
Heat Pumps (Air Source & Geothermal): Heat pumps are an increasingly popular option in 2024-2025, thanks to their efficiency and eco-friendliness. A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can run in reverse to heat your home in winter. It uses electricity to move heat rather than generate heat – drawing heat from outside air (even cold air contains some heat energy) and pumping it indoors. In summer, it does the opposite and acts as your AC. The big selling point is efficiency: a modern air-source heat pump might deliver 2-4 kilowatt-hours worth of heat into your home for every 1 kWh of electricity it uses. This means it’s 200-400% efficient, far better than the 100% efficiency of baseboard heaters. In practical terms, that cuts electric heating costs dramatically – a heat pump might use roughly 40% of the electricity that straight resistance heaters would use for the same heat output. Many Ontario homeowners pair a heat pump with a gas furnace or electric resistance backup, using the efficient heat pump on milder days and the furnace on the coldest nights. (While cold-climate heat pumps can work below -20°C, they do lose efficiency in extreme cold.) If you’re buying a newly built home or condo, there’s a good chance it has a heat pump system. Geothermal heat pumps are a special type that draw heat from the ground – some custom homes and a few condo buildings have these systems of buried pipes that use the earth’s steady underground temperature to provide very efficient heating and cooling. Geothermal has higher upfront cost but very low operating cost. In a house, any heat pump system (and its electricity use) is the owner’s responsibility. In condos, heat pumps often appear in one of two ways: either each unit has its own small heat pump unit connected to a building-wide loop (more on this below in condo section), or the whole building has a central heat pump system.
Fireplaces & Stoves (Secondary Heat): Many houses (and even some condos) have fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, but nowadays these are typically supplemental or for ambiance rather than primary heating. A wood-burning fireplace, gas fireplace, or pellet stove can certainly provide heat to a space, and they’re great as a backup during power outages (especially wood/pellet since they don’t need electricity). However, they usually won’t heat an entire home evenly. If your new home has one, treat it as a bonus feature – just remember wood fireplaces require chimney maintenance and can be inefficient (much of the heat goes up the chimney). Gas fireplaces are more efficient and can act as a heating zone for a part of the home, while also looking cozy. Always follow safety and never leave fires unattended. In condos, any fireplace (usually electric or gas if allowed) would be within the unit and thus maintained by the unit owner.
One big difference between owning a freehold house and owning a condo is how the heating system is managed and who covers the costs. Here’s what first-time buyers need to know:
In a House: You are 100% responsible for your heating system – both operation and maintenance. You pay the gas or electric bills directly, and if something breaks (furnace needs repair, boiler leaks, etc.), it’s on you to hire a technician and pay for the fix. This means you have more control (you can upgrade the system if you want, choose your thermostat settings freely, etc.), but also more responsibility. Budget for annual check-ups (many people get their furnace or boiler serviced each fall) and eventual replacement of equipment (furnaces last ~15-20 years, heat pump outdoor units ~15 years, boilers can last longer). The upside: in a house you can decide to improve your system – for example, installing a smart thermostat or participating in energy rebate programs – without needing anyone’s permission.
In a Condo: In a condo building, heating is often centralized or shared, but there’s usually an in-suite component too. Understanding “who pays for what” in a condo can be confusing at first. Generally, the condo corporation (funded by your monthly maintenance fees) will cover the central systems, and the unit owner is responsible for any equipment that exclusively services their unit. For example, if the building has a big boiler in the basement providing hot water for heating to all units, the maintenance and fuel for that boiler are paid by the condo corp (through everyone’s fees). However, if your individual condo unit has a fan coil unit or a heat pump unit inside it that blows the air in your suite, that piece of equipment is usually on your dime if it needs repair or replacement. In fact, condo owners are typically responsible for their in-unit HVAC appliances like fan coil motors, thermostats, heat pump compressors, and even bathroom exhaust fans. The condo bylaws and declaration will spell out which parts of the HVAC system are “common elements” (building responsibility) and which are part of your unit. It’s essential to read those documents, because there are some condos where the corporation does take care of in-unit HVAC, but in most Toronto condos the rule is: if it’s inside your unit boundaries and only serves your unit, it’s your responsibility.
Example: You buy a Toronto condo and a year later, the small fan coil unit in your living room stops blowing hot air. The fan motor has burnt out. In almost all cases, you will be paying the HVAC technician to replace that motor or the entire fan coil unit. The condo corp handles the boiler/chiller that provides hot or cold water to that fan coil, but not the fan unit itself. Costs can range widely – a thermostat repair might be $200, while a major fan coil or heat pump replacement could be over $1,000. This is why some condo owners opt for HVAC maintenance contracts to cover annual servicing and unexpected repairs (typically $150-$300/year).
Heating Fuel Costs in Condos: Another aspect is how you pay for the fuel or energy in a condo. Some condos include heating costs in the maintenance fee, especially if there’s a central boiler (meaning the gas for heating is a communal expense) or if the building is older and doesn’t have individual hydro meters (some older condos just divide the total electricity bill among units via fees). Other condos are “separately metered,” meaning you pay for what your unit uses – for instance, if you have baseboard heaters or an in-suite heat pump running on electricity, that would be on your own hydro bill. As a first-time buyer, check the condo listing or status certificate: does it say “Heat: Included” or “Heat: Not included”? If heat is included, your fee covers it but the fee might be higher; if not, you’ll pay based on usage. Neither is inherently bad – if you’re energy-conscious, separate metering means you’re not subsidizing your wasteful neighbor’s cranked-up thermostat. But if you like to keep the place toasty, a building with heat included can feel like a flat-rate all-you-can-heat buffet (though excessive use could lead to fee increases for everyone later).
Temperature Control in Condos: One quirk new condo owners often discover is that in some buildings, you don’t fully control when heating or cooling is available. Many high-rises have a two-pipe HVAC system which can run in either heating mode or cooling mode building-wide. The condo management will switch the system to heating mode around fall (often by mid-October) and back to cooling in late spring. During transition periods, you might get heat on a surprisingly warm April day or no AC on a freak hot spell in October. Newer condos with four-pipe systems or individual heat pumps allow simultaneous heating or cooling (each unit chooses independently). It’s good to ask how your building works so you know what to expect. By Toronto by-law, landlords/condos must maintain at least 21°C indoor temperature from September 15 to June 1 – so heating will be on by the time it’s truly cold, but the shoulder seasons can have a bit of overlap where you can’t instantly switch to AC or heat at whim. Keep this in mind if you’re sensitive to temperature swings.
Most first-time buyers in Toronto end up in a condo, so let’s demystify the typical condo heating setups in plain language. You’ll commonly encounter these configurations:
Fan Coil Units with Central Boiler/Chiller: This is very common in Toronto high-rises. The building has a central boiler (for hot water in winter) and usually a chiller or cooling tower (for cold water in summer). Two pipes (or four in more advanced setups) run up the building and into each unit’s fan coil. A fan coil unit is a little box, often located by the window or in a bulkhead, containing a fan and a coil of pipes. Hot water flows through the coil in winter (or cold water in summer), and the fan blows air over it to heat or cool your suite. You control it with a thermostat in your unit. The important part: the building provides the hot/cold water (so that part is a shared system covered by condo fees), but the fan coil apparatus in your unit is typically yours to maintain. That means changing its filter regularly (usually a simple foam or mesh filter behind a grille) and calling for service if it leaks or the fan breaks. Fan coils can last 15-25 years but may require cleaning (to prevent dust and even mold buildup in older units). If you’re buying an older condo, find out if the fan coils have ever been replaced or serviced – after ~20 years they might need a retrofit for better efficiency and air quality.
Water-Source Heat Pumps: Instead of a fan coil, some condos have a heat pump unit in each suite that connects to a building water loop. The building loop is kept at a moderate temperature via central boilers and cooling towers. The in-suite heat pump draws heat from the loop in winter (or dumps heat to it in summer) and provides heating/cooling for the unit. The benefit is you can have heating or cooling year-round as needed, and these systems are quite efficient. Each unit’s heat pump looks a bit like a fan coil or a small furnace, often in your suite’s mechanical closet. As a condo owner, you maintain this heat pump. Many newer condos advertise “individually controlled heating and cooling” – often indicating this kind of system. The upside: great control and usually lower energy use; the downside: the electricity to run the heat pump’s compressor is usually on your own meter (so your hydro bill may be higher compared to a fan coil system where the central boiler does more of the work on gas). Again, maintenance is key – change those filters and ensure the condensate drain (for AC mode) stays clear.
Electric Baseboard or Forced-Air Systems: A few condos, particularly smaller low-rise condos or older buildings, might have totally independent systems per unit. For example, a condo townhouse might have its own gas furnace just like a house (in which case the unit owner handles everything – basically it’s a house in terms of HVAC). Some older apartment-style condos might rely purely on electric baseboards in each unit (no central system at all). In that case, heat is often on your hydro bill, and the condo corp just ensures the electrical capacity is there. There are also through-wall packaged terminal units (PTACs – those hotel-like units) in some apartments or condos, which provide both heat (electric or sometimes piped hot water) and AC in one box. If your unit has those, they are also your responsibility to maintain/replace, though they tend to be lower cost (and lower performance).
Thermostats and Controls: In any condo, you’ll have a thermostat (or multiple, if the unit has zones). It might be a simple dial or a modern programmable thermostat. You can usually replace and upgrade your thermostat (smart thermostat etc.) if it’s compatible with the system, but check with building management – some condos have specific approved models especially if they’re wired into a central system. Note that if your condo’s heating is central and just on/off (as in some older systems), a fancy programmable thermostat might not do much if the building isn’t supplying hot water at that moment. In newer condos, you should have pretty fine control like in a modern home.
Key takeaway for condo buyers: The condo will keep the building’s heating infrastructure running (and you’ll pay for that via fees), but you are usually on the hook for the parts inside your unit. That includes fixing that little fan if it stops working, as well as cleaning or changing filters. So when budgeting, remember that condo living doesn’t mean you’re free from all HVAC costs – it just changes how you pay them (some through fees, some out-of-pocket). Always confirm with the status certificate or property manager which parts of the heating/cooling system the condo corporation maintains versus what you maintain.
Energy Costs and Efficiency (2025 Trends)Heating bills can be a significant part of home ownership costs, so it’s worth understanding how different systems impact your wallet. As of 2025, here’s the landscape in Ontario:
Figure: Lifetime cost of various home heating fuels in Ontario (per gigajoule of heat output). Natural gas (far left bar) has one of the lowest direct costs, which explains its popularity. Electric baseboard heating (third bar) is about 3× more expensive per unit of heat than gas, but using a high-efficiency heat pump (second bar) can significantly narrow that gap by delivering more heat per unit of electricity.
Natural Gas vs Electricity: Natural gas has long been the budget-friendly choice for heating in Ontario. Per unit of energy, gas is much cheaper than grid electricity. For example, at recent rates, burning natural gas in a high-efficiency furnace works out to an equivalent of about 1.4 cents per kWh of heat, whereas using straight electric resistance heat costs around 11 cents per kWh – roughly 8 times more expensive for the same heat output. This stark difference is why the vast majority of detached homes use gas furnaces, and why older electric-heated homes can be pricey to keep warm. However, electricity is much cleaner in Ontario (our grid is mostly non-fossil fuel), so there’s a big push to electrify heating with heat pumps to reduce carbon emissions.
Heat Pumps’ Impact: Heat pumps change the math by using electricity far more efficiently. As noted, a heat pump might use only one-third or one-quarter the electricity of baseboards for the same heating. In practical terms, if it would cost $300/month to heat a home with baseboards in January, a heat pump could potentially do it for $100-$150 in electricity. This makes electric heating competitive with gas in many scenarios – not to mention gas prices have been rising with carbon pricing. The catch: heat pumps have higher upfront costs, and their efficiency drops in very cold weather (meaning auxiliary heat might kick in, eroding some savings). Many experts say that for most of the heating season in southern Ontario, a heat pump can shoulder the load efficiently, and you only need the gas or electric backup on the coldest days. Hybrid systems (heat pump + furnace) choose the cheapest fuel at a given temperature – for instance, run the heat pump above -5°C, and switch to gas below that. This can optimize costs and comfort. As a first-time buyer, if you’re weighing a house with a newer heat pump system versus an older gas furnace, know that the heat pump will likely cost less to run except in the coldest weather (and it saves a lot on summer A/C costs too, since it doubles as the AC). Meanwhile, a gas furnace home might have lower heating bills in an extreme cold snap, but overall annual costs could be similar or higher, depending on energy prices. Keep an eye on government rebates and electricity rates – Ontario has time-of-use pricing, so savvy homeowners can further save by running heating a bit more during off-peak times if their home is well-insulated (like pre-warming the house).
Other Fuels (Oil/Propane/Wood): In Toronto proper, you won’t see many oil or propane furnaces these days – most have been converted to gas or electric. Oil and propane are typically more common in rural properties. They tend to be quite expensive: oil, for example, is one of the costliest heating fuels per energy unit. If you do end up buying a home heated with oil or propane, factor in those fuel costs (and the inconvenience of deliveries for oil or refilling propane tanks). There are federal programs to help homeowners swap out oil furnaces for heat pumps now, recognizing both the cost and environmental burden. Wood stoves or pellets can supplement heating and are cheaper than oil/propane, but they require more labor (chopping wood or buying pellets and tending the stove). In the city, wood burning is mainly for atmosphere or emergency backup – it won’t be your primary heating plan in a typical first home.
Condo Heating Costs: A perk of condos is that high-rise buildings often benefit from economies of scale – one big efficient boiler can sometimes heat many units more effectively than dozens of small furnaces. If your heating is included in fees, you have cost certainty (though the fees will reflect average usage). If you pay your own, your costs will depend on your consumption and the system’s efficiency. One thing to note: older condos with electrical heating included tend to have very high maintenance fees, because electric heat is pricey and it’s spread across all owners. Newer condos usually separate hydro to encourage individual conservation. If buying a condo, look at the maintenance fee breakdown if available – see how much goes to utilities and if the building has done any energy retrofits. An efficient building can help keep your fees and bills lower in the long run.
Climate change and energy costs are pushing a lot of innovation in home heating. First-time buyers today might hear about green building standards and wonder how that affects their potential home. Here are some key points:
LEED-Certified Buildings: You might see in condo listings or brochures that a building is LEED Silver, Gold, or even Platinum. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – it’s a respected certification for green buildings. A LEED-certified condo or house meets certain standards in energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials, and indoor environmental quality. For heating systems, a LEED building likely has high-efficiency HVAC equipment, better insulation and windows, and may include heat recovery ventilators (to vent stale air without losing heat). Some notable Toronto condos, like the Regent Park revitalization buildings and downtown high-rises like The Berczy, are LEED Gold and include features like ultra-efficient heating/cooling and heat-recovery systems. As a buyer, living in a green building could mean lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint. It’s also a selling point for future buyers if you move. Keep in mind, LEED certification looks at the building as a whole – you still need to maintain your own unit’s systems properly to reap the benefits.
Geothermal and Innovative Systems: A few condo developments in the GTA have been making headlines for using geothermal heating and cooling. For example, the upcoming Everhome Markham condo is planned to use a geothermal system – drilling deep into the ground to harness stable ground temperatures as a heating/cooling source. This can cut energy costs significantly and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Geothermal systems in condos mean the building’s central energy is super efficient; as a resident, you might not notice anything different except perhaps a more stable temperature year-round and potentially lower fees or more reliable heating. In houses, geothermal (also called ground-source heat pumps) can be installed too – but it’s expensive and usually needs a larger lot for the ground loops, so it hasn’t taken off widely in tight urban lots. That said, there are government incentives encouraging heat pump adoption (both air and ground source). By 2025, there are federal grants up to several thousand dollars for installing heat pumps, and interest-free loans for deeper retrofits. If you buy an older house, you could take advantage of these programs to upgrade an old furnace to a heat pump, for example.
Toronto Green Standard and Future Trends: The City of Toronto has been a leader in green building policies with its Toronto Green Standard (TGS), which sets increasingly strict efficiency and low-carbon requirements for new developments. By 2025, the TGS is pushing most new buildings to use low-carbon heating solutions – effectively ensuring many new condos have heat pump-based systems instead of traditional gas boilers. This means the newest condos coming to market may have all-electric or hybrid systems that align with a future phase-out of fossil fuels. For first-time buyers looking at pre-construction condos, it’s worth asking how the building will be heated and cooled – many will highlight their modern heat pumps, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, solar panels, or other green tech as selling points. The upside is you’ll be living in a future-proof building that won’t suddenly require an expensive retrofit when carbon taxes or gas bans increase (as is happening in some jurisdictions). The potential downside could be if electricity prices spike, purely electric buildings could cost more to operate – but with heat pumps and better insulation, it should balance out.
Energy Rebates and Programs: If you’re improving a home’s heating, be aware of rebate programs. For instance, Enbridge Gas (the local gas utility) has offered rebates for upgrading to high-efficiency furnaces or insulating your home. The Canada Greener Homes Grant program offers up to $5,000 for things like installing a heat pump, and there’s an Oil-to-Heat-Pump incentive for those ditching oil heating. These programs evolve, so check current offerings when you’re ready to make changes. Additionally, Ontario has been experimenting with encouraging smart thermostats and demand-response programs (where you allow minor tweaks to your HVAC during peak grid times for a credit). Engaging in these can save a bit of money and contribute to a greener grid.
Home Energy Audits: A worthwhile consideration for a first-time house buyer is getting an energy audit. This isn’t about the heating system per se, but about the whole home’s efficiency. An auditor can identify where the house is losing heat (insulation, windows, etc.). Often, improving those areas is the cheapest way to reduce heating costs – a brand new furnace is great, but stopping drafts and adding insulation yields huge gains. Some audits are even subsidized. For condos, your control is mostly inside your unit: e.g., you can add weatherstripping to balcony doors or use insulated curtains. The condo corporation handles the big improvements for the whole building (some older condos are retrofitting with better insulation and high-efficiency boilers to cut costs – if you see a condo with a retrofit plan or recent HVAC upgrade, that’s a good sign for your future fees).
Finally, here’s a quick-hit list of tips and takeaways to ensure you stay warm, save money, and avoid headaches with your new home’s heating system:
Identify the Heating Type Early: When house hunting, always ask or check the listing for what type of heating the property has (gas furnace, electric, heat pump, etc.). This will clue you in on what bills to expect and any maintenance quirks. For condos, also ask if heat and hydro are included in fees or metered separately.
Budget for Maintenance or Replacement: Heating systems don’t last forever. If you’re buying a resale home, find out how old the furnace/boiler or heat pump is. A furnace over ~15 years is nearing the end of its life; a heat pump over ~12-15 years might be due for replacement. You can negotiate or at least plan financially for this big-ticket item. Likewise, in a condo, an original fan coil unit from 25 years ago might need an overhaul – some condo boards schedule fan coil replacements building-wide, but if not, you might shoulder it. Either way, set aside a small emergency fund for HVAC repairs (a few hundred dollars can save you stress when a blower motor or thermostat needs fixing).
Understand Your Responsibilities: Especially for condo buyers – read the condo manual or talk to the property manager about what parts of the HVAC system you’re expected to maintain. Do you need to change the filters in your unit (almost certainly yes)? How often? Is there a building service contract that helps with annual maintenance? Knowing this will prevent unpleasant surprises like moldy coils or burnt-out fans. If it’s a house, familiarize yourself with basic tasks like changing furnace filters (usually every 3 months) and flushing your humidifier (if there’s one attached to the furnace) annually.
Energy Efficiency Saves Money: Invest in small upgrades that can improve efficiency. For houses, a smart thermostat can tailor heating to your schedule (just ensure you actually program it or use the learning features). For condos, if you have electric baseboards, consider a programmable wall thermostat for them to avoid running 24/7. Heavy curtains, window insulation film in winter, or a door draft stopper can make a noticeable difference in a drafty unit. These low-cost fixes lower your heating needs. Also, keep doors closed between rooms if you’re only heating some spaces – no need to pay to heat an unused guest room all winter.
Stay Safe: If your heating involves combustion (gas furnace, gas fireplace, etc.), install a carbon monoxide detector (and smoke detectors of course). It’s the law for homes with fuel-burning appliances, and it’s a life-saver. Check that any furnace or boiler has adequate ventilation and that you know where the shut-off valves are. For electric systems, the safety focus is more on not overloading circuits with space heaters and being mindful of baseboard heaters (keep furniture and curtains away from them to prevent fires).
Ask About Heating Bills: Don’t be shy to ask the sellers for copies of recent heating bills or hydro bills. It provides a real-world idea of what it’ll cost to heat the place. Realize that personal comfort varies (one person’s “sweater weather” is another’s “crank the heat!”), but it’s a baseline. For condos, look at the condo’s status certificate for budget line items on utilities – high costs there might indicate inefficiency or rising utility prices that could lead to fee hikes.
Keep Green in Mind: Even if it’s not your top priority now, energy efficiency will only get more important (and rewarded) in the future. Choosing a home with a modern, efficient heating system or plans for upgrades can pay off in resale value. Plus, you’ll feel good about a smaller carbon footprint. If you love a home but the heating system is archaic, you could plan to upgrade it and take advantage of incentives. On the flip side, don’t be scared off by electric heat if it comes with a heat pump or a renewable energy source – do the math or ask an expert; you might find it’s more affordable than it first appears.
By understanding the heating system in your future home, you’ll be better prepared for ownership costs and comfort. Toronto’s climate demands good heating, and now you’re equipped with the knowledge to handle whatever system keeps you cozy. Stay warm, and enjoy your new home!
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