Most Hamilton homeowners looking for an insulation rebate only hear about one program. There are actually two, and they’re completely different:
- The Home Renovation Savings program — a rebate that pays back part of what you spend. Open to most homeowners. Up to $7,700 on insulation.
- A free insulation program — for income-qualified households, the work is done at no cost to you. You don’t pay and get money back; you don’t pay at all.
They serve different people, they run through different channels, and you generally use one or the other — not both. Figuring out which one fits you is the first decision, and nobody explains it. So, plainly, verified as of July 2026.
Route 1: Free insulation, if you income-qualify
This is the one almost no contractor website mentions, because most contractors don’t deliver it.
Ontario has a stream — delivered through Enbridge Gas in partnership with government energy programs — that provides free energy-saving upgrades, including insulation and draft-proofing, to households that qualify on income. Hamilton, as an Enbridge Gas service area, is covered.
The essentials, as we understand them:
- It’s aimed at lower-income households, whether you own or rent (renters typically need the property owner’s participation)
- Qualification is based on household income relative to a threshold, or in some cases participation in another income-tested assistance program
- When you qualify, the upgrades are installed at no cost — it’s not a rebate you claim back, there’s nothing to pay upfront
- It’s delivered by specific contractors enrolled in that program, and it runs through the program’s own intake process, not through a general contractor quote
How to find out if you qualify: go directly to Enbridge Gas’s home efficiency assistance program and check the current income thresholds and application process. This is an income-verification process run by the program — a private insulation contractor can’t approve you for it.
We’ll be straight with you: if you qualify for free insulation, that’s almost always the better route, and we’ll point you to it even though it isn’t work we’d be doing. It makes no sense to pay for something you could have at no cost.
Route 2: The Home Renovation Savings rebate
If you don’t income-qualify for the free program — which is most homeowners — this is your route. You pay for the work and the program pays part of it back.
It has two paths, and you use only one for the same attic.
| Standalone attic | Bundled upgrades | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy assessment? | No | Yes — before and after |
| Upgrades needed | Attic only | Two or more |
| Attic maximum | $1,250 | $1,500 |
| Total insulation maximum | $1,250 + $750 | $7,700 |
| Contractor | Closed pre-approved list only | Any qualified contractor |
The standalone attic path
Fast, no energy assessment, attic only.
| Existing insulation | Must reach | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| R-12 or less | R-50 | $1,250 |
| Over R-12, up to R-25 | R-50 | $1,000 |
| Over R-25, up to R-35 | R-50 | $800 |
| Over R-35 | — | Not eligible |
Cathedral ceilings and flat roofs are separate: $750 (to R-28 from ≤R-25) or $650 (to R-20 from ≤R-12).
Two rules that change the number:
- It’s 50% of your after-tax cost, capped at your bracket. A $1,600 attic job in the top bracket pays $800, not $1,250.
- 100% of the roof assembly must be insulated — not the accessible portion.
And one restriction: the standalone path is delivered only by contractors on a closed pre-approved list, and registration is currently closed. Confirm eligibility on the official site first — it returns the participating contractors for your area.
The bundled path
Two or more upgrades, an energy assessment before and after, and a much higher ceiling. This is the better route for most older Hamilton homes, because they usually have several qualifying measures available at once.
| Upgrade | Requirement | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Attic | To R-50 from R-12 or less | $1,500 |
| To R-50 from over R-12 up to R-25 | $1,200 | |
| To R-50 from over R-25 up to R-35 | $900 | |
| Cathedral / flat roof | To R-28 from ≤R-25, or R-20 from ≤R-12 | $780 |
| Exterior walls | Add over R-20 to 100% of wall area | $3,600 |
| Add over R-12 up to R-20 to 100% | $2,100 | |
| Add R-7.5 up to R-12 to 100% | $1,200 | |
| Basement walls | Add over R-22 to 100% | $1,500 |
| Add R-10 to R-22 to 100% | $900 | |
| Basement slab | 50%+ of slab, min R-3.5 | $500 |
| Foundation header | 80%+ of area, min R-20 | $300 |
| Crawlspace walls | Add over R-22 to 100% | $1,200 |
| Add R-10 to R-22 to 100% | $600 | |
| Crawlspace ceiling | Add over R-24 to 100% | $1,200 |
| Exposed floor | Add R-20+ to entire area, min 120 sq ft | $300 |
| Air sealing | Beat report target by 10%+ / meet target | $250 / $200 |
| Windows & doors | Min 3 window openings or 1 door/skylight/slider, ENERGY STAR | $100 per rough opening |
| Heat pump water heater | ENERGY STAR replacement | $500 |
$7,700 is the combined cap for insulation.
Why this suits Hamilton’s older housing: a pre-war brick home often needs attic, wall (via drill and fill), rim joist and possibly crawlspace work — several qualifying measures on one property. Exterior wall insulation at up to $3,600 is the biggest single line item, and Hamilton’s uninsulated brick stock is exactly where it applies. Drill and fill for brick homes →
How the bundled path works — and where people lose it
- Pre-retrofit energy assessment with a registered energy advisor — before any work. There’s a fee; ask what it is. ⚠️ Starting work before this visit disqualifies it. Most common mistake.
- Renovation Upgrade Report — your rebates come only from the measures it recommends.
- Complete at least two recommended upgrades. ⚠️ Do one and you get nothing.
- Follow-up assessment with the same advisor.
- Rebates issued after the advisor submits.
Which route is yours? A quick decision guide
- Income might qualify you? Check the free Enbridge program first. If you’re in, that’s your answer — don’t pay for what you could get free.
- Don’t income-qualify, attic is all you’re doing, want it done fast? Standalone path, up to $1,250.
- Don’t income-qualify, older home with several upgrades needed? Bundled path, up to $7,700, and probably the best value.
- Not sure what your home needs? Book an assessment first. It tells you what qualifies before you commit to anything.
Eligibility for the paid program, briefly
Own the home; it must be detached, semi-detached, standard row/townhouse, or a mobile home on a permanent foundation. Excluded: stacked townhouses; new builds occupied six months or less; homes that already received an attic insulation rebate from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy, the Ontario government, or this program. Heating: Enbridge Gas furnace or boiler, or electricity/oil/propane/wood while on Ontario’s electricity grid. Stacking: no combining with other Enbridge/Save on Energy/Ontario incentives for the same measure, and combined rebates can’t exceed 50% of the after-tax cost of that measure.
Federal programs
- Canada Greener Homes Grant — closed to new applicants
- Canada Greener Homes Loan — closed to new applications as of October 1, 2025, per Natural Resources Canada. Already-approved homeowners continue.
Any site still advertising “up to $10,000 from the Canada Greener Homes Loan” is out of date. NRCan’s newer Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program is delivered through provincial partners and income-targeted — confirm Ontario availability at natural-resources.canada.ca.
Scam warning: both Enbridge Gas and the Home Renovation Savings program have published notices about fake websites and people impersonating approved contractors. Verify any program or contractor through official channels before sharing personal or account details: homerenovationsavings.ca/scams
Frequently asked questions
Is there really free insulation in Hamilton? For income-qualified households, yes — through Enbridge Gas’s home efficiency assistance stream. Qualification is income-based and verified by the program, not by a contractor. Check current thresholds directly with Enbridge Gas.
What if I don’t qualify for the free program? You use the Home Renovation Savings rebate instead — up to $1,250 standalone or up to $7,700 bundled, calculated at 50% of your after-tax cost.
Can I use both the free program and the paid rebate? Generally no — they’re alternative routes, and you can’t be paid twice for the same measure. Confirm with each program.
How much does the energy assessment cost? There’s a fee that varies by service organisation. Ask when booking. It’s usually small relative to the extra rebate the bundled path unlocks.
Do I need an assessment for the standalone attic rebate? No — only for the bundled path.
My house is brick with no wall insulation. Does that qualify? Wall insulation via drill and fill can qualify on the bundled path — up to $3,600 depending on R-value added and coverage.
What R-value do I need in the attic? R-50 minimum to qualify. R-60 is the sensible target where there’s headroom.
Can I start work while I wait for my assessment? No. On the bundled path, work done before the pre-retrofit assessment doesn’t qualify.
Who gets the rebate money? On the paid program, the homeowner — as an Enbridge bill credit or a cheque. On the free program, there’s no money to you; the work is simply done at no cost.
Talk to us about the paid route
If you don’t income-qualify for the free program, we can help with the Home Renovation Savings route — assess what your home needs, tell you which path fits, and put the rebate position in writing: your bracket, your cost, your net. For Hamilton’s older homes we cover attic, walls, rim joist and crawlspace, which usually clears the two-upgrade minimum on one visit.
And if it turns out you do qualify for free insulation, we’ll tell you that too.
📞 (416) 315-0471 · Book a free assessment →
Attic insulation in Hamilton → · Spray foam in Hamilton →
Rebate and program details verified against homerenovationsavings.ca, enbridgegas.com and natural-resources.canada.ca on July 27, 2026. Government and utility programs change frequently and can be modified or ended without notice. Confirm current terms through the official program before making a financial decision.
