The Real Story Behind HVAC Contractor Reviews in Canada

Square Footage	Furnace BTU
1,000-1,200 sq. ft. Home	40,000 - 60,000 BTU
1,200-1,500 sq. ft. Home	60,000 BTU
1,500-1,800 sq. ft. Home	60,000 - 80,000 BTU
1,800-2,500 sq. ft. Home	80,000 - 100,000 BTU
2,500-3,500 sq. ft. Home	100,000 to 120,000 BTU

Online reviews have become one of the most common tools Canadians use when deciding which local business to trust—whether it’s choosing a restaurant, fixing a vehicle, or replacing a furnace or air conditioner. For homeowners, browsing HVAC contractor reviews makes it easier to compare companies and understand real experiences from people in your community, offering the perfect shortcut to making the right decision.

And yes, customer reviews can be valuable. They offer a glimpse into how a company treats homeowners and how satisfied people are with their experience. With just a quick look at your phone, you can scan through dozens of opinions in seconds.

But the reality is often more complicated.

As review platforms grow and artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, fake reviews—both positive and negative—have become easier to generate. At the same time, major platforms like Google are fighting an ongoing battle to detect and remove fraudulent activity. Some fake reviews get caught, many don’t.

This doesn’t mean online reviews are useless. Far from it. It simply means homeowners shouldn’t rely solely on a star rating when choosing who to trust with a major investment like a furnace replacement or air conditioner installation. Heating and cooling systems are expensive, long-term purchases, and choosing the wrong contractor can lead to years of avoidable repair costs, equipment issues, or poor support.That’s why browsing HVAC contractor reviews can be helpful—but they should be considered alongside experience, certifications, and trustworthy service.

Before hiring any contractor, it’s important to understand why review systems—especially in the HVAC industry—don’t always tell the full story.

16 Reasons Why Online HVAC Reviews Can Be Misleading

2So Should Homeowners Ignore Online Reviews Entirely?

3What Canadian Homeowners Should Look For When Choosing an HVAC Contractor

4How FurnacePrices.com Helps Homeowners Choose Trustworthy Contractors

5Shop Local & Compare Certified HVAC Contractors

6Have Questions About Choosing an HVAC Contractor?

6 Reasons Why Online HVAC Reviews Can Be Misleading

Online reviews shouldn’t be ignored, but they should be viewed as one piece of information rather than the deciding factor. Looking at HVAC contractor reviews can be helpful, but here are several reasons why relying on ratings alone can lead homeowners in the wrong direction.

1) Star Ratings Don’t Always Paint an Accurate Picture

Two companies can have very different review profiles, yet the star rating alone might make one look better than the other. For example:

One HVAC company might have three 5-star reviews.
Another might have 50 reviews, most of them positive, with a handful of lower ratings bringing their average to 4.5 stars.

On paper, the first contractor has a “perfect” rating. But the second business clearly has a stronger track record, more experience with real customers, and a more useful sample size. When comparing HVAC contractor reviews, it becomes clear that a low number of reviews makes any rating—positive or negative—far less reliable.

In other words, a perfect 5.0 doesn’t automatically mean better service. And a 4.4 doesn’t automatically mean worse.

2) Reviews Are Often Influenced by Bias—Intentional or Not

Online reviews are meant to reflect honest customer experiences, but not all reviews fall into that category. Many platforms struggle with:

Friends and family posting favourable reviews
Employees being encouraged to boost ratings
Competitors leaving negative reviews
Paid review services generating fake feedback

Anyone who has spent time on social media knows how common bots and spam accounts are. The same behaviour happens on review platforms, even when policies prohibit it.

This doesn’t mean all reviews are fake. It simply highlights the importance of reading reviews critically instead of assuming every comment represents a genuine customer.

3) Reviews Are Often Written Immediately After Installation

Homeowners rarely review an HVAC contractor months or years after installation—when the real test of workmanship and equipment reliability becomes clear. Instead, most HVAC contractor reviews are posted:

Right after the installation
When the homeowner has interacted only briefly with the technician
Before the furnace or AC has been through a full heating or cooling season

Common comments like “the team was friendly” or “the installation was fast” don’t offer insight into long-term issues such as:

Was the system sized correctly?
Did the installation meet industry best practices?
How well does the company handle warranty or repair calls?
Does the equipment perform reliably over time?

These are often the most important factors—but they rarely show up in early reviews.

Another challenge is separating the product review from the contractor review. Homeowners often don’t know whether a problem is caused by the equipment itself or poor installation.

4) Some Customers Are Prompted or Incentivized to Leave Reviews

Many businesses request reviews from satisfied customers, and although this isn’t necessarily wrong, it can skew the results.

In some situations, people may receive incentives such as:

Gift cards
Discounts
Contest entries

Again, this does not mean all incentivized reviews lack honesty. However, research from Cornell University has shown that fake or biased HVAC contractor reviews are common and that most people struggle to tell the difference between genuine and artificial feedback.

5) Reviews Are Not a Perfect Representation of a Company’s Customer Base

People are far more motivated to write reviews when they’re upset than when things go well. As a result:

A company may serve hundreds of satisfied customers every year
Only a small percentage take time to write a review
One or two negative experiences can disproportionately affect their rating

This imbalance creates a distorted picture. A few low-star reviews might make a solid company seem unreliable even if the overwhelming majority of customers had positive experiences.

6) There Is No Standard Format for Leaving a Review

Reviews vary widely because every person evaluates their experience differently. What feels like a fair assessment to one homeowner may seem overly harsh or overly generous to another.

For example, we’ve seen:

A 1-star review because the company didn’t accept someone’s preferred credit card
A negative rating because the homeowner felt the call-back time was too slow—even though it was the peak of cooling season and the contractor returned the call the same day

Are these frustrations understandable? Sure.
Do they reflect the overall quality of the company’s work? Probably not.

Because reviews rarely include context about the reviewer’s expectations or temperament, it’s easy for small issues to appear more significant than they really are.

So Should Homeowners Ignore Online Reviews Entirely?

Absolutely not.

Online reviews still hold value—when they’re read thoughtfully and used alongside other information. Reviews can help identify patterns and highlight consistent praise or recurring concerns. But they are only one tool among many when evaluating an HVAC company.

The key is to use a more complete approach.

What Canadian Homeowners Should Look For When Choosing an HVAC Contractor

If you’re investing thousands of dollars into a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, or major repair, choosing the right installer matters just as much as choosing the right equipment. A reliable contractor should demonstrate:

✔ No unresolved complaints or outstanding disputes

Check consumer protection agencies or provincial regulatory bodies.

✔ A proven reputation and track record

Companies with several years in business often demonstrate consistency and stability. Though newer companies can perform excellent work, experience still carries weight.

✔ Proper licensing and insurance

In Ontario and most Canadian provinces, HVAC companies must carry valid trade licences and adequate liability insurance. This protects homeowners if something goes wrong.

✔ Transparent pricing without hidden fees

Clear quotes and consistent communication help avoid unpleasant surprises.

✔ Strong warranties and installation guarantees

HVAC performance depends heavily on proper installation. Good contractors stand behind their work.

✔ Certified, trained technicians

Look for contractors who invest in ongoing training and follow industry best practices.

✔ Responsive customer service and reasonable turnaround times

A reliable contractor should be reachable when something goes wrong—especially during extreme temperatures.

Evaluating these criteria takes more effort than scrolling through star ratings, but it leads to far better results.

How FurnacePrices.com Helps Homeowners Choose Trustworthy Contractors

To make the process simpler, FurnacePrices.com evaluates Canadian heating and cooling companies using a structured, transparent certification process. This assessment includes:

How long the company has been operating
Proof of insurance
Licensing validation
Track record and customer feedback
Advertising transparency
Responsiveness and professionalism

Although FurnacePrices.com does collect a membership fee from some contractors to appear in our directory or receive quote requests, we never earn commissions on sales, and no company is approved unless they meet our certification standards.

Our goal is simple:
To help homeowners make confident, well-informed decisions—and to support reputable HVAC companies across Canada.

Shop Local & Compare Certified HVAC Contractors

If you’re planning to upgrade your furnace, AC, or heat pump, comparing multiple quotes from qualified contractors is one of the smartest steps you can take. Prices, warranties, workmanship quality, and recommended equipment can vary widely.

To help make that process easier, you can connect with certified local HVAC contractors on FurnacePrices.com and request free, no-obligation quotes from trusted professionals near you.

And if you prefer to choose another contractor, that’s completely fine too. Our guides and resources are here to support every Canadian homeowner—no matter who you hire.

Have Questions About Choosing an HVAC Contractor?

Whether you’re replacing an aging furnace, installing a new AC, or looking for a reliable maintenance provider, our expert-backed resources are here to help.Visit FurnacePrices.com to explore detailed guides, compare certified contractors, and make decisions with confidence.

📌 When Are You Planning to Install a New Furnace?

Tell us your ideal installation timeline so we can match you with trusted local HVAC experts across Ontario:

🔥 Need a furnace installed urgently? (Next 2–3 days)
⏳ Planning your upgrade in the next few weeks?
🤔 Still comparing brands, prices, or contractor quotes?

👉 Request personalized quotes based on your timeline and Ontario location.

📍 Ontario Cities We Commonly Serve

FurnacePrices.com helps homeowners across Ontario compare furnace options, estimate installation costs, and find reliable, vetted HVAC contractors.

Frequently supported service areas include:

Our contractor network covers most major and mid-sized Ontario regions, providing expert support whether you’re replacing an older furnace or upgrading to a high-efficiency model.

👉 See the full list of Ontario service regions

🏆 Trusted by Recognized Canadian HVAC Associations

Many HVAC companies in our network are members of reputable national and provincial organizations, including:

These affiliations indicate strong training standards, code compliance, and reliable installation practices.

💰 Key Factors That Influence Furnace Installation Pricing

Furnace replacement costs in Ontario vary based on several important considerations:

Home size & heating load – Larger homes need higher-BTU furnaces
Installation complexity – Venting changes, gas-line upgrades, or electrical work can increase costs
Brand & efficiency rating – High-efficiency furnaces typically cost more upfront but save long-term
Your Ontario location – Labour rates differ between major cities and smaller communities
Repairs vs. full replacement – Full system replacements cost more than standalone component fixes

Understanding these elements helps you set a realistic budget for your installation.