Installing a heat pump is a huge boost to your home's comfort — and the single most impactful thing you can do to reduce pollution that comes from heating your home.
The homeowners we’ve worked with are relieved that they can heat their homes without fossil fuels and improve their comfort at the same time, all for less than the cost of updating a bathroom. But installing a heat pump takes a little more research than swapping one furnace for another.
This bird's-eye tour includes links to in-depth articles where you need them. It will steer you away from those “I wish I had known that sooner!” moments that make home improvement projects so frustrating. There are also two workbooks you can print out and fill out as you go along—you'll see those linked later on.
You might be wondering who we are! We're Toronto Home Energy Network. As a non-profit, we share best practices and connect you with experts and neighbours who've already made the switch. We're here to support you—just friendly guidance to make your home more comfortable! There’s nothing for sale in this Guidebook.
Before we dive in, an important note: we recommend Retrofit Advisors A LOT in this guidebook. In case study after case study, and from our team's experience getting heat pumps installed, Retrofit Advisors have been the difference between stress and success.
Retrofit Advisors coach homeowners through heat pump selection and sizing, finding contractors, and (best of all!) they handle the rebate paperwork for you (if you qualify)—that’s hours and hours of form-filling that you won't have to do.
In case you're curious, we do NOT receive referral fees for guiding people to Retrofit Advisors. Our funding is transparent—see below. Our mission is to support homeowners who want to move away from heating their homes with polluting fossil fuels. To achieve that, we:
Write free educational documents like this one.
Build community groups across Toronto that provide personalized coaching and technology demonstrations.
Warning...As you start asking around about heat pumps, chances are some people will try to steer you away from them. Old technology, shoddy installations, and misinformation plague the humble heat pump. So, let’s start with some myth-busting before diving into the Guidebook—by the end of the next few pages, you’ll be able to separate fact from fiction.
🍁Heat Pumps Work in Canada
A modern cold climate heat pump works efficiently down to –30°C and keeps you cool through a heat wave—they’re awesome. Older conventional heat pumps struggle at –5°C and need backup heating—they’re still installed in milder places, like British Columbia.
Bottom Line:
A cold climate heat pump can probably replace your existing heating without a gas furnace to back it up.
A hybrid system, in which your heat pump is linked to your existing gas furnace, which automatically switches on only on the coldest days, is another valid option if you have a new furnace or a worried partner.
Every heat pump will replace your A/C.
⅓ of homes in New Brunswick are heated and cooled by heat pumps.
⅔ of homes in Norway and Sweden are heated and cooled by heat pumps.
💸Real Costs
People love to cut costs on their heating and cooling appliances. Don’t be tempted! Your heat pump will keep you cozy all year—paying for a reliable one is worth it.
You can get a very basic cold climate heat pump installed for $8,000-$10,000. These heat pumps would probably need a furnace for backup heating (more on that later!). Setting aside $1,000-$3,000 for comfort improvements like air sealing (Page 16) is also worthwhile.
Better cold climate heat pumps cost between $12,000 and $25,000. Like with any appliance, the cost rises as you get more powerful heat pumps with added features. This is still less than a kitchen reno, and you feel the comfort benefits every single minute you’re at home.
Operating Costs: A heat pump and gas furnace are cost-comparable, with many homeowners finding that the heat pump costs less over the whole year (especially if the heat pump replaces an old A/C unit).
💰Rebates Are Available
Torontonians often get $1,000-$2,000 back on their heat pump from the 📘Home Renovation Savings Program.
There are other programs, but the amount of money you can get depends on your existing system, your income, and the work you do. We host and regularly update a page with info on all of the heat pump support programs.
🍵Your Comfort Zone
Let's start with a simple reflection: how involved do you want to be in your heat pump installation? Are you happy to set a budget and trust the pros, or are you curious to learn more about home heating and cooling?
Scan these levels of involvement and check off the one that feels right for you.
1 — Full Service
I want to set the budget, sign the paperwork and trust the experts. Research and planning are not my jam!
2 — Light Involvement
I want to learn the basics, but I’d rather leave the real decision-making and coordination to a professional.
3 — Heating and Cooling Curious
I don't mind learning some new terminology to understand my home’s heating and cooling systems.
4 — Active Involvement
I‘m happy to do my own homework, then get everything double-checked by a professional.
5 — Totally DIY
Although Home Depot sells DIY Heat Pump Kits, you will be handling refrigerants and electricity, which can be dangerous. We don't recommend trying this at home!
Keep your answer in mind as we move on to this next section.
Interestingly, one of the biggest barriers to getting a heat pump isn’t a tricky technical question or a tight budget. It’s decision fatigue!
We’ve found that tuning into what really excites you about heat pumps is the #1 way to give your project a North Star. Let's try that now.
Three main things get people excited about heat pumps:
Modern Tech — You want your home to be smart and connected. A heat pump with extra features and an app where you can tweak its settings is right for you.
Climate Action — You’re mostly excited about having a greener home. Doing the upfront work to get your home 100% electric should be top of mind for you.
Affordability — You’re ready to replace your furnace, but keeping costs down is key. Keeping upfront costs and utility bills low is your top priority.
If you’re not sure, that’s OK! There’s no shame or wrong answer here. Take your best guess for now.
Use the Guidebook Worksheet to record your answers!
Now, let’s bring it all together. If you answered 1 or 2 on the previous page, and Climate Action or Affordability resonates with you, check out our Retrofit Advisor page below before reading on. We highly recommend introducing yourself to someone on that page.
Our Retrofit Advisor page has your options and links to contact them. Don’t be shy—they love what they do.
The rest of the guidebook is helpful for all comfort levels and motivations, so let’s carry on to the next section. It covers heat pump basics (no HVAC degree required!).