How much you actually get
The rebate isn't one flat number — it changes based on your current heat source. Here's the real breakdown:
On Enbridge gas, switching to air-source
Works out to $500 per ton, capped at $2,000.
On Enbridge gas, switching to ground-source
Flat amount, no tonnage math.
Electric, oil, propane, or wood heat, air-source
$1,250 per ton, capped at $7,500.
Electric, oil, propane, or wood heat, ground-source
$2,000 per ton, capped at $12,000.
The unit has to be on Natural Resources Canada's list of qualified cold-climate air-source or ground-source heat pumps. If your installer quotes you something not on that list, ask why — it won't qualify.
Will it actually keep you warm here?
This is the question everyone in Waterloo Region asks, and it's a fair one. Kitchener winters get cold — well below -15°C most years. Heat pumps used to lose a lot of their punch at that temperature, which is where the "heat pumps don't work in Canada" reputation came from. That's outdated. A cold-climate model built in the last few years keeps pulling heat efficiently down to around -25°C or colder, which covers almost every night Kitchener actually sees. The rebate program requires a qualified cold-climate unit anyway, so if you're getting the rebate, you're already getting a heat pump built for this.
Installers in Kitchener
These are real HVAC companies based in Kitchener, pulled from their current Google reviews. We're not paid to list anyone here — check ratings and call around before you pick one.
See all Kitchener HVAC installers →
How to actually claim the rebate
- Fill out the eligibility form on the Save on Energy portal
- Pick one of the installers above (or any participating contractor)
- Get pre-installation approval before any work starts — this step is mandatory, and skipping it means you lose the rebate
- Get the heat pump installed
- Your contractor submits the post-installation paperwork
- Your rebate cheque shows up within about 60 days
Common questions
How much is the heat pump rebate in Kitchener?
It depends on what you're heating with now. Enbridge gas customers get up to $2,000 (air-source) or $3,000 (ground-source). Electric, oil, propane, or wood get up to $7,500 (air-source) or $12,000 (ground-source). Same program across Ontario — Kitchener just happens to have a good number of local installers who know the paperwork well.
Is a heat pump worth it in Kitchener's winters?
Yes, as long as you get a cold-climate model — which the rebate requires anyway. Kitchener-Waterloo winters regularly go below -15°C, but modern cold-climate units keep working well past -25°C.
How long does the rebate take?
You need pre-approval before installation, then the cheque usually arrives within 60 days of your installer submitting the post-installation form.
Next steps
View all Kitchener rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.