Heat pump resources and tools for HVAC professionals

These pages provide the latest information on heat pumps, including tools, videos and funding programs. Professionals and energy advisors in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry can use the information to help their clients.

Homeowners are enthusiastic about using heat pumps, motivated partly by the funding available through Government of Canada initiatives. Two such initiatives are the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program and the Canada Greener Homes Loan.

Eligible heat pumps

A heat pump must meet the mandatory conditions of the OHPA program. It must have been recommended by an HVAC professional or installer and be on one of the following searchable lists of eligible products.

Searchable product lists

• Air Source Heat Pumps and Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps
• Ground Source Heat Pumps
• Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps for Nova Scotia
• Air Source Heat Pumps and Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps for British Columbia
• Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps for Yukon

Visit the OHPA eligibility criteria page to find:

• tips to search the eligible product lists
• mandatory requirements
• technical criteria and conditions
• performance requirements

Heating efficiency

Heat pumps are regulated products that must meet federal standards for energy efficiency to be imported into Canada or shipped from one province or territory to another for sale or lease.

The federal Energy Efficiency Regulations continue to apply to these products if they are incorporated into a larger unit or machine, even when that unit or machine is an unregulated product.

• Guide to Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (federal standards)
• The searchable product lists include all regulated products in Canada

To find the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2 (HSPF2) region V of single phase air source heat pumps that are regulated in Canada, refer to the Energy efficiency ratings search page which includes all current regulated products in Canada.

Sizing and selecting an air source heat pump

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has developed tools that mechanical system designers and renovation contractors can use to size and select a heat pump. The tools apply to both air source heat pumps (ASHP) and cold climate air source heat pumps (ccASHP).

The toolkit for sizing and selecting an air source heat pump is for mechanical system designers and HVAC professionals to determine the appropriate heat pump for Canadian climates, in both new and existing (retrofit) residential applications.

The air source heat pump sizing and selection app is for mechanical system designers and HVAC professionals to use with builders and homeowners in both new builds and home renovations.

Watch this video: Using NRCan’s Air Source Heat Pump Sizing & Selection tool to drive heat pump sales

More heat pump information

Heating and cooling with a heat pump – detailed webpage

Heat pump systems are an energy efficient, proven and reliable technology. A heat pump can provide year-round comfort control in homes by heating in the winter, cooling in the summer, and in some cases, by heating water.

The future of home heating: Hybrid home heating systems offer energy savings and reduce GHG emissions – research findings

NRCan researchers measured energy use and comfort levels in several test homes that use hybrid heating, which is the combination of a natural gas furnace and an electric air source heat pump. The results were a 30% decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in one complete heating season.

CanmetENERGY–Ottawa researchers identified hybrid heating as one way to save energy, reduce GHG emissions and build Canada’s resilience to a changing climate and changing energy prices.

Videos

Best practices in heat pump retrofits
This video series of case study homes across Canada showcases best practices in heat pump sizing, selection and installation. Industry professionals (such as HVAC contractors, energy advisors, builders and renovators) can apply these best practices to design and install heat pump systems in a diverse range of homes. The result is a cost-effective and comfortable solution.

An introduction to cold climate heat pumps (4:20)
“Some customers are worried that heat pumps can't keep up with Canadian cold winters. There is a misconception that because traditional furnaces burn hotter, that they provide better heat. Modern cold climate heat pump systems can reliably heat your home, even when external temps are minus 28 to minus 29 degrees Celsius, with minimal drop-off. As we look at decarbonizing and moving away from fossil fuels, we can expect to see a lot more people turning to heat pump systems.”

Oil furnace to heat pump retrofits: A whole home approach (4:24)
If you invest time upfront in a comprehensive energy assessment and collaborate closely with your customer and their energy advisor, you can meet project goals without compromising on cost or quality. Learn how a homeowner in Halifax, Nova Scotia, replaced an oil furnace with a centrally ducted heat pump but avoided common pitfalls such as oversizing, unnecessary ductwork upgrades, and relying on back-up heat too much.

Oil furnace to heat pump retrofits: Utilizing existing distribution systems (5:44)
Ductless heat pumps are very easy to install. There are a lot of companies that only want to drill that one little hole in your wall, connect a ductless heat pump, and be home by four o'clock. Whereas ducted systems do require a bit more knowledge and understanding of airflow, static pressure and distribution to ensure that the homeowner is going to get the comfort that they're paying for in their home.

An envelope first approach to heat pump retrofits (4:05)
We found that NRCan's air source heat pump sizing and selection tool was a good link between the EnerGuide energy efficiency home evaluation and the equipment selection. It's a useful way for contractors to see the impacts of the various heat pump models and communicate the optimal size to their customers.

Informing homeowners

NRCan encourages industry professionals to use the following tools and resources to inform homeowners about current heat pumps, programs and funding.

Electric heat pumps
Find the facts, Heat pump basics, Find a heat pump, Heat pump retrofit videos, and additional resources.

Heat pump eligibility for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program
Find out which heat pumps are eligible for the OHPA program and what to consider before and after having a heat pump installed.

Podcast: A heated conversation about heat pumps
Scientists and engineers at NRCan believe a promising technology can help reduce energy consumption – the heat pump. What are heat pumps? How do they work? Are they right for you? Listen to find out.

Heating and cooling with a heat pump
Learn more in this in-depth booklet about heat pump technologies.

Funding

Canada Greener Homes Initiative

Under the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, the following programs can help homeowners undertake energy efficiency retrofits:

Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program

The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program helps homeowners with median income or less who are currently heating their homes with oil, make the transition to a more efficient heat pump system. A home energy evaluation is not required for this program.

Homeowners in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon need to visit their provincial program for information because details vary.

Watch this video for an introduction about the OHPA program: What is the OHPA program?

Canada Greener Homes Loan

The Canada Greener Homes Loan offers interest-free financing of up to $40,000 with a repayment term of 10 years. The loan can help homeowners to complete some of the major eligible retrofits recommended by an energy advisor that have not yet been started. The Canada Greener Homes Loan is no longer combined with the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program

The new Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) will start to be delivered in the first half of 2025 through NRCan’s partners in provinces and territories. CGHAP-funded programs will provide low-to-median-income homeowners and tenants with no cost home retrofits, such as insulation and heat pumps. This will help to reduce monthly energy bills, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

More information on how CGHAP will operate in each jurisdiction will become available as regional programs are developed and rolled out across the country.

Other funding opportunities

Use the following directories to find programs of interest:

• Financial incentives by province and territory
• Directory of energy efficiency programs for homes
• Funding, grants and incentives

Publications

Factsheet for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (PDF, 1MB)
Fast facts about the OHPA program and heat pumps.

Heat pump basics (brochure): Transitioning from oil heating (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Although heat pumps are best known for heating, they also provide cooling by transferring warm indoor air to the outside. In fact, if you have an air conditioner or a refrigerator at home, you are already familiar with heat pump technology – they work in the same way.

Keeping the heat in
Find information about maintenance procedures for cleaning and servicing heating and cooling equipment, including heat pumps, in section 9.1 of this publication: Keeping the heat in - Operating and Maintaining the Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning System.