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Toronto and the GTA Water heaters Checked Nov 2026
Water Heater Rental Cost in Toronto and the GTA (2026): Rent, Buy or Buy Out?
What Enercare and Reliance charge Toronto, Durham and York Region homeowners in 2026, what the same tank costs to buy and install in Toronto, and how to get out of a rental.
Short version: Renting a gas water heater in Toronto and the GTA costs about $25.87 to $40.87 a month plus HST in 2026 (Enercare rates for 40-50 gal conventional and power vent tanks). Buying the same tank installed in Toronto runs about $1,200 to $3,500. Over ten years of renting, a power vent tank costs roughly $6,600 with HST at a 3.9% yearly increase.
Rent or buy in Toronto and the GTA: quick calculator
Who rents water heaters in Toronto and the GTA
- Enercare and Reliance Home Comfort rent water heaters across Toronto, Peel, York and Durham on the same province-wide rate lists. Reliance’s Durham page lists Whitby among the towns it serves.
- Lease-to-own: Enbridge Sustain offers lease-to-own, typically over 15 years, across Ontario.
- Utility programs: we found no city or local utility water heater rental program in Toronto, Whitby, Aurora or Newmarket.
Because the rates are the same across Ontario, a tank rented in Whitby or Aurora costs the same each month as one in Toronto. What changes is the price to buy and install your own.
2026 rental rates vs buying in Toronto and the GTA
| Type | Enercare 2026 (plus HST) | Reliance 2026 “starting at” | Buy installed in Toronto and the GTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional gas, 40 gal | $25.87/mo | ~$25-$28/mo | $1,200-$2,000 |
| Conventional gas, 50 gal | $27.58/mo | ~$26-$31/mo | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Power vent gas, 40 gal | $38.01/mo | ~$39-$44/mo | $2,000-$3,500 |
| Power vent gas, 50 gal | $40.87/mo | ~$42-$47/mo | $2,000-$3,500 |
| Electric, 40 gal | $19.29/mo | ~$20-$23/mo | $1,000-$1,800 |
| Tankless gas (Rinnai RX160 class) | $52.17/mo | $44.99-$47.90/mo | $3,500-$6,000 |
Rental rates: Enercare rate table (2026, plus HST; unlisted tanks up to 3.93% over 2025) and the Reliance Ontario Water Heater Pricing Guide (2026). Both apply across Ontario, Toronto and the GTA included. Purchase prices: RenoHouse Toronto installation price guide (July 2026; unit, installation, permit and disposal), cross-checked against Enbridge Sustain’s Ontario price ranges (October 2026: conventional gas $1,200-$2,900, power vent $1,700-$3,500, electric $1,000-$2,500, tankless $3,000-$6,500+).
Getting out of a rental: buyouts and returns
If you rent and want out, you either buy the tank or return it. Enercare publishes a 2026 buyout table by age. For a tank under a year old it lists $1,804 (conventional 40 gal), $1,904 (conventional 50), $2,430 (power vent 40) and $2,483 (power vent 50), dropping every year after that. Reliance says its buyout amount is based on the age of the unit.
Neither company publishes a current removal or return fee, so ask before you book a replacement, and read the termination section of your agreement. If you replace a rental tank with one you own, the old tank goes back to the rental company, not to the dump.
Your rights in Ontario
- Since March 1, 2018, a company cannot sell or rent you a water heater at your door unless you invited them for that purpose. A contract made in breach of that rule is void. Ontario: door-to-door sales and home service contracts
- Contracts signed in your home have a cooling-off period of at least 10 days from when you receive your written copy, and must disclose overall costs and any cancellation fees. Ontario: rules for businesses entering contracts in the home
- If someone at the door says they are from “the gas company” or “the water heater program,” you do not have to let them in.
Before you decide
- Find your current monthly charge on your gas or rental bill and the age of the tank (on the rating plate).
- Ask the rental company for your buyout price in writing.
- Get one or two installed quotes for the tank you would buy.
- Run the numbers above, or use our rent vs buy calculator and the full Ontario rent or buy guide.
Water heater rental in other citiesOttawa
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to rent a water heater in Toronto?
Enercare’s 2026 rates are $25.87 a month for a 40 gal conventional gas tank, $27.58 for 50 gal, $38.01 for a 40 gal power vent and $40.87 for 50 gal, plus HST. Reliance lists similar “starting at” ranges.
Is water heater rental cheaper in Whitby or Aurora?
No. Enercare and Reliance publish one rate list for Ontario, so the monthly rent is the same in Whitby, Aurora and Toronto.
How much is a new water heater installed in Toronto?
A Toronto installer lists $1,200 to $2,000 for a 40 gal gas tank, $1,500 to $2,500 for 50 gal, $2,000 to $3,500 for power vent and $3,500 to $6,000 for tankless, including installation, permit and disposal.
How do I get out of a water heater rental in Toronto?
Buy the tank out or return it. Enercare publishes a 2026 buyout table by age; a 50 gal power vent under a year old is $2,483. Ask your provider for your buyout and any removal fee in writing.
Can someone sell me a water heater at my door?
No. Since March 1, 2018, door-to-door sales of water heaters are banned in Ontario unless you invited the company for that purpose, and a contract that breaks the rule is void.
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Rental rates from Enercare and Reliance published 2026 rate pages; purchase prices from RenoHouse (Toronto) and Enbridge Sustain (Ontario); consumer rules from ontario.ca. Checked November 2026. Ranges, not quotes.
