Quebec is the exception in Canadian furnace marketing. Electricity heats most homes, gas reaches only a small share, and oil heating is being phased out by law. Yet the province still offers furnace companies real work, mostly in dual-energy systems and in replacing the last fossil-fuel systems.
Market and buyers
The direct answer: a small gas furnace market inside a large electric one.
Statistics Canada's Table 38-10-0286-01 shows 70% of Quebec households using electricity for primary heating in 2023, natural gas 5% and wood 4%. The main urban markets are Montréal, Québec City, Laval, Gatineau, Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Lévis and Saguenay, with gas service concentrated in parts of these areas.
Buyers for furnace-related work include:
- Énergir customers converting a gas system to dual-energy
- owners of older homes still on oil or propane who must plan a replacement
- commercial and institutional buildings eligible under the dual-energy program
Climate and seasonality
Heating seasons are long across Quebec, and longer still away from the St. Lawrence lowlands, with cold, snowy winters throughout. Cold snaps drive peak electricity demand, which is one reason the province supports dual-energy: a gas furnace can carry the load on the coldest days. Marketing for dual-energy fits the fall, before the first deep cold.
Regulators to know
- The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licenses contractors and oversees building safety, including gas installations.
- The Commission de la construction du Québec handles competency certification for construction trades.
- CNESST covers workplace health and safety.
- The Office de la protection du consommateur handles consumer protection.
These links are for reference; we do not give compliance advice.
Programs as of October 2026
Dual-energy. Quebec's April 10, 2026 announcement committed $163.4 million to Énergir for a dual-energy program, effective April 1, 2026, expected to reach more than 11,000 households and nearly 450 commercial and institutional buildings. See our dual-energy brief.
Oil and propane conversions. The Chauffez vert oil and propane page states that conversion aid ended March 31, 2026, and that oil-fired appliances cannot be installed or replaced in Quebec since December 31, 2023. Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program continues to fund efficient heat pumps. Our oil conversion brief covers both closures.
Language rules
Quebec's language law shapes every campaign. The OQLF's guidance for businesses stresses that consumers have the right to be informed and served in French, and notes that new obligations under the province's language law took effect on June 1, 2025, including rules on how trademarks and business names are displayed. For the detail that applies to your signs, website and ads, read the OQLF's guidance or get legal advice; we do not interpret the law. Our own practice is simple: plan Quebec campaigns in French first.
Questions Quebec homeowners ask
- "Can I keep my gas furnace?" In an existing gas-heated home, yes; the dual-energy model keeps it as backup. Montréal's ban on combustion heating applies to new buildings only, as our Montréal explainer explains.
- "How much will the program pay?" Amounts are in the participant guide; check with Énergir before quoting.
- "What about my oil furnace?" Oil appliances cannot be installed or replaced in Quebec since the end of 2023, and the provincial conversion aid closed in March 2026.
Local business mix and how we would market here
Quebec's heating trade is large, but the furnace segment is a niche within it. Many firms focus on heat pumps; a smaller group holds the gas expertise dual-energy requires.
Our approach in Quebec:
- Target gas-served areas only. Broad provincial ads mostly reach electrically heated homes.
- Write French first. Pages and ads are planned in French, with English as an option.
- Explain the switch point. "Heat pump most of the winter, furnace at about -12 °C" is the clearest one-line pitch. Our dual-fuel campaign service uses it.
- Retire old oil-conversion promises. Chauffez vert's oil and propane aid is closed.
We are a marketing service, not a heating contractor. See the coverage hub for other provinces.
Frequently asked questions
How many Quebec homes heat with gas?
Very few. Statistics Canada puts natural gas at 5% of Quebec households as the main heating energy in 2023, against 70% for electricity and 4% for wood.
What is the Énergir dual-energy program?
On April 10, 2026, Quebec announced $163.4 million for Énergir to run a dual-energy assistance program, effective April 1, 2026. Electricity is the main heat source and gas takes over at about -12 °C.
Can oil furnaces be installed in Quebec?
Quebec's government states that since December 31, 2023, oil-fired heating appliances cannot be installed, replaced or majorly repaired in the province.
Does my marketing need to be in French?
Quebec customers have the right to be informed and served in French, and new language obligations took effect on June 1, 2025. The OQLF explains the rules for businesses; we plan Quebec campaigns in French first.