At a glance...
Start with neighborhood recommendations or pre-vetted directories from Toronto Hydro and HRAI
Good contractors help with rebates, do proper heat load calculations, and share references eagerly
Watch for red flags like sizing your system from Google Street View or claiming heat pumps require a gas furnace backup
Contractors are the biggest make or break decision for your heat pump installation—you want someone who will do a good job at a good price and help you with rebates.
Although this article is focused on heat pumps, the steps below work for finding good contractors for solar, water heaters, insulation and other solid home improvement projects.
Ok, tell me who to hire!
We would love to BUT we can’t give you a list of three contractors and say “any one of these will do!” You know how financial products have that “past performance does not guarantee future returns” fine print? That’s the position we’re in, too.
Plus, your home is unique. You want a contractor who understands your home’s needs and respects your budget. However, there are better places to start than a “I’m Feeling Lucky” Google search or calling the number on that flyer you found hanging off your doorknob!
Finding Your Toronto Heat Pump Installer
Here’s how we would go about finding a new contractor:
See who your neighbours recommend. You can’t beat word of mouth...but if you’re not feeling social today, you can sit back and read some detailed testimonials gathered by nieghbourhood groups instead.
Pocket Change—a changemaking neighborhood group in Toronto’s East End— has created a Retrofit Stories page. Each story mentions the contractor people used for their home updates, like Adam & Monica’s affordable home update. Browse these stories and see if any of these contractors fit your needs.
The Harbord Village Residents’ Association also has a list of homeowners who installed heat pumps and the installers they used.
Search these two directories of pre-vetted contractors: Toronto Hydro's Cleantech Services Directory and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada's (HRAI) Heat Pump Champion Advocate Directory. Both are updated regularly, and contractors must pass more stringent checks than websites like HomeStars.
Ask the Home Retrofit Forum for suggestions or browse the topics—your question may have been asked before (this is a very helpful group to join if you’re considering a home update!)
Engage a Retrofit Advisor. They may be able to make a professional recommendation based on their detailed understanding of your home and your home’s heating and cooling needs.
A few contractors may be leaping off the screen right now—that’s fantastic! But it's still worth calling them directly. We've pulled together some useful questions and an easy tracking sheet to help you navigate these calls with confidence.
Heat Pump Installer Pre-Quote Checklist
Keep this handy sheet with you while you make calls. It has green and red flag checkboxes (we let you know what answers count for each below!). Tick off one or the other box as you ask the questions. Count up the green flags at the end to help you decide on who to invite for an in-person quote.
We’ve talked with many homeowners who’ve installed heat pumps, and we hear over and over that bedside manner tells you a lot about a contractor! If they seem annoyed at the questions or pressure you into a quote, they’re probably not your Meant to Be.
Can you help me with rebate and financing programs?
Green Flags:
They should offer to help you with the paperwork for common rebate and financing programs like the Ontario Home Renovation Savings Program, The Canada Greener Homes Loan, or the City of Toronto Home Energy Loan Program. This should be of little or no cost to you.
Red Flags:
They get defensive or seem annoyed that you asked. It is not unusual for installers to help homeowners with rebate and financing programs — helping you get money back on your install makes it easier for you to say yes.
How do you find the right size heat pump for my home?
Green Flags:
They suggest doing a ‘heat load’ calculation—the heat load is the amount of heat needed to keep your home comfortable. A heat load calculation is the best way to size a heat pump.
They ask you about your home’s ductwork, electrical panel, insulation and windows, or ask about previous renovations.
Red Flags:
They only ask about your home’s age and the number of floors. These details matter but are much less useful for sizing a heat pump. Some old houses have excellent insulation — there’s no way to know without checking.
They suggest a specific model or size right away. Although most homes in Toronto can be serviced by a 2-ton, 2.5-ton, or 3-ton heat pump, they should ask you questions about your home and its renovation history first.
They make a guess based on Google Street View. This is like trying to figure out someone’s shoe size by looking at a photo of their foot—it’s a sign they take shortcuts.
I'm interested in a Cold Climate Heat Pump— what do I need to know to install that without a gas furnace backup?
Green Flags:
“It depends on your home” is a great answer. You want them to take the time to assess your home before making recommendations.
Red Flags:
They say they would never trust a heat pump on its own or install one without a gas furnace as backup in their own home. A hybrid system (a heat pump with a furnace for backup heat) might be right for you, but they haven’t seen you house at this point! You want your contractor to be open-minded.
They say common heat pump myths like they don’t work below freezing or they’re more unreliable than furnaces.
Have you received manufacturer’s training from any heat pump makers? Which makes do you have experience installing?
Green Flags:
They should have training from one or two or the larger heat pump makers, like Mitsubishi or Bosch, and experience installing a few different brands.
Red Flags:
Not having manufactures’ training is not a deal breaker, but it does make the next question more important.
Can you share some referrals for previous heat pumps installations?
Green Flags:
You want an enthusiastic yes. This is not a rude or unusual ask — they should stand behind their work.
Red Flags:
They become defensive, say their contact list is confidential, or bring up “privacy concerns.”
What do you think about when you’re picking the spot for the heat pump to go?
Green Flags:
You want them to find a spot where the noise from the heat pump won’t bug you or your neighbours.
Red Flags:
They say always on the side, or always in the backyard. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but they should take your needs into consideration before making a recommendation!
Take me through your commissioning checklist (commissioning is industry talk for a service check a couple weeks after the installation is complete).
Green Flags:
They should mention that they measure air flow and efficiency while the heat pump is running and inspect all of your heat pump’s connections and fittings to make sure there are no leaks.
Red Flags:
They only do a visual inspection, or don’t offer commissioning at all!
Go For a Perfect Score
Congrats on completing your calls! It can be tempting to cut the contractor some slack, especially if they were nice over the phone, but these questions were not designed to be tricky. The contractors that give you quotes should get a perfect score, or one red flag at most.
The next step is inviting the winners to quote the installation. Again, have these questions ready! The person who arrives for the quote may not be the same person that answered your calls — double checking their knowledge is important.