
We’re excited to announce the winner of our search for Eastern Ontario’s oldest working furnace!
After receiving entries from homeowners across the region, we discovered a remarkable piece of HVAC history still keeping a Winchester home warm.

Matthew Gates of Winchester is the proud (or perhaps relieved!) owner of a vintage Olsen furnace that’s been faithfully heating his home since at least 1979, when his father purchased the property.
According to the previous homeowner, the furnace may have been installed even earlier, potentially in the late 1960s. This makes it one of the earliest gas furnaces in the Winchester area, dating back to when natural gas service was first becoming available in the region.
This resilient Olsen furnace – from a manufacturer that has since gone out of business – claimed the title of Eastern Ontario’s oldest working furnace, beating out the runner-up from 1980 by at least a decade!
Recent testing of Matthew’s furnace revealed just how much heating technology has advanced over the decades. The combustion analysis showed his Olsen furnace operating at 72.8% efficiency – which was standard for its era but falls well short of modern standards.
To put this in perspective, the new Trane S9V2 2-stage furnace Matthew has won (valued at $7,500) can achieve efficiency ratings of up to 96-97%. This difference means that for every dollar spent on heating, Matthew’s new system will convert up to 24% more of that energy into actual home heating!

As the contest winner, Matthew’s upgrade to the Trane S9V2 Furnace will provide his home with:
- Significantly improved energy efficiency, potentially reducing heating costs by 20% or more
- Enhanced comfort with two-stage heating for more consistent temperatures
- Quieter operation
- Better temperature control and air distribution
- Peace of mind with a new warranty
While Matthew’s vintage Olsen has proven remarkably durable – and our testing showed it was still operating safely with good heat transfer and no carbon monoxide issues – the efficiency numbers tell the story of why upgrading to a modern system makes so much sense.
The contest entries from across Eastern Ontario highlighted how many Eastern Ontario homeowners are still relying on aging heating systems that, while functional, are costing significantly more to operate than modern alternatives.
If you’re thinking about replacing your old furnace this winter, contact ATEL Air today to learn about our savings options on a new high-efficiency system.
And stay tuned – we’ll plan on launching an “Eastern Ontario’s Oldest Air Conditioner” contest this spring!