How to Get a Fair Heat Pump Quote in Canada

Quick quiz

Quick quiz: how a heat pump works

Ten questions on the machine itself. Tap an answer to see why.

1. How does a heat pump heat your home?

A heat pump uses a refrigerant loop to carry heat in from outside air (or the ground). Moving heat takes far less energy than making it.

2. Can a heat pump heat a home when it is below freezing outside?

Cold-climate models are tested and rated for low temperatures. Always check the rated output at your coldest design temperature.

3. What does 'cold-climate' on a heat pump mean?

It is a performance rating, not a sales region. Many rebate programs ask for a cold-climate model on a qualified list.

4. For each unit of electricity it uses, a heat pump delivers about:

Because it moves heat instead of making it, a heat pump is often 200 to 400 percent efficient. Electric baseboards top out at 100 percent.

5. What is a ductless mini-split?

It needs no ductwork. Each indoor unit heats and cools the room it sits in, which suits homes without ducts.

6. Can a heat pump also cool your home in summer?

A reversing valve switches the direction of heat flow, so one system heats in winter and cools in summer.

7. What should an installer use to size a heat pump?

Square footage misses insulation, windows and air leaks. A proper heat-loss calculation avoids a unit that is too big or too small.

8. You see steam or frost on the outdoor unit in winter. What is usually happening?

Frost builds on the outdoor coil in cold, damp air. The unit briefly reverses to melt it, then goes back to heating.

9. About how long does a well-installed heat pump last?

Fifteen years is a common figure, longer with regular filter cleaning and yearly checks.

10. Why do some homes keep backup heat with a heat pump?

Right-sized cold-climate units handle most winter days. A small backup is a choice for the coldest extremes, not a sign the heat pump fails.

See my rebates

Two workers handling ductwork on a rooftop beside outdoor air conditioning units

By Sam Menard · Updated October 9, 2026

Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens

Applications are not open yet. Ottawa says they open in early 2027, and that you can add this rebate on top of provincial ones.

Up to $10,000: if your household earns below the median income
$2,000: for other homeowners who qualify

Stack it with the provincial rebate open today Show all 12

Ottawa says you can combine them. Each program has its own rules. Amounts are the most you can get.

Applications open early 2027

Join the launch alert

Launch-day email, with what to do first
Who qualifies for the $10,000, once Ottawa says
A short hello now, so you know it worked

Only emails about this rebate. No spam, no sales calls. Unsubscribe anytime.

How Ottawa says it will work (plans, not final rules)

Apply online when your heating breaks or gets old
Approved in 24 hours no home energy audit needed
Payment approved in 5 days sent by direct deposit after you upload receipts

Read everything we know so far Official page: canada.ca

Why this matters now

Ottawa's National Heat Pump Rebate pays up to $10,000 below the median income and $2,000 above. Under the process the government described, you apply in a portal, buy a pre-approved heat pump from the Eligible Products List, and upload receipts after the install. Receipts mean itemized invoices matter more than ever. Quote discipline protects you whether or not prices move.

Step 1: get a real load calculation

A load calculation measures how much heat your house loses, so the unit is sized correctly. BC Hydro requires one under CSA F280-12 for its whole-home rebate, and Ontario's heat pump stream limits electric, oil and wood homes to specific NRCan sizing options. A contractor who sizes by square footage alone is guessing. Ask for the calculation on paper.

Step 2: get three itemized quotes

Ask each contractor for the same scope: equipment make and model, number of indoor heads or ducted coil, electrical work, line set, condensate, removal of old equipment and permits. Itemized quotes make an inflated line obvious. Use our top-rated installers by city, ranked by Google reviews, to find contractors to call.

Step 3: ask for the price with and without the rebate

Say plainly: "What is the price for this exact system if I never claimed a rebate?" A fair contractor can answer. If the number is higher once rebates exist, ask why.

Step 4: check the model against the lists

BC: the unit must be on BC Hydro's eligible list and installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network member.
Ontario: the unit must be on NRCan's cold-climate list and installed by a participating HVAC contractor after written pre-approval.
Federal: the Eligible Products List is not published yet. Ottawa says it will have over 100,000 options.

Step 5: do not pay for a federal promise

The federal rebate is not open. Ottawa says installs from November 1, 2026 can apply once it launches in early 2027. A contractor who offers to "lock in" the federal rebate is promising what nobody can deliver. Compare quotes on the price of the work.

Step 6: confirm who files the paperwork

In Ontario, the contractor files the pre- and post-install applications. In BC you apply with your invoice. For the federal program, the homeowner uploads receipts. Ask who does what, and when payment is due.

Red flags worth walking away from

No site visit, or a quote by phone with no measurements.
Pressure to sign today because a rebate "is about to end" or "is about to rise". Program rules are public, so check them yourself.
A single lump sum with no model numbers.
A unit that is not on the cold-climate list your province uses.
A contractor who is not registered with the program, such as a BC Home Performance Contractor Network member or an Ontario participating HVAC contractor.
No written warranty terms for the equipment and the labour.

A good contractor welcomes comparison. If yours does not, that tells you something.

Step 7: keep the paper trail

Save the signed quote, invoice, proof of payment, photos of the old and new equipment and the nameplate. If you install on or after November 1, 2026, you will have what Ottawa asks for when the portal opens.

Not sure where to start? Get a plan emailed with top-rated installers near you, or read the federal rebate page first.

Want a number for your home? Run our rebate calculator, or get a plan emailed with the top-rated installers near you.

Common questions

Will contractors raise prices when a rebate starts?

Some may. Itemized quotes, three bids and a no-rebate price make it harder to hide.

What is a heat load calculation?

A calculation of how much heat your home loses, used to size the heat pump. BC Hydro requires one under CSA F280-12.

Can I install a heat pump myself to save money?

Rebates require a qualified contractor in BC and Ontario, so a DIY install generally forfeits them.

How many quotes should I get?

Three, with the same scope written out.

Who files the rebate paperwork?

It depends on the program. In Ontario the contractor files, in BC you apply, and the federal program has you upload receipts.

More on the federal heat pump rebate

Sources, read October 9, 2026: BC Hydro: renovating your heating system, Home Renovation Savings, Prime Minister of Canada: news release, Environment and Climate Change Canada: news release.