What Home Renovation Savings pays for a heat pump in Sault Ste. Marie
We re-read the program's heat pump page and its requirements document on October 3, 2026. No home energy assessment is needed for this stream, but a participating HVAC contractor and written pre-approval are.
Air-source, electric, oil, propane or wood heat
For a cold-climate air-source heat pump replacing electric resistance, oil, propane or wood as the main heat. A 3-ton system pays $3,750 and 6 tons or more reaches the cap.
Air-source, Enbridge gas heat
For homes primarily heated by an Enbridge gas furnace or boiler. The cap is reached at 4 tons.
Ground-source
For electric, oil, propane or wood homes. Gas homes get a flat $3,000. The system must be a full installation sized to the home's load.
Rented heat pump
Rentals are eligible for any primary heating fuel: $500 per ton for air-source, up to $2,000, or a flat $3,000 for ground-source.
More than one outdoor unit
If several outdoor units are needed to heat the whole home, their tons add up and one rebate is paid on the total, for example 3 + 3 tons for $7,500.
One rebate, pre-approved
One rebate per home. The contractor needs written pre-approval before installing, files the post-installation application within 30 days, and the cheque arrives within 60 days of approval.
Sault Ste. Marie: Federal heat pump rebate coming in early 2027: up to $10,000 for households below the median income and $2,000 for other eligible homeowners. Home Renovation Savings pays now, and Ottawa says the federal rebate can be combined with provincial programs. Read what is confirmed or decide whether to wait.
Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens
Ottawa says you can add it on top of provincial rebates like the ones on this page.
- Up to $10,000
- if your household earns below the median income
- $2,000
- for other homeowners who qualify
Stack it with the Ontario rebate open today
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
Know someone with old heating? Send them this.
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
The requirements document lists no end date, but the program's other streams close in late 2026, so check the program page before you sign a contract. Pre-approval is mandatory: an installation done first earns nothing.
Housing and fuels
The 2021 Census counts 15,205 owner-occupied detached houses built before 1981, 74% of households in an eligible type and 68% owning. 7.1% report needing major repairs. Homes on electric resistance, oil, propane or wood earn $1,250 per ton up to $7,500, and gas homes $500 per ton up to $2,000.
Cold-weather performance
The record low from 2015 to 2024 was -30.5°C. The program's performance minimum is at -15°C, so ask the contractor what the model delivers on the coldest days and which backup heat will be kept. Backup resistance heat is allowed and not rebated.
Free help for lower incomes
The Energy Affordability Program from Save on Energy offers free upgrades to income-qualified households. Its comprehensive support can include cold-climate heat pumps for oil-heated homes, so an eligible household should check it before paying for a heat pump or applying for a rebate.
Contractor and approval
Only contractors on the Participating HVAC Contractor List can submit the pre-installation application, and no work can begin before written approval. Ask for the contractor's approval number and keep it with your agreement.
After installation
The contractor files within 30 days with the final itemized invoice and photographs of the equipment and thermostat. The cheque follows within 60 days of approval.
Sizing and distribution
The system must be sized by load calculation and be capable of distributing heat through the whole conditioned space including the basement. A Sault house with a finished basement and no ducts will usually need a mix of indoor units. Ask the contractor to list which rooms each indoor unit serves.
How to claim in Sault Ste. Marie
- Check your income against the Energy Affordability Program first.
- Confirm eligibility on the program's short form and get the list of participating HVAC contractors.
- Choose a contractor from that list. Ask for a load calculation and the NRCan sizing tool form for each outdoor unit.
- Wait for written pre-approval before any installation starts.
- After the install, check that the contractor files the post-installation application within 30 days, with the final itemized invoice and photos.
Common questions
Is there free help for oil-heated homes?
The Energy Affordability Program can include cold-climate heat pumps for income-qualified oil-heated homes.
Can I keep backup heat?
Yes, not rebated.
How soon is the cheque?
Within 60 days of approval.
Who files the paperwork?
The contractor.
What to do next
See Sault Ste. Marie insulation rebates and the Ontario rebate calculator.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: Home Renovation Savings: heat pumps, Heat Pump Program Stream requirements (PDF), Save on Energy: Home Renovation Savings, Statistics Canada 2021 Census, table 98-10-0233-01. All Sault Ste. Marie rebates → Every Home Renovation Savings rebate →
