How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in the Lower Mainland?
The honest answer is that it depends on the type of system and on your house. A single ductless head for one room and a whole-home ducted system are very different jobs. Below are typical installed price ranges before rebates, along with what moves a quote up or down, so you can tell whether a quote is reasonable.
Typical installed price ranges (before rebates)
| System | Typical range | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Ductless, single-zone (1 head) | $5,000 – $9,000 | Open main floor, suite, one problem room |
| Ductless, multi-zone (2–4 heads) | $10,000 – $20,000 | Baseboard-heated homes, several rooms |
| Ducted heat pump (replacing AC/furnace) | $12,000 – $25,000 | Homes with existing ductwork |
| Dual fuel (heat pump + gas furnace) | $12,000 – $22,000 | Gas-heated homes keeping gas as backup |
These ranges include equipment, standard installation, refrigerant work, a basic electrical connection and commissioning. They are a guide, not a quote. Your written quote is based on a site visit.
What makes a quote go up or down
- Heat load and size. A drafty 1970s home needs more capacity than a newer, well-insulated one of the same size.
- Electrical panel. A 100-amp panel that is already full may need a load calculation, a load manager or a panel upgrade. This is often the biggest surprise cost.
- Ductwork. Undersized or leaky ducts may need changes before a ducted heat pump can deliver its rated output.
- Line-set length and route. Long runs, multiple floors and finished walls add labour.
- Outdoor unit location. Wall brackets, roof mounts, stands and pads vary in cost. Strata rules may limit where the unit can go.
- Cold-climate models. Units rated to keep full output at low temperatures cost more but need less backup heat.
- Permits. Electrical and, where gas work is involved, gas permits.
Running costs
A heat pump uses electricity to move heat, so it can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity, depending on the outdoor temperature. In a home heated by electric baseboards, heating bills usually drop a lot. Compared with natural gas, savings depend on gas and electricity rates and on how well the system is sized. Many gas-heated homes choose a dual fuel system to get cooling and lower carbon without giving up gas backup. See gas furnace vs heat pump.
Rebates can change the math
Electric-heated homes, gas homes going dual fuel and income-qualified households may each qualify for different rebates. Read the BC heat pump rebate guide before you sign a quote. Some programs require approval or specific equipment before installation.
How to compare heat pump quotes
- Did the contractor do a heat-load calculation, or size the system by square footage?
- Are the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers listed?
- Is electrical work included, and was the panel checked?
- Are permits included?
- What are the warranties on parts and on labour, and who registers the manufacturer warranty?
- Does the installed model qualify for the rebate you are counting on?
Get a written heat pump quote
We give written, itemized quotes after a site visit, so you know what is included. Heat pump installation · Ductless mini-splits · All heat pump services