Ontario · Energy · area guide · checked October 8, 2026

Heat loss calculations in the County of Brant

A heat loss calculation is how a heat pump or furnace gets sized, and its key input is the design temperature. In the County of Brant, the National Building Code's 2.5% January design temperatures run −18°C at Paris and Brantford. Here's what that means for Paris, St. George and Burford and the rest of the area.

A kitchen table with a house floor plan, a laser measure, a tape measure and a laptop showing the plan

Design temperature

−18°C

NBC 2020, January 2.5%

Heating degree-days

4,194

Waterloo Wellington Airport

Standard

CSA F280-12

Registered organizations

22

many offer F280 reports

How the County of Brant is built

County of Brant's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of County of Brant's 13,550 houses. Before 1961: 30%, 1961–1990: 29%, 1991–2000: 12%, 2001 or later: 29%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 30%
  • 1961–1990 29%
  • 1991–2000 12%
  • 2001 or later 29%
Each house stands for one in ten of County of Brant's 13,550 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row, duplex and mobile homes), drawn by when it was built. The glow shows the usual pattern: older houses tend to be leakier and less insulated. Snowfall scales with heating degree-days. Sources: Statistics Canada 2021 Census (table 98-10-0233-01), Environment and Climate Change Canada 1981–2010 climate normals (Waterloo Wellington Airport) and the National Building Code 2020 January design temperature for Paris.

This page covers the County of Brant, the single-tier municipality around Brantford that includes Paris, St. George and Burford. Brantford is a separate city with its own pages.

Design temperatures across the County of Brant

The National Building Code of Canada 2020 says the 2.5% January design temperature is the value ordinarily used to design heating systems. Its climate table lists these Ontario locations in or next to the County of Brant:

Location in the code’s tableJanuary 2.5% design temperatureHeating degree-days
Paris−18°C4,000
Brantford−18°C3,900

Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1981–2010 climate normal at Waterloo Wellington Airport (34.4 km from the middle of the area) is 4,194 heating degree-days a year, with a January mean of −6.5°C.

What CSA F280-12 asks for

The code requires the heating capacity for a house to be worked out with CSA F280, using the code's own design temperatures, and its list of referenced documents names the 2012 edition, CSA F280-12. The calculation works out how much heat each room loses on the design day, from the house's actual walls, windows, ceiling insulation and air leakage.

At −18°C to −18°C, a cold-climate heat pump sized to the calculation can carry most of the season, and the number shows how much backup heat the coldest days need.

What the calculation needs from your house

Of the 13,550 houses in the County of Brant (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses, duplexes and mobile homes), 30% were built before 1961 and 59% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. In an older or renovated house, the walls, windows and air leakage rarely match the original plans, so ask the designer to measure rather than assume. Have this ready:

  • Room dimensions and ceiling heights, or a floor plan.
  • Window and door sizes and types, room by room.
  • Insulation levels in the attic, walls, basement and any floor over an unheated space.
  • A blower door result from an EnerGuide evaluation, if you've had one.
  • Where the ducts, radiators or baseboards run, so the heat can be delivered room by room.

What it costs

There's no standard published price for a standalone F280 calculation, so ask two or three providers for a written quote that names the deliverable: the room-by-room F280 report, not just an equipment size. Many energy advisors bundle it with an EnerGuide evaluation, which also gives the calculation measured air-leakage data instead of an assumption. Ask whether a rural travel fee applies. The CSA F280 heat-loss calculation explains the method and typical cost bands.

Communities we cover in the County of Brant

Every town, village and hamlet below is part of this page, grouped by municipality (2021 Census population).

  • County of Brant 39,474Burford, Glen Morris, Harley, Mount Pleasant, Oakland, Paris, Scotland, St. George

Covered on city pages: Brantford.

NRCan-registered service organizations serving the County of Brant

NRCan's list of service organizations (checked October 8, 2026) shows 22 organizations registered for postal codes in Paris (N3L). Registration means an organization lists those postal areas, not that it has an advisor in town: confirm they travel to your community, and ask about wait times and travel fees.

Only assessments from the seven HRSP-approved organizations qualify for the $600 Home Renovation Savings rebate and its assessment-path upgrade rebates; each listing below says whether it's one of them.

Source: NRCan list of service organizations, checked October 8, 2026, matched by forward sortation area (N3L). Call to confirm your road is covered.

Heat pump programs in the County of Brant

Heat loss calculations in the County of Brant: common questions

What design temperature is used for heat pump sizing in Paris?

The National Building Code 2020's climate table gives −18°C for Paris and −18°C for Brantford. Provincial codes can use their own climate tables, so ask which value the calculation uses.

What is CSA F280-12?

The 2012 edition of CSA F280, Determining the required capacity of residential space heating and cooling appliances. The National Building Code 2020 requires heating capacity for a house to be determined with it.

How much does a heat loss calculation cost?

There is no standard published price. Ask two or three providers for a written quote for the F280 report, and ask whether it costs less bundled with an EnerGuide evaluation and whether a travel fee applies.

Who does F280 calculations in the County of Brant?

Many of the 22 NRCan-registered organizations that list Paris postal codes offer them, as do HVAC designers. Ask for the F280 report itself, not just an equipment size.

Get matched with a registered advisor in the County of Brant

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