Heat pumps for the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program
Join the growing number of Canadian homeowners who have switched from oil heating to electric heat pumps to save money on their energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Retrofitting your home heating system can be a worthwhile investment to improve your comfort throughout each season. Review the types of heat pumps eligible for funding and find out some important factors when it comes to choosing, installing, operating, and maintaining a heat pump.
Where do I start?
Review the types of heat pumps eligible for funding
The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program provides funding to eligible homeowners currently heating their homes with oil to help them transition to an electric heat pump system. The following heat pumps are eligible for funding under the OHPA program:
Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps are the most common heat pumps on the Canadian market. They use the air as the source to provide the heat that they transfer. Air-source heat pumps work by drawing heat from the outside air to keep your home warm during cold months and by expelling heat to the outside to keep your home cool during warm months.
These systems are up to 2.5 times more efficient than an oil furnace or boiler and are a proven and reliable way to significantly reduce your energy use.
Cold climate air source heat pumps
Cold climate air source heat pumps are specially adapted to our cold Canadian climate and can effectively heat your home even when outdoor temperatures are as cold as -30°C. Like conventional air-source heat pumps, these systems also provide efficient heating when outdoor temperatures are milder. Heat pump systems can cool your home during warmer months, even when temperatures exceed +40°C.
Cold climate systems can help your home achieve even greater energy savings by reaching efficiencies up to 3 times higher than an oil furnace or boiler.
Ground source heat pumps
A ground-source heat pump uses the earth, ground water, or both as the source of heat during cold months, and as a reservoir to expel heat from the home during warm months. These heat pumps are less common than air-source units but are becoming more widely used across Canada.
These systems can operate more efficiently compared to air-source systems, achieving efficiencies up to 3.5 times higher than an oil furnace or boiler.
Ensure your selected heat pump is eligible for funding
Consult with your mechanical contractor to ensure that the recommended heat pump is eligible for funding from the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program. Confirm that the heat pump can be found in one of the eligible products searchable lists and meets the mandatory conditions for this program.
How do I select the right type of heat pump for a grant?
Consult a professional contractor
If you’re ready to make the switch to a heat pump for improved home comfort and energy bill savings, it’s important to start a discussion with a mechanical system contractor. They can help you select and install the right system for you and help maintain your equipment to ensure efficient and reliable operation. Contractors can determine the heating and cooling requirements of your home. They can explain the financial aspects of purchasing and operating a heat pump in your area and are able to provide an estimate of the potential savings you can achieve.
Sizing and installation
Consult a local heating and cooling professional to size, install, and maintain your equipment to ensure efficient and reliable operations.
Heat pumps vary in size and configuration. The heat pump must be sized accurately and capable of distributing heat to your entire home to be eligible for OHPA funding. Heat pumps should be installed by a qualified contractor.
A mechanical system contractor can help design a system that optimizes the energy savings for a house and increases the comfort of occupants. Based on the house-as-a-system, the design should account for the anticipated heat requirements including other planned energy efficiency upgrades to the building envelope (such as the installation of insulation or the replacement of windows or air sealing) to avoid oversizing the unit.
Use these questions to help guide the discussion with your contractor:
- What type of heat pump is best to upgrade my heating and/or cooling system?
- Can this heat pump model be found on the list of products eligible for funding from the OHPA program?
- How are you ensuring that the heat pump is properly sized for my home?
- Where will the heat pump be located?
- What is the AHRI number (heat pump model) you are recommending?
- What are the specifications of the heat pump model, including sound level rating?
- What is the warranty on the equipment? Is there a warranty certificate?
What do I need to know after my new heat pump is installed?
Care and maintenance
Proper operation of your heat pump will save on energy. Some important considerations to ensure the best performance from your heat pump such are:
Like all heating and cooling systems, maintenance is key to efficient operation. It is recommended to have a contractor perform annual maintenance on your heat pump to ensure everything is in good working order. A few other things you can do to ensure reliable and efficient operation are:
These considerations vary depending on your heat pump model. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Discover more useful information that will help you get the most out of your investment:
Air-source heat pumps
- Operation Considerations
- Maintenance Considerations (clean filter, contractor visits)
Ground-source heat pumps
- Operation Considerations
- Maintenance Considerations (clean filter, contractor visits)
More resources on heat pumps
- Podcast: A heated conversation on heat pumps - What are heat pumps? How do they work? Why is everyone talking about them? Are they right for you? Listen to find out.
- Heat pumps – Discover the facts and watch the videos
- Heating and cooling with a heat pump – Learn more details including sizing, operating and maintenance considerations, and more
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