Heat Pump Installation in Ottawa
Cold-climate heat pumps that cool all summer and heat through an Ottawa winter
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Cold-climate heat pumps that cool all summer and heat through an Ottawa winter
- Free estimates on new installations
- Financing from $49/month (OAC)
- All makes and models serviced
Heat pumps built for Ottawa winters
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of your house; in winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air, even well below freezing, and moves it inside. Because it moves heat rather than making it, a heat pump can deliver two to three units of heat for every unit of electricity in mild weather.
Older heat pumps gave up around −10 °C, which is why they earned a poor reputation here. Today’s cold-climate models use variable-speed inverter compressors and are designed to keep producing heat down to roughly −25 °C to −30 °C, depending on the model. Output and efficiency do drop as it gets colder, so the system has to be chosen with Ottawa’s −25 °C design temperature in mind.
Oria handles heat pump installation across Ottawa, and because every one of our technicians holds both refrigeration and gas licences, the same team can set up the heat pump and the furnace it works with. For the full picture on winter performance, read do heat pumps work in Ottawa winters.
Hybrid (dual-fuel): a heat pump with gas furnace backup
The most common heat pump setup in Ottawa is a hybrid, also called dual-fuel. A ducted heat pump replaces your central air conditioner and handles the heating for most of the year, while your gas furnace stays in place as backup.
How the switchover works
A compatible thermostat or the equipment’s own controls watch the outdoor temperature. Above a set point, the heat pump heats the house. Below it, the heat pump shuts off and the furnace takes over. That switchover point is commonly set somewhere between −15 °C and −5 °C, depending on your home’s heat loss and current Enbridge Gas and Hydro Ottawa rates.
Why it suits Ottawa
- You get efficient electric heat in spring, fall and milder winter days, which is most of the heating season by hours.
- You keep fast, strong gas heat for cold snaps, and a second heat source if either system has a problem.
- It works with your existing ducts and a furnace that still has years of life left.
For hybrid to work well, the furnace should be in good condition and the indoor coil must fit on top of it. A variable-speed furnace blower helps. If your furnace is near the end of its life, we can quote a matched furnace and heat pump together. Compare the two fuels in gas furnace or heat pump.
Ducted or ductless heat pumps?
The right heat pump depends on whether your home has ducts and how it is heated today. Most homes fit one of these setups.
Ducted with gas furnace (hybrid)
Replaces your central AC and uses your existing ducts. The furnace handles deep cold. The most common choice for gas-heated Ottawa homes.
Learn more →Ducted all-electric
A heat pump paired with an electric air handler and backup heat strips instead of a furnace. Common in homes moving off oil or propane.
Ductless single-zone
One outdoor unit and one wall-mounted head for an addition, basement or problem room. No ducts needed.
Learn more →Ductless multi-zone
One outdoor unit serving two to four indoor heads. Suits homes heated by baseboards or a boiler with no ductwork.
Learn more →Rural oil and propane homes
In Greely, Osgoode, Carp, Richmond and other rural areas, a cold-climate heat pump can sharply reduce how much oil or propane you buy each winter.
Heat pump installation costs in Ottawa
A ducted cold-climate heat pump in a home with existing ducts typically costs $9,000–$18,000 installed. That is more than a central air conditioner, but you are buying a system that both cools and heats.
| System | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Ducted cold-climate heat pump (existing ducts) | $9,000–$18,000 |
| Ductless mini-split, single zone | $3,500–$6,500 |
| Ductless mini-split, multi-zone (2–4 heads) | $7,000–$16,000 |
| Central air conditioner (for comparison) | $4,000–$8,000 |
Prices are typical Ottawa installed ranges before rebates, not quotes. Final price depends on your home, the equipment you choose and the ductwork, venting and electrical work involved. Oria gives free estimates on all new installations.
What moves the price
- Capacity and cold-climate rating. Models that hold more of their output at −25 °C cost more.
- Backup heat. Hybrid systems reuse your furnace; all-electric systems need an air handler and heat strips.
- Electrical capacity. Some older homes need a panel or service upgrade, especially all-electric installs.
- Controls and placement. A compatible thermostat, a stand that lifts the unit above the snow and longer line sets all add cost.
See our detailed guide to heat pump cost in Ottawa.
Ratings that matter: HSPF2, SEER2 and cold-weather capacity
Heat pumps carry two efficiency ratings. SEER2 measures cooling efficiency, the same as on an air conditioner. HSPF2 measures heating efficiency over a season; higher is better. Our article on SEER2, AFUE and HSPF2 explains how the tests work.
For Ottawa, one number matters more than either rating: how much heat the unit still produces at −15 °C and −25 °C. Two heat pumps with similar HSPF2 can behave very differently on a January night. We check the manufacturer’s low-temperature capacity data for every model we quote, not just the brochure rating.
Sizing for heating, not just cooling
An air conditioner is sized to the summer load. A heat pump in Ottawa needs to be sized with the winter load in mind, which is usually larger. Variable-speed equipment makes this work: it can run slowly to control humidity in July and ramp up in January. We calculate your home’s heat loss before recommending a size.
Rebates and financing
Rebates may be available for qualifying heat pumps. Ontario’s main program is the Home Renovation Savings Program, run by Enbridge Gas and the IESO, and the rules and amounts change from time to time. Oria will check current programs for your home and make sure the equipment we quote qualifies where possible.
Financing is available from $49/month on approved credit, which lets many homeowners spread the cost of a heat pump over time. Visit our HVAC rebates page for the current picture, or ask during your free estimate.
Across the river, Gatineau homes pay low Hydro-Québec electricity rates and many are heated with electric baseboards, which makes a heat pump especially attractive there. Oria holds the licences required to work in Quebec; see our Gatineau service area.
One team for your heat pump and your furnace
- Every technician holds refrigeration and gas licences
- TSSA and HRAI approved · Lennox authorized dealer
- Free estimates and rebate checks on every new installation
- Financing from $49/month on approved credit
How we install a heat pump
- 1
Home assessment
We review your heating bills, ducts, furnace, electrical panel and where the outdoor unit can go, then calculate your home's heat loss.
- 2
Choose the setup
Hybrid, all-electric or ductless, with the switchover point and controls chosen for your home and current energy rates.
- 3
Quote and rebate check
A written price for the system, plus a check of current rebate programs and their paperwork requirements.
- 4
Outdoor unit placement
Set on a stand or wall bracket above the typical snow line, away from roof drip, with room for defrost water to drain away.
- 5
Indoor work and refrigerant lines
The coil or air handler is installed, lines are brazed, pressure-tested with nitrogen and evacuated with a deep vacuum.
- 6
Commissioning
We verify the charge in heating and cooling modes, set the switchover and backup heat, and show you how the system should behave in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from licensed Ottawa technicians. Still have a question? Call us any time.
Do heat pumps really work in Ottawa winters?
Yes, cold-climate models do. Current cold-climate heat pumps are designed to keep heating to roughly −25 °C to −30 °C, though output and efficiency drop as it gets colder. Most Ottawa installations are hybrids that keep a gas furnace for the coldest nights, so the house stays warm even during a −30 °C cold snap.
Do I still need my gas furnace if I install a heat pump?
Not always, but most Ottawa homeowners keep it. In a hybrid setup, the heat pump handles most of the heating season and the furnace takes over below a set outdoor temperature. All-electric systems with backup heat strips are an option, especially for homes on oil or propane, but they may need more electrical capacity.
How much does heat pump installation cost in Ottawa?
A ducted cold-climate heat pump using existing ducts typically costs $9,000–$18,000 installed in Ottawa. A single-zone ductless mini-split runs $3,500–$6,500 and a multi-zone ductless system $7,000–$16,000. These are typical ranges before rebates. Oria gives free estimates and will check which rebate programs currently apply to your home.
Can a heat pump replace my central air conditioner?
Yes. A ducted heat pump cools exactly like a central air conditioner and connects to your existing ducts and furnace in the same way. If your AC is nearing the end of its life, replacing it with a heat pump adds efficient heating for spring, fall and much of the winter, with the furnace still available as backup.
Are there rebates for heat pumps in Ottawa?
Rebates may be available. Ontario’s main program is the Home Renovation Savings Program, run by Enbridge Gas and the IESO, and its eligible equipment and amounts change over time. Oria will check current programs for your home before you commit and help make sure the system we quote qualifies where possible.
How long does a heat pump installation take?
Replacing a central AC with a ducted heat pump in a hybrid setup usually takes one to two days. A single-zone ductless system is typically installed in a day. All-electric conversions, electrical panel upgrades or multi-zone systems can take longer. We confirm the schedule with your written quote.
How long does a heat pump last?
Most heat pumps last about 15 years, sometimes longer with good maintenance. Because a heat pump runs for heating and cooling, it works more hours per year than an air conditioner, so twice-yearly maintenance in spring and fall matters. A hybrid setup also reduces wear by letting the furnace handle the coldest weather.
Will a heat pump lower my energy bills?
It depends on what it replaces. Homes moving off oil, propane or electric baseboards usually see the biggest savings. In gas-heated homes, savings depend on Enbridge Gas and Hydro Ottawa rates, which is why the switchover point in a hybrid system matters. We will walk you through realistic expectations for your home.
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