Heat Pumps for Greater Vancouver Homes
This page is the starting point. Pick the option that matches where you are:
- Planning a new system? See heat pump installation and our installation cost guide.
- System running but due for a check? Book heat pump service.
- Something is wrong? Go to heat pump repair.
- Asking about rebates? Read the BC heat pump rebate guide.
How a heat pump works
A heat pump does not burn fuel to make heat. It moves heat that already exists. In heating mode, the outdoor unit pulls heat out of the outside air, even on a cold day, and refrigerant carries it indoors. In cooling mode the process runs in reverse and heat is moved out of the house.
Because it moves heat instead of creating it, a heat pump can deliver more heat energy than the electricity it uses. That is why heat pumps suit the Lower Mainland so well. Our winters are mild and damp, with only a few days a year below freezing, so a modern cold-climate heat pump can carry most or all of the heating load.
Which type of heat pump fits your home?
| Type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted (central) | Homes with existing ductwork from a furnace | Uses your current ducts. Duct size and condition must be checked first. |
| Ductless mini-split | Homes with baseboard heaters, boilers, additions, suites, condos | Wall or ceiling heads, room-by-room control. See ductless mini-splits. |
| Dual fuel (hybrid) | Homes keeping a gas furnace as backup | Heat pump runs most of the year; the furnace takes over in the coldest weather. Compare in gas furnace vs heat pump. |
Heat pump installation
A good installation starts with a heat-load calculation, not a guess based on square footage. We check insulation, windows, ductwork, and your electrical panel’s spare capacity, then size the system so it runs long, steady cycles instead of short bursts. We also plan where the outdoor unit goes: away from bedroom windows, raised above snow and standing water, and with clear airflow.
Full details are on the heat pump installation page. Local pages cover Burnaby, Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam and North Vancouver.
Heat pump service and maintenance
A heat pump works year-round, so it collects dirt faster than a furnace that only runs in winter. A yearly service keeps efficiency up and catches small problems early. A typical visit includes cleaning or replacing filters, cleaning the indoor coil and outdoor coil, clearing the condensate drain, checking refrigerant pressures and electrical connections, and testing defrost and heating and cooling modes.
Book on the heat pump service page, or see heat pump service in Burnaby.
Heat pump repair and troubleshooting
Some heat pump behaviour looks like a fault but is normal, like steam rising from the outdoor unit during a defrost cycle. Other signs need a technician. These guides help you tell the difference before you call:
- Heat pump outdoor unit frozen or covered in ice
- Heat pump blowing cold air in heating mode
- Heat pump defrost mode explained
If the system has stopped, is tripping a breaker, or is leaking water indoors, go straight to heat pump repair (or heat pump repair in Burnaby and Vancouver).
Rebates and costs
Rebates in BC depend on how your home is heated now. Homes heated by electric baseboards or an electric furnace usually have the most support, and there are separate streams for income-qualified households and for gas-heated homes adding a heat pump. Our BC heat pump rebate guide explains which program fits your situation.
For price ranges by system type, and what pushes a quote up or down, see the heat pump installation cost guide.
Brands we install and service
We work with Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Fujitsu, LG, Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Bosch and Rheem heat pumps, among others. Brand matters less than correct sizing and installation, so we recommend a model based on your home’s heat load, the space available, and whether the system needs to run well in the coldest weeks of the year.
Why homeowners choose Efficient Heating Service
- Licensed and insured, Class B gas fitter, TSBC licensed
- More than 10 years of heating and cooling work in the Lower Mainland
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 by more than 170 customers on Google
- Help with rebate paperwork for eligible installations
- Open 24/7 for heating and cooling emergencies