Key takeaways
- Cold-climate heat pumps are built for Canadian winters; backup heat covers the rare coldest hours.
- You don’t always need new ducts, and you don’t have to give up your furnace.
- The rebate is never taken off the price: you pay in full and the program mails you a cheque.
What people say, and what’s true
“They don’t work in the cold.”Cold-climate models are designed for Canadian winters, and many keep heating at −25 °C and below. Backup heat covers the few coldest hours.
“My electricity bill will skyrocket.”Your electricity use goes up, but you stop paying for most of your gas or oil heating. Whether you save depends on your rates and your home — see what a heat pump costs to run.
“I’ll need all new ducts.”Many homes can reuse their existing ducts. Where ducts are too small or missing, ductless heads are an option — see sizing.
“I have to get rid of my furnace.”Not necessarily. A hybrid (dual-fuel) system keeps the furnace as backup for the coldest days.
“They’re loud.”Modern variable-speed units are about as quiet as a modern air conditioner, and quieter most of the time because they run at low speed.
“The steam means it’s broken.”A cloud of steam from the outdoor unit in winter is the defrost cycle melting frost off the coil. It’s normal and lasts a few minutes.
“The rebate comes off my bill.”You pay the installer the full price. After installation, the government rebate program mails you a cheque.
“Heat pumps are only for new houses.”They are installed in older Toronto homes every day — detached houses, semis and townhouses alike.
Common questions
Do heat pumps work in older, drafty homes?
Yes. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation first lets you choose a smaller system and lowers running costs, but it isn’t required.