Alberta Seniors: How to Fund a New Furnace with the SHARP Program

If your furnace is getting older — or has already started to let you down — you may be putting off a replacement because of the cost. That’s understandable, especially on a fixed income. What many Alberta seniors don’t realize is that the province has a program built for exactly this situation.

It’s called SHARP, and it can help you pay for a new furnace so your home stays warm and safe through another Edmonton winter. Below, we’ve explained how it works in plain language: what it covers, who qualifies, and how to get started. Modern Air & Water doesn’t run the program — the Government of Alberta does — but we help local seniors understand their options and handle the furnace work itself.

What Does SHARP Cover? A Quick Look

SHARP offers two kinds of help: a grant for lower-income seniors (money you don’t pay back) and a low-interest loan of up to $40,000 (repaid when you sell your home). Here’s what each one can go toward.

SHARP Grant — covered repairs and amounts:

• Furnace — up to $4,000
• Furnace repair — up to $4,000
• Hot water tank (water heater) — up to $1,000
• Hot water tank repair — up to $1,000

The grant also helps with other essential home repairs, such as roofing, plumbing, electrical work, and bathrooms. Total grant help is up to $5,000 a year and $15,000 over your lifetime.

SHARP Loan — what it can go toward (up to $40,000 total):

• A new furnace or hot water tank
• Air conditioning and cooling systems
• Energy-efficiency upgrades, such as a heat pump
• Bathroom updates or walk-in tubs
• Stair lifts and wider doorways
• Roof and window replacement

Amounts and eligible items are set by the Government of Alberta and can change — please confirm the current details on alberta.ca.

What Is the SHARP Program?

SHARP stands for the Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program. It’s run by the Government of Alberta to help senior homeowners make essential repairs and improvements so they can stay comfortable and independent in their own homes.

There are two kinds of help available, and you don’t need to know which one is right for you before you start:

• A low-interest loan of up to $40,000, available to a wide range of senior homeowners.
• A grant of up to $5,000 a year for seniors with lower incomes who need help with essential repairs.

Both can be put toward a new furnace or a hot water tank — two of the things that matter most for a safe, warm home.

Does SHARP Cover a New Furnace?

Yes. A new furnace is one of the home repairs the SHARP program is designed to help Alberta seniors pay for. Furnace replacement and furnace repair are both named as eligible under the loan and the grant, and hot water tanks are covered too.

In a province where a reliable furnace isn’t a luxury but a necessity, this is exactly the kind of work the program exists to support.

What About Air Conditioning?

A lot of seniors ask us whether SHARP will help with cooling, and there’s good news: air conditioning and cooling systems are eligible under the SHARP low-interest loan. So if staying cool and comfortable through the summer matters to you, a new air conditioner can be part of a SHARP loan-funded project.

The one thing to know is the difference between the two kinds of help. The grant — the money you don’t pay back — is reserved for essential repairs like furnaces and hot water tanks, so it doesn’t cover air conditioning. But the loan covers a wider range of home comfort upgrades, and cooling is one of them.

It’s also worth asking about a heat pump — an energy-efficient system that both heats and cools your home from a single unit. For many seniors, it’s a smart way to handle heating and summer comfort together.

If cooling is on your mind, just ask us during your free estimate. We’ll explain your options plainly and help you understand how they fit with SHARP.

The SHARP Loan: How It Works

The loan is available to most senior homeowners in Alberta, and it’s designed to be manageable:

• You can borrow up to $40,000 per household.
• The current interest rate is 4.45%, reviewed by the Province every six months.
• You don’t make monthly payments. The loan is repaid later — when the home is sold or ownership changes.
• You’ll need to keep at least 25% equity in your home after the loan is applied.

Because there are no monthly payments, the loan lets you get the furnace you need now without straining your monthly budget.

The SHARP Grant: For Lower-Income Seniors

If your income is more modest, you may qualify for a grant instead of a loan — and a grant doesn’t have to be paid back.

• The grant provides up to $5,000 in a year and up to $15,000 over your lifetime.
• It’s available to single seniors with an income of $32,690 or less, or couples with a combined income below $53,800.
• It covers essential work such as furnace replacement, furnace repair, and hot water tanks.

Income limits are updated from time to time, so it’s always worth confirming the current figures on the Government of Alberta website.

Who Qualifies?

You’re likely a good candidate for SHARP if you:

• Are 65 or older (only one spouse or partner needs to be 65)
• Own your home in Alberta
• Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has lived in Alberta for at least three months
• Have a household income of $75,000 or less for the loan (lower limits apply for the grant)
• Have enough equity in your home (for the loan)

If most of these describe you, the next step is a free estimate so you know your numbers.

How to Apply for SHARP, Step by Step

The process is more straightforward than many people expect:

1. Check your eligibility on the Government of Alberta website

2. Get a written estimate for the work. This is where we come in — the program requires a written quote, and a free visit from Modern Air & Water gives you exactly that.

3. Gather your documents, such as your property tax assessment, identification, and income information.

4. Submit your application to the Government of Alberta, online, by mail, or by fax.

5. Schedule your installation once you’re approved, and we’ll take care of the rest.

How Modern Air & Water Helps

We’ve been keeping Edmonton-area homes comfortable since 1976, and we treat every home — and every homeowner — with care.

Here’s how we support seniors going through the SHARP process:

• We provide a free, no-pressure in-home estimate — the written quote you’ll need for your application.
• We give honest guidance on the right furnace for your home and your budget, with no jargon and no sales pressure.
• We’re a licensed, COR-certified local company with a 4.8-star Google rating from 400+ reviews.

We guide. We don’t pressure. Our goal is simply to help you feel informed and confident about your home comfort.

Book your free estimate today — call 780-475-6484 or request a quote online.

Modern Air & Water is a local heating, cooling, and air quality company serving Edmonton, St. Albert, Leduc, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont, and Fort McMurray. We are not affiliated with the Government of Alberta and do not administer the SHARP program. Program details, amounts, and eligibility are set by the Province and can change — please confirm current information at alberta.ca/seniors-home-adaptation-repair-program.

Frequently Asked Questions