Furnace inspection mistakes are easy to make when you buy in November. The house is warm, the thermostat works, and it feels like heating is one thing you can tick off. In Brampton, Oshawa and Toronto, though, the heating system is often one of the costliest items to replace soon after closing, and it is also one of the systems buyers understand least. Your inspector is Yama Nehan, a Certified and Registered Home Inspector with about 15 years of home inspection experience and a construction engineering degree from George Brown (Building Renovations). Home inspections start from $499; the final price depends on the property. Call 647-704-7100 or book an inspection online.
Key takeaways
- “It turns on” is not the same as “it is in good shape.” Age, venting, airflow and service history matter more.
- Check whether the furnace, water heater or air conditioner is rented before your condition date, so the contract does not surprise you.
- Look for working carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas in any home with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage.
- A home inspection is visual. If a heat exchanger, venting or gas concern comes up, book a licensed HVAC technician inside the condition window.
- Choose your inspector carefully: ask about certifications, experience with older GTA heating systems and a sample report.
Brampton has a large stock of 1970s to 2000s detached homes and semis, many on their second or third furnace. Oshawa mixes postwar bungalows with newer north-end subdivisions. Toronto still has older houses where a high-efficiency furnace was added to a home first built for oil or a gravity system. Each of those situations produces different heating questions. A situation we often see: buyers walk past the mechanical room because the house feels comfortable, then learn in January that the furnace is near the end of its life or tied to a rental agreement. Our home inspections page explains the full visual scope, and city details are on our Brampton home inspection, Oshawa home inspection and Toronto home inspection pages.
Furnace mistakes at a glance
| Mistake | Why it costs buyers | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Judging the furnace by whether the house is warm | A working furnace can still be old, poorly vented or short-cycling. | Ask the inspector about age, venting, filter and visible condition. |
| Not asking if equipment is rented | Rental contracts for furnaces and water heaters often transfer with the home and can carry buyout costs. | Ask your agent for any rental agreement before the condition date. |
| Ignoring the venting | High-efficiency and mid-efficiency furnaces vent differently; mismatched or damaged venting is a safety concern. | Look at the exterior vent terminations and the chimney or liner with the inspector. |
| Skipping carbon monoxide alarms | CO alarms are a basic life-safety item in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. | Confirm alarms are present near sleeping areas and test them on move-in. |
| Forgetting air conditioning and humidity | The AC coil sits on the furnace; humidifiers and HRVs add moisture and maintenance points. | Ask what was visible on the coil, humidifier and any HRV or ERV. |
| Not booking follow-up in time | A heat exchanger or gas concern needs a licensed technician, and condition windows are short. | Call an HVAC technician the same day a referral appears in the report. |
Mistake 1: Treating “it turns on” as a pass
During a home inspection I run the furnace through normal controls at the thermostat, listen for unusual noise, watch for short cycling, and check that warm air reaches the rooms I test. That is useful, but it is only part of the picture. I also look at the data plate for the manufacture date when it is visible, the filter, the cabinet, the burner area I can see without taking the unit apart, and signs of rust, scorching or water staining around the furnace. A furnace that runs fine on inspection day can still be close to the end of its service life, and that is the kind of planning information buyers need before they firm up.
Mistake 2: Not asking whether the furnace or water heater is rented
Rental heating and hot-water equipment is common in Ontario, and it is common in Brampton and Oshawa subdivisions in particular. The equipment may belong to a rental company, not the seller, and the contract may pass to you on closing. An inspector can often spot a rental sticker on the tank or cabinet, but the inspection cannot tell you the contract terms. Ask your agent for the agreement, the monthly charge and any buyout figure before your condition ends.
Mistake 3: Overlooking venting and the chimney
Older Toronto and Oshawa homes may have a mid-efficiency furnace or a water heater venting into a masonry chimney, while a newer high-efficiency furnace vents through plastic pipe out the side wall. When an old furnace is replaced and the water heater is left alone in a large chimney, the venting may need a liner. On the outside, I look at where vent pipes end relative to windows, grade and snow line, and whether pipes are sagging, disconnected or rusted where I can see them. Anything that looks unsafe goes in the report with a clear referral.
Mistake 4: Skipping carbon monoxide alarms
In Ontario, homes with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage need working carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas under the Ontario Fire Code. During the inspection I note whether smoke and CO alarms are present where I can see them. Buyers should still test or replace every alarm on move-in day, because an alarm being on the ceiling does not mean it is in date or working.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the air conditioner, humidifier and HRV
The AC coil usually sits on top of the furnace, and the outdoor condenser sits beside the house. In cold weather the air conditioner often should not be run, so it may be noted as not tested, and that is normal. I still look at the condenser’s visible condition, the refrigerant line insulation and the condensate drain. Many Brampton and Toronto homes also have a furnace humidifier, and newer homes often have an HRV or ERV. These add water, filters and drains, and a neglected one can leave moisture staining around the furnace.
Mistake 6: Waiting too long on a specialist referral
A home inspection is visual and non-invasive, so I do not dismantle the furnace to examine the heat exchanger or test combustion. If I see signs that warrant it, such as soot, flame rollout marks, corrosion, a strong odour or very old equipment, I will recommend a licensed HVAC technician. In a short condition period, that call needs to happen the same day. If an older home also raises questions about asbestos tape on old ductwork or vermiculite in the attic, those are separate tests; see our home hazard testing for Toronto and the GTA page.
Mistake 7: Not asking for the service history
A furnace with annual service records tells a very different story from one with none. Ask the sellers for receipts, the install date, and any warranty paperwork. Pair that with the inspection notes and you have a realistic budget for the first few winters. Our guide to winter home inspections in Ontario covers more of what changes when you inspect in cold weather.
Buyer checklist: furnace and heating at your inspection
- Ask the listing side to clear the mechanical room and furnace area
- Ask your agent whether the furnace, water heater or AC is rented, and get the agreement
- Look at the furnace age and filter with the inspector
- Check exterior vent terminations and the chimney with the inspector
- Confirm smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are present near bedrooms
- Ask what was not tested (for example, AC in cold weather) and why
- Request service records and install dates from the sellers
- Book a licensed HVAC technician the same day if the report recommends one
- Book online or call 647-704-7100
Furnace inspection FAQ
Does a home inspection check the furnace?
Yes. A home inspection operates the furnace through normal controls and looks at its visible condition, venting, filter, and signs of leaks or damage. It does not dismantle the unit or test combustion; that is a licensed HVAC technician’s job if a concern comes up.
Can you inspect the air conditioner in winter?
The outdoor unit and visible parts can be inspected, but running an air conditioner in cold weather can damage it, so it is often noted as not tested. Ask the sellers when it was last serviced.
How much does a home inspection cost in Brampton, Oshawa or Toronto?
Home inspections start from $499. The final price depends on the property: size, age, type and access. Condo inspections start from $399; see our condo inspections page.
When will I get the report?
You receive a written report with photos within 24 hours, so you have time to book any follow-up before your condition date.
Book a home inspection in Brampton, Oshawa, Toronto or the GTA
Golden Home Inspections is based in Toronto, Ontario, and serves Brampton, Oshawa, Toronto and the wider GTA. Call 647-704-7100, email contact@goldenhomeinspections.ca or book your inspection online. We’re open 9 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.
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