Central ducted system
Ducted heat pump installation, every Canadian province
Central air-source heat pumps tied into your existing forced-air ductwork. Modern cold-climate (CCHP) units deliver useful heat down to -30°C — well within Canadian-winter parameters.
- Free quotes within 24 hours
- Licensed + insured installers
- Cold-climate-rated (CCHP) systems
- Greener Homes Loan paperwork handled
Typical installed cost
$14,000–$18,000
Install timeline
1–2 days
Best for
Homes with existing forced-air ductwork (natural-gas furnace homes especially)
Not ideal for
Homes without ducts (consider ductless mini-split instead) or homes with electric baseboard heating throughout
Rebates: Eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Loan ($40,000 interest-free) and most provincial top-up programs. Oil-to-Heat-Pump Affordability adds $10,000 if replacing oil.
- Free quotes within 24 hours
- Licensed + insured installers
- Cold-climate-rated (CCHP) systems
- Greener Homes Loan paperwork handled
What you get with a ducted heat pump install
A complete ducted heat pump install replaces your existing forced-air heating with an integrated heating + cooling system. The outdoor compressor unit sits beside your home; the indoor air handler ties into your existing ductwork and air filter. You get one thermostat controlling both heating and cooling, eliminating your AC condenser entirely.
For natural-gas homes, installers typically configure the heat pump as the primary system with the existing furnace as backup for sub-zero days (a "dual-fuel" setup). This is the most cost-effective configuration in Ontario and the Prairies — the heat pump handles 80-90% of the heating hours, and the furnace covers the coldest nights.
For all-electric or oil-conversion homes, a cold-climate heat pump (CCHP) with an HSPF rating of 10+ handles 100% of the heating year-round.
Cold-climate certification — what matters in Canada
Not all heat pumps perform in Canadian winters. The standard you want is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification combined with an HSPF rating of 10 or higher. This means the unit:
- Maintains 70%+ of its rated heating capacity at -15°C - Continues to deliver useful heat down to -25°C or -30°C (the rated minimum operating temperature) - Uses variable-speed inverter technology to modulate output instead of cycling on/off
Brands shipping certified cold-climate ducted heat pumps in Canada include Mitsubishi (Hyper-Heating), Carrier (Infinity), Bryant (Evolution), Trane (XV20i), Lennox (XP25), and Daikin (Aurora). Your installer will recommend a specific model based on your home's heating load — don't fixate on brand, look for cold-climate certification first.
Sizing matters — and it's where bad installers cut corners
Heat pump sizing in Canada requires a proper Manual J load calculation. Oversized systems cycle on/off, don't dehumidify well in summer, and wear out faster. Undersized systems can't keep up on the coldest days and force you back onto auxiliary heat.
A good installer will spend 30-60 minutes inspecting your home: insulation levels, window quality, square footage per zone, current furnace BTU rating, and electrical service capacity. Then they'll recommend a size in BTUs (typically 24,000-60,000 for residential ducted) with a clear explanation of why.
If a quote comes back without a sizing rationale, that's a red flag.
Get a Free Ducted Heat Pump Quote
Tell us about your home. A licensed installer in your province responds within 24 hours with an itemized written quote, including all federal and provincial rebate calculations.
Or call us: (833) 519-1833
Common questions
Can I install a ducted heat pump if I currently have a furnace?
Yes — this is the most common Canadian retrofit. The heat pump's indoor unit ties into your existing ductwork, and your furnace either gets removed (electric homes) or kept as backup for sub-zero days (dual-fuel configuration for natural-gas homes).
Will a ducted heat pump cool my home in summer?
Yes — that's the major bonus. A heat pump is essentially a high-efficiency AC that can run in reverse. You get heating AND cooling from one system, often eliminating your existing AC condenser entirely.
Do I need to upgrade my electrical service?
Sometimes. Ducted heat pumps draw 30-60 amps depending on capacity. If your home has 100A service and a high existing load, you may need an upgrade to 200A. This adds $2,000-$4,000 if required. Your installer will check during the quote visit.
How does pricing compare across provinces?
Installed cost runs $14,000-$18,000 nationally for a quality cold-climate ducted system, but Ontario contractors often quote $5,000-$9,000 due to higher market competition and lower labour costs. Western Canada and the Maritimes sit closer to the national average. Provincial rebates can offset $1,500-$17,000 depending on where you live.