# Getting a rental building ready for heating season

The building that gets ahead of October 1 spends the winter on small fixes. The one that does not spends it on no heat calls.

## Serviced building by building

Furnaces and boilers across a portfolio are serviced on a schedule set with you, so one round of tenant notices covers each address. Any part on its way out is flagged before it fails on a Sunday.

## What pre-season service checks

- **Burner and ignition.** Condition, cleaning and a test fire.
- **Heat exchanger and venting.** Checked for cracks, blockage and draft.
- **Thermostat.** Calibrated against a reading in the unit.
- **Boiler pressure.** Pressure and expansion tank, on a hot water system.

Gas equipment is serviced by TSSA registered contractors.

Use the [Ontario rental winter checklist](https://roundhousegroup.ca/blog/ontario-rental-winter-checklist/) before the first cold week.

## The rule that sets the deadline

Where the landlord supplies the heat, Toronto requires at least 21 degrees Celsius, measured 1.5 metres above the floor, in all areas of a unit from October 1 to May 15, under Chapter 497, Indoor Temperature Standards, section 497-2.1 A (By-law 1511-2025, in force June 1, 2026).

## Once the season is under way

A no heat report goes ahead of routine work. Where a part is on back order, you get a realistic date, and a flag on whether the unit needs temporary heat.

## What the report shows

The service record for every building, by unit, with the rating plate, the technician's findings and any part replaced. A building with a repeat no heat problem shows up on its own record.

See [heating and cooling](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/).

## Related pages

- [Fan Coil and PTAC Repair in Condo Rentals](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/condo-fan-coils/)
- [Inspections](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/inspections/)
- [Painting](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/painting/)

## Questions

### When does the heating season start in Toronto?

October 1. Where the landlord supplies the heat, Toronto requires at least 21 degrees Celsius in all areas of the unit from October 1 to May 15.

### What if pre-season service finds a failing furnace?

It comes back as a written quote for the repair or replacement, so the building has a plan before the first cold week.

### How fast does a no heat call move once the season starts?

No heat in the heating season is an emergency: a person on the line within 15 minutes, and a trade on site within 2 hours in the GTA, 4 hours elsewhere in our service area, as targets.

### Who services gas equipment?

TSSA registered contractors, for every gas furnace, boiler and gas appliance.

## Sources

- [City of Toronto By-law 1511-2025, Chapter 497, Indoor Temperature Standards, in force June 1, 2026](https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2025/law1511.pdf)

We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors.