When homeowners ask about the average furnace installation cost with Handy Bros. vs Reliance Home Comfort, what they’re really asking is: “What are we actually paying over time, and what are we getting for that money?” In Southwestern Ontario—Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex, London, Sarnia, Leamington, St. Thomas—there are usually two very different paths: buying a furnace (owning it) or renting one (paying monthly).
Our Team at Handy Bros. is built around Home Comfort Done Differently. That means we don’t just talk about equipment. We talk about total cost, long-term reliability, and the one thing most people don’t compare properly: installation quality.
Why “Average Cost” Is the Wrong First Question
Two furnaces can look identical on paper… and still cost you very different amounts over 10–15 years.
- A “cheap” monthly payment can become a very expensive total over time
- A rushed installation can lead to more breakdowns, higher energy bills, and more frustration
- Warranty coverage is only as smooth as the install and documentation behind it
So instead of chasing a single average number, we recommend comparing two totals:
- Total cost to own
- Total cost to rent
And then we layer in the third factor:
- Total cost of poor installation quality
The Buy vs Rent Math Homeowners Should Always Do
Most rental-style offers feel simple:
- “One monthly payment”
- “Service included”
- “No big upfront cost”
Buying feels different:
- A larger upfront investment (or financing)
- You own the equipment
- You control what happens next
But the smartest comparison is always the same: add it up over time.
The simple rental math
To estimate rental total cost, use this:
Monthly rental × 12 × number of years = total paid
Example (simple and realistic math, using round numbers):
- Monthly rental: $90
- Years: 12
- Total: 90 × 12 × 12 = $12,960
That’s the key moment for most homeowners. A rental can be convenient, but convenience has a price. And the longer you stay in it, the more it matters.
The simple ownership math
To estimate buying total cost, use this:
Purchase price + interest (if financed) + maintenance = total cost to own
Example (again, round numbers for easy math):
- Installed purchase: $4,500 – $6,500
- Maintenance over 12 years: $150/year average (View our HB Maintenance Plan)
- Total: $4,500 + (150 × 12) = $6,300
Now you’re comparing real totals:
- Rent example total: $12,960
- Own example total: $6,300
That gap is often why homeowners feel shocked when they finally run the numbers. If you want a deeper breakdown of what you’re actually paying for in an install (beyond the sticker price), start here: furnace installation cost
The questions that change the rental math instantly
If you’re comparing Handy Bros. to a rental provider like Reliance Home Comfort, we recommend asking these questions before deciding:
- How long is the term?
- What happens if we move?
- Is there a buyout? How is it calculated?
- Are there cancellation or removal fees?
- What’s included in “service”?
- Are parts and labour both included?
- Are there conditions that void coverage?
- Does the monthly price change over time?
This isn’t about “good” or “bad.” It’s about clarity. If you can’t clearly see the total cost and the rules, you can’t fairly compare.
A Straightforward Way to Compare Offers (No Spreadsheet Needed)
Here’s a simple approach any homeowner can use in Chatham-Kent, Windsor, or London:
Step 1: Write down the monthly rental
- Multiply it by 12
- Multiply that by how long you expect to stay in the home
Step 2: Ask for the buyout rules
- Upfront buyout today
- Buyout after 3 years
- Buyout after 7 years
Step 3: Compare to an ownership quote
- Installed cost to purchase
- Financing total (if financing)
- Maintenance plan options
Step 4: Add the “install quality” factor
- What’s included in the install?
- How do they prevent callbacks and surprise add-ons?
That last step is where most comparisons fall apart.
Install Quality Is the Hidden Cost Driver
Most furnace problems homeowners face aren’t because the furnace “is junk.”
They’re because:
- airflow wasn’t set up properly
- venting wasn’t executed cleanly
- the system wasn’t prepared consistently
- the install wasn’t verified at the end
- the job was rushed or pieced together across multiple visits
That’s why our team builds systems to make quality repeatable, not random.
The Handy Bros. difference: preparation before action
We call it our CHISEL System—built on the idea that the best results come from preparation first.
What that means for homeowners:
- fewer surprises on install day
- less time in your home
- more consistent end results
- a cleaner, more predictable experience
Our CHISEL approach includes three major pieces that directly impact long-term cost:
1) Our POD System: one-day installs that reduce disruption
Our Handy Bros. POD System is designed so the materials and expendables needed for an install are already organized, stocked, and consistent—job after job. Pods load fast, unload fast, and keep the team moving with fewer delays and fewer “we’ll be back tomorrow” moments.
Why it matters financially:
- fewer return trips
- fewer missed steps
- less on-site improvisation
- fewer opportunities for errors that become future service calls
In plain terms: speed plus consistency is how we lower long-term headaches without cutting corners.
2) AAA Job Preparation: install-ready before we arrive
With AAA Job Preparation, we prep as much of the furnace installation as possible before arriving at your home. The goal is simple: deliver a consistent result that matches what was promised—every time.
Why it matters financially:
- fewer “custom fixes” on site
- cleaner installation standards
- fewer future issues caused by rushed field work
- less risk of “it depends” surprises
3) AAA Certification: training that keeps quality consistent
Our internal AAA Certification is the standard our Team trains to and earns. It’s supported by ongoing education through our in-house training, so installs don’t depend on luck or which tech shows up.
Why it matters financially:
- fewer mistakes
- fewer callbacks
- fewer “trial and error” repairs later
The Real-World Cost of a Poor Installation
Even small install issues can show up later as:
- frequent service calls
- inconsistent heating (hot upstairs, cold basement)
- higher energy bills due to airflow inefficiency
- early part failures because the system is working harder than it should
This is the part homeowners don’t include in “average furnace cost,” but it’s real money over time.
If a poor install causes:
- one extra service call per year
- a comfort issue that never gets solved properly
- higher runtime and higher gas use
…your “cheaper” option stops being cheaper.
Video-Verified Installs: The Step Most Companies Skip
At Handy Bros., we use Video-Verified Installs—a complete video inspection before the job is considered done.
For homeowners, that means:
- better accountability
- fewer “we think it’s fine” moments
- a clearer record of what was completed
Confidence isn’t a feeling. It’s a process.
How to Compare Handy Bros. vs Reliance Home Comfort Fairly
If you’re comparing us to a larger provider—especially one that offers rentals—here’s the most fair, homeowner-first way to do it. (If you want the broader, side-by-side process comparison, read: Handy Bros. vs Reliance Home Comfort for furnace installation)
Compare the offer like this:
1) Total cost over time
- Rental total paid over 10–15 years
- Ownership total (including financing if applicable)
2) Rules and flexibility
- Move-out and cancellation terms
- Buyout options and how they’re calculated
- What’s included vs what’s extra
3) Install quality and verification
- How do they prepare the job before arrival?
- How do they keep installs consistent across teams?
- How do they verify the install at the end?
4) Response and support
- Who answers when it’s -15°C and your furnace stops?
- What does “emergency service” actually look like?
We back our service with 24/7 emergency response, because in Southwestern Ontario winters, waiting isn’t an option.
The Bottom Line: The Cheapest Monthly Payment Isn’t Always the Lowest Cost
When homeowners ask for the “average furnace installation cost,” what they really want is peace of mind:
- predictable costs
- reliable comfort
- a team that does what they said they would do
Buying vs renting is a personal decision. But the math should always be clear, and the install quality should never be an afterthought.
At Handy Bros., our systems—CHISEL, POD, AAA Job Preparation, AAA Certification, and Video-Verified Installs—exist for one reason: to deliver Home Comfort Done Differently, with less disruption today and fewer problems tomorrow.
Ready to Compare Options the Right Way?
If you’re in Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex, London, Sarnia, Leamington, or St. Thomas, our Team can walk you through:
- buy vs rent totals for your exact situation
- what’s included in a proper installation
- the options that fit your home and your budget
If you’re specifically looking at options around Chatham-Kent or want a local starting point, here’s our service area hub: Chatham-Kent HVAC services And if you’re shopping heating upgrades in London, this is the page built for that conversation: furnace installation in London
Call Handy Bros. and let’s price it clearly, compare it honestly, and get your home comfortable without the guesswork.
