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Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Matthew Pigott Matthew Pigott New York, United States Last Updated: February 2025 NAICS 23822aCA

Revenue

$16.0bn

2025

$16.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

69,497

Businesses

13,566

Wages

$X.Xbn

Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada industry analysis

The Heating and Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada is highly reliant on construction activity across Canada, as most revenue is generated from heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) installations in new residential and nonresidential buildings. Still, as a significant share of industry revenue is generated from maintaining, monitoring and repairing existing equipment, the industry is somewhat shielded from volatile performance in construction markets. In recent years, interest rate hikes (which followed historically low interest rates) have dampened residential construction activity. However, the Bank of Canada began to cut rates in 2024, and has continued the policy into 2025. A sustained period of rate cuts stand to benefit residential construction. Growing consumer spending has also supported the industry in recent years. Industry revenue is expected to have increased at a CAGR of 1.5% over the past five years to reach $16.7 billion in 2025, when revenue is set to grow 2.1% amid interest rate cuts.

Trends and Insights

  • Elevated interest rates discouraged construction activity, negatively impacting HVAC contractors. Rates cuts, which began in 2024 and continued into 2025, should be a source of growing demand.
  • HVAC maintenance and repair work is steadier than installation work, which is more dependent on downstream construction activity, which is, in turn, impacted by macroeconomic headwinds.
  • Ontario contains a large share of establishments, the largest share of any province. The province contains the greatest share of the Canadian population and has several large cities including Toronto and Ottawa.
  • Start-up costs are low for HVAC contractors. The ease of entry leads to a high concentration of smaller contractors and stiff competition in local markets.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.0bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The necessity of heating and air-conditioning installation keeps revenue anchored

  • HVAC systems must be repaired after years of use, and nearly every building in Canada uses some type of HVAC or refrigeration system; therefore, the industry is able to avoid the effects of contractions in individual downstream markets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Interest rates cuts will drive residential construction activity

  • Interest rates are expected to continue to be gradually cut over the coming years, though they will not likely hit pandemic-era lows. Still, this will encourage consumers to purchase homes and incentivize new home construction, positively impacting heating and air-conditioning contractors. Potential home buyers who put off buying could continue to reenter the market.

Biggest companies in the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including HVAC maintenance and repairs, Refrigeration system installations, maintenance and repairs and HVAC installations. HVAC maintenance and repairs is the largest segment of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada.

Trends and Insights

HVAC installations have been volatile

  • Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) installations account for the majority of the revenue for the Canadian Heating and Air-Conditioning Contractors industry.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry installs and services heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The work performed includes new installations, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs. Plumbing-related information is not covered in this report, but is instead covered in the Plumbing industry in Canada report (IBISWorld report 23822bCA).

What's included in this industry?

Air-conditioning system installation, except window unitsAir vent installationFurnace conversions (i.e. from one fuel to another)Refrigeration system (e.g. commercial, industrial or scientific) installation Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractorsFurnace humidifier installationNatural gas fireplace installationDuct work (e.g. cooling, dust collection, exhaust, heating and ventilation) installationVentilation equipment installationHeating and ventilation system component (e.g. air registers, diffusers and filters) installation

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING (HVAC)REFRIGERATIONNONEMPLOYER

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 238220 - Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Elevated interest rates discouraged construction activity, negatively impacting HVAC contractors. Rates cuts, which began in 2024 and continued into 2025, should be a source ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

HVAC maintenance and repair work is steadier than installation work, which is more dependent on downstream construction activity, which is, in turn, impacted by macroeconomic ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario contains a large share of establishments, the largest share of any province. The province contains the greatest share of the Canadian population and has several large...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Start-up costs are low for HVAC contractors. The ease of entry leads to a high concentration of smaller contractors and stiff competition in local markets.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

HVAC contractors in Canada has no major players in 2025. Industry concentration is low, with most players operating on a local basis.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Direct public assistance is typically limited. The Heating and Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada does not benefit from direct government subsidies or tariff pro...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Profit was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While it has grown since, it remains below the level it was at prior to the pandemic.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Assets (2018-2023)
    • Liabilities (2018-2023)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada in 2025?

    The market size of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada is $16.0bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada industry in 2025?

    There are 13,566 businesses in the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

    Has the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

    What is the forecast growth of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada is expected to grow.

    What does the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors in Canada include?

    Air-conditioning system installation, except window units and Air vent installation are part of the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry.

    How competitive is the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors industry in Canada.

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    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Canada include:

    • Statistics Canada
    • Industry Canada
    • Canadian Business Patterns

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.