Furnace and AC prices in Windsor
In Windsor, central air typically costs $3,700 to $6,800 and a ducted cold-climate heat pump $8,750 to $17,450, installed and before 13% HST; a single-stage gas furnace runs $3,900 to $6,300. That is about 3% under the Ontario range. With the mildest winters and longest humid summers of any city we cover, Windsor is where cooling and heat pump choices matter most.
Essex County
Windsor price snapshot
- Winter design temperature
- About -16°C, the mildest of the 12 cities we cover
- Heating degree days
- About 3,400 a year (approximate)
- Summers
- Long, hot and humid cooling season
- Typical homes
- Walkerville and South Walkerville brick, post-war bungalows, newer suburbs
- Natural gas
- Enbridge Gas (formerly Union Gas)
- Electricity
- ENWIN Utilities
- Permits
- Installer usually applies; confirm with the City of Windsor
Typical installed prices in Windsor, before HST
- Central AC$3,700 to $6,800
- High-efficiency AC$6,300 to $10,200
- Ducted heat pump$8,750 to $17,450
- Single-stage furnace$3,900 to $6,300
- Two-stage furnace$5,350 to $7,750
About 3% below the provincial range, for a modest regional difference in labour and overhead costs: an editorial estimate, not a discount on yours.
On this page
Cooling comes first in Windsor
Windsor has some of the hottest, most humid summers in Canada, and in humid weather an air conditioner has two jobs: cooling the air and pulling water out of it. A unit that is too big cools the house fast, shuts off before the coil has removed much moisture, and leaves rooms cool but clammy.
The southern Ontario rule of thumb of 1 ton per 500 to 700 sq ft puts a 1,500 sq ft house at about 2.1 to 3.0 tons. Windsor's heat pushes toward the larger end, but windows, shade and leaky ducts matter more; a CSA F280 load calculation decides. Try the AC size calculator, and see air conditioner prices for provincial ranges. The Windsor table below takes the provincial Ontario Furnace Prices ranges and subtracts about 3%.
| Option | Typical Windsor price | Humidity control | Heating role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard central AC | $3,700 to $6,800 | Good if sized right | None |
| Variable-speed, high-efficiency AC | $6,300 to $10,200 | Best: long, slow runs remove more moisture | None |
| Ducted cold-climate heat pump | $8,750 to $17,450 | Variable-speed models dehumidify well | Most or all of the heating |
Ask before you sign an AC quote
- Will you do a load calculation, or match the old unit size?
- What cooling airflow will the blower run at? In humid climates many installers set it a little below the usual 400 cubic feet per minute per ton to remove more moisture.
- Is the indoor coil matched to the outdoor unit and my furnace blower?
Why heat pumps suit Windsor
A heat pump is an air conditioner that also runs in reverse: here it cools all summer and heats most of the winter. With about 3,400 heating degree days against roughly 3,900 in London, the same house needs about 13% less heat over a season, and more of the winter falls in the mild range where heat pumps are most efficient.
Gas is delivered by Enbridge Gas and electricity by ENWIN Utilities. At about 50 cents per cubic metre and 15 cents per kWh all in, a 96% furnace makes heat for about 5.0 cents per kWh; a heat pump matches that at a seasonal COP of about 3.0, which a cold-climate model typically reaches or beats in mild weather. Dual fuel, typically $10,650 to $19,400, hands the coldest nights to the furnace. Older homes may need electrical work at $500 to $2,500, or $2,000 to $4,500 for a panel upgrade. Compare setups on heat pump prices.
Homes heated with Enbridge natural gas may qualify for the Home Renovation Savings heat pump rebate, listed for a purchased air-source system at $500 per ton up to $2,000; homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood fall in a category listed at $1,250 per ton up to $7,500. Approval before installation is mandatory, and a standalone furnace or cooling-only AC is not a heat pump rebate measure. Programs change: confirm before you buy and count on nothing until approved. See heat pump rebates in Ontario.
Rebate sources
- Home Renovation Savings: heat pumps checked October 4, 2026
- Home Renovation Savings: terms and requirements checked October 4, 2026
Price an AC or heat pump for your Windsor home
A free in-home estimate sizes the system to your house, checks the panel and the ducts, and gives you a written price.
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Furnace prices in Windsor
In gas-heated homes the furnace is still the main heat, or the dual fuel backup. In Windsor a single-stage furnace typically costs $3,900 to $6,300, two-stage $5,350 to $7,750 and modulating $6,800 to $10,650, before HST.
Mild winters weaken the case for modulating: extra efficiency saves less gas when the house needs less heat. Two-stage is usually the comfort pick, and its ECM blower can run slowly in summer, which helps the air conditioner dehumidify. Size for about -16°C with a load calculation, not the old furnace's label, which is often bigger than the house needs.
Windsor houses and what they add to a quote
-
Walkerville and South Walkerville brick
Raises the price: +$300 to $1,500
Early 20th-century houses often vent the water heater up the old chimney and may still have radiators or a 100-amp service.
-
Post-war bungalows
Raises the price: +$500 to $3,000+
Ducts sized for heat. Central air added later often lacks return air, which hurts cooling and dehumidification alike.
-
Newer suburban homes
Lowers the price: Closer to the low end
PVC venting, a nearby drain and ducts sized for AC make most replacements a one-day swap.
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Flood-prone basements
Can go either way: Varies
Parts of Windsor and Tecumseh have flooded in heavy summer storms. Ask about a raised base for the furnace and a condensate line to a working drain or sump.
Permits and gas safety in Windsor
Whether a job needs a municipal permit depends on its scope, and the City of Windsor sets those rules, so check with its building department rather than a general rule. The installer usually applies; the fee, typically $75 to $300 in Ontario, should be on the quote. Ask where the outdoor unit will sit, since setback rules can apply on narrow lots, and make sure a TSSA-registered contractor does the gas work (ask for the registration number).
LaSalle, Tecumseh, Amherstburg and Lakeshore
Windsor installers commonly serve LaSalle, Tecumseh, Amherstburg and Lakeshore, including Belle River, at similar prices, with a possible travel charge for rural Essex County addresses; farms without natural gas have the strongest case for a heat pump. The nearest other city we cover is London: compare furnace prices in London and furnace prices in Kitchener, the provincial ranges on furnace prices in Ontario, or every city price page.
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Questions people ask
How much does central air cost in Windsor?
A standard central air conditioner typically costs $3,700 to $6,800 installed in Windsor, and a high-efficiency variable-speed system $6,300 to $10,200, before 13% HST. Size, the condition of the ducts and whether the indoor coil and drain need replacing move the number. Correct sizing matters more here than in most of Ontario because of the summer humidity.
Is a heat pump a good idea in Windsor?
For many homes, yes. Windsor has the mildest winters of the cities we cover, so a cold-climate heat pump carries more of the heating season, and it replaces the air conditioner you need anyway. Gas-heated homes often keep the furnace as dual fuel backup. Check the panel, the ducts and the current rebate rules first.
Why does my Windsor house feel clammy even with the AC running?
Usually because the air conditioner is too big or the blower moves too much air: an oversized unit hits the setting fast and shuts off before the coil removes much moisture, and leaky ducts pull in humid air. A load calculation, an airflow adjustment or a variable-speed system fixes it; a bigger unit makes it worse.
My basement flooded. Do I need a new furnace?
Not always, but do not run it until it has been checked. A gas furnace that has been under water should be inspected by a TSSA-registered contractor before use, since the gas valve, controls and motor can be damaged. Your home insurance may cover a replacement, depending on the policy.
Do prices differ in LaSalle, Tecumseh or Amherstburg?
Usually not by much. Many of the same installers cover most of Essex County at close to Windsor prices, with a possible rural travel charge. What differs is the house: a newer subdivision home is often a simple swap, while an older house in a town core may need venting or duct work.