Heat pump quotes for Ontario homes
Expect $9,000 to $18,000 installed, before HST, for a ducted cold-climate heat pump. Get a free in-home estimate.
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What a heat pump costs in Ontario
Most whole-home quotes land in these ranges. Heat loss, backup heat and electrical work decide where.
Whole-home ducted cold-climate heat pump
$9,000 to $18,000
Dual fuel (heat pump paired with a gas furnace)
$11,000 to $20,000
Typical installed prices in Ontario, CAD, before 13% HST. Reviewed October 2026. Estimates, not quotes.
- Install time
- Usually 1 to 2 daysMore with a panel upgrade
- Sizing method
- CSA F280 heat lossRoom by room
- Rebates
- Approval firstBefore any work starts
What moves a heat pump quote
Capacity and model
Cold-climate, variable-speed units cost more. The heat loss calculation sets the size.
Backup heat
Keeping a gas furnace, replacing it, or adding electric strips.
Electrical work
A new 240 V circuit is common; a full panel may need an upgrade.
Ducts and placement
Weak ducts, a stand above the snow or a long line set add labour.
Other heat pump types
- Single-zone ductless mini-split
- $3,500 to $6,500
- Multi-zone ductless mini-split (3 to 5 indoor heads)
- $9,000 to $18,000
- Ground-source (geothermal) heat pump
- $25,000 to $45,000
Typical Ontario prices in CAD, before 13% HST. Reviewed October 2026. Ranges, not quotes.
No ducts? See ductless mini-split quotes. Weighing a heat pump against a gas furnace? Compare it with what fair furnace quotes in Ontario typically cost, tier by tier.
Dual fuel or full electric: what heats the house at -25°C
Most Ontario heat pump installs include backup heat for the coldest hours.
Dual fuel: heat pump plus gas furnace
- The heat pump runs most of the season; below a switchover temperature you choose, the furnace takes over.
- Typical installed range $11,000 to $20,000 with a new furnace.
- Suits most homes already on gas: no cold house in a deep freeze.
- Watch for: the furnace blower and thermostat must run both.
Full electric: heat pump plus electric strips
- Electric resistance strips in the air handler fill the gap on the coldest nights and during defrost.
- Typical installed range $9,000 to $18,000, before any panel work.
- Suits homes leaving oil, propane or baseboard heat, or leaving gas entirely.
- Watch for: a 10 kW strip draws about 42 A at 240 V, so the panel needs room.
Defrost is normal: the system briefly reverses to clear frost from the outdoor coil, usually with the backup running. Replacing like for like instead? See furnace and AC quotes.
Sizing a heat pump for Ontario winters
Ask for the heat loss number first. A heat pump sized to match your old AC can lean on backup heat all winter.
A proper quote starts with a room-by-room heat loss calculation to CSA F280, the Canadian standard. It gives your heat loss at the local design temperature: around -17°C to -23°C across much of southern Ontario, colder further north. See the load calculation explained.
Output falls as it gets colder, so ask for these figures for the exact equipment pair:
| On the spec sheet | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Capacity at 8.3°C (47°F) | The standard rating, and the figure Ontario's heat pump rebate rules use. |
| Capacity and COP at -15°C (5°F) | ENERGY STAR's cold climate mark needs at least 70% of the 8.3°C capacity and a COP of at least 1.75. |
| Capacity at -25°C (-13°F) | What is left on the coldest nights. |
| Lowest operating temperature | Below it, the backup heats the whole house. |
Oversizing is not the fix: a unit sized for the coldest night cycles more the rest of the year.
Where the heat pump needs help
- Heat loss, from the calculation
- Heat pump output (spec sheet points)
- Gap covered by backup heat
Electrical work belongs in the quote
A ducted heat pump usually needs its own 240 V circuit plus an outdoor disconnect switch.
Backup strips need their own larger circuits, and a 100 A panel already feeding an electric range, dryer or EV charger may not have room, so ask for a panel check at the estimate. In Ontario a licensed electrical contractor does this work and notifies the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).
- Heat pump wiring and circuit
- $500 to $2,500
- Panel upgrade
- $2,000 to $4,500
Typical add-on prices in Ontario, before HST. Reviewed October 2026. Only some homes need each item.
What the heat pump quote must name
If two quotes do not name the same things, you cannot compare them.
Equipment
- Model numbers for the outdoor unit and indoor coil, plus the AHRI reference number
- Capacity at 8.3°C, -15°C and -25°C, and the cold-climate rating
- Backup heat (furnace model or strip kW) and the switchover setting
- A thermostat or controls that run both
Installation
- Line set: new or reused, length and refrigerant
- Pad, stand or wall bracket, and its height above snow
- Condensate and defrost water routes
- Electrical work, permits and who arranges them
- Heat loss report, parts and labour warranty, deposit and install date
Holding a quote already? Try the quote checker and our questions to ask before signing.
Want a quote that shows its sizing and cold-weather numbers?
Get A Free QuoteRunning costs: the honest math
A heat pump is not automatically cheaper to run than a gas furnace in Ontario.
At about $0.50 per cubic metre for gas and $0.15 per kWh for electricity, both all-in, a heat pump beats a 96% furnace only above a COP of about 3.0. Ontario winters spend a lot of time below that, so on gas, expect heating costs close to today's, sometimes higher. The case on gas is cooling, comfort, lower emissions and any rebate you qualify for, not a lower bill.
From electric baseboard, the drop is large. For oil or propane, compare using your own bills.
| Heat source | Efficiency | Per 1,000 kWh of heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace | 96% AFUE | $50 |
| Heat pump, mild weather | COP 3.5 | $43 |
| Heat pump, colder weather | COP 2.5 | $60 |
| Heat pump at -15°C (cold-climate minimum) | COP 1.75 | $86 |
| Baseboard or backup strips | COP 1.0 | $150 |
Rebates: approval comes before the install
Build the approval step into the schedule before you book a date. A quote should never subtract a rebate as if it were certain.
Rebates: check before you sign
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program offers heat pump rebates with eligibility rules by heating fuel, home type and product, and it requires approval before installation. Program rules change often, so check the official pages before you buy and never sign because of a promised rebate amount. New applications for the Canada Greener Homes Loan ended on October 1, 2025.
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Common questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, the company can answer it during your free estimate.
Do heat pumps work in an Ontario winter?
Yes, when the model and sizing suit the home. Cold-climate heat pumps keep heating well below -15°C, with less output and efficiency as it gets colder. An Ontario quote should show the capacity at -15°C and -25°C and explain the backup heat for the coldest nights, whether that is a gas furnace or electric strips.
Can a heat pump work with my existing gas furnace?
Often, yes. In a dual fuel setup the heat pump replaces your air conditioner and its coil sits on the furnace. The furnace blower must move enough air for it and one thermostat must run both, so the installer should confirm your furnace model in the quote.
Does a heat pump cut the heating bill?
It depends on what you heat with now. At typical Ontario prices, a heat pump matches a 96% gas furnace at a COP near 3.0 and costs more below that, so savings against gas are small or none. Against electric baseboard, running costs are usually much lower. Ask for an estimate from your own bills.
Will a heat pump need a bigger electrical panel?
Not always. Many homes need only a new 240 V circuit and a disconnect, typically $500 to $2,500. A full 100 A panel, especially with electric backup strips, may need an upgrade, typically $2,000 to $4,500. The estimate visit should include a panel check.
How long does a heat pump installation take?
Usually one to two days on site. A panel upgrade, duct changes or a new furnace can add time. Before that, allow for rebate approval, which Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program requires before installation, and for any building, gas or electrical permits.
Get a heat pump quote built for your winters
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