You can currently get a CleanBC rebate of up to $21,000 when you install a heat pump. In some cases, the rebate can cover the entire cost of the installation. Heat pumps provide both heating and air conditioning, and are very energy efficient.
FortisBC dual fuel heat pump rebate: $10,000 rebate
A $10,000 FortisBC rebate is available on dual fuel heat pump systems.
A dual fuel system combines an electric heat pump with a gas furnace. The gas furnace will provide back-up heating on the coldest days (usually well below freezing) when it is hardest for the heat pump to keep up.
This rebate is available for all income levels. No energy evaluation or home audit is required. This rebate is only available to homes with gas furnaces. Boilers do not qualify. Homes with boilers must install an all-electric ductless heat pump system to qualify for a rebate (see below).
Call 604 GOOD GUY (604 466-3489) to schedule a free in-home quotation on a heat pump. Or use our online form.
Rebates for all electric heat pump systems: Up to $21,000
A CleanBC rebate of up to $21,000 is available when you switch from gas heating to on all-electric heat pump system.
Heat pumps that are used for this rebate are generally very efficient units that can meet a home’s entire heating needs even at temperatures well below freezing.
Some cold climate heat pumps can maintain most of their capacity at temperatures as low as -20C. Additional electric heating elements can be added in case your heat pump is unable to keep up on the coldest days.
Rebates will not require a home energy evaluation or audit.
The rebates available depend on your income level:
Income level 1: Up to $16,000 rebate. Plus an additional $5000 rebate to upgrade your home’s electric service by running a new power line to the street (if required). The rebate amount cannot exceed the cost of the upgrades.
The maximum pre-tax income is:
• $47,007 for a 1 person household
• $58,522 for 2 people
• $71,945 for 3 people
• $87,350 for 4 people
• $99,072 for 5 people
• $111,735 for 6 people
• $124,402 for 7 or more people
• Your home must have an assessed value of less than $1,230,000.
You can see your home’s assessed value at BCAssessmnet.ca.
See the CleanBC pre-registration page to confirm your eligibility. You will not need to apply for the rebate. The rebate amount will be deducted from your bill and we will receive the rebate. You only need to pre-register.
The rebates at this income level are:
• $16,000 rebate for a central system or a split system with 3 or more heads
• $14,000 for a 2-head ductless system
• $10,000 for a single head ductless system
Income level 2: $12,000 rebate. Plus $3500 to upgrade your home’s electric service (if required).
The maximum pre-tax income is:
• $61,697 for a 1 person household
• $76,810 for 2 people
• $94,428 for 3 people
• $114,647 for 4 people
• $130,032 for 5 people
• $146,653 for 6 people
• $163,277 for 7 or more people
• Your home must have an assessed value of less than $1,230,000.
The rebates at this income level are:
• $12,000 rebate for a central system or a split system with 3 or more heads
• $10,500 for a 2-head ductless system
• $10,000 for a single head ductless system
Income level 3: $10,500 rebate. Plus $1500 to upgrade your home’s electric service (if required).
The maximum pre-tax income is:
• $99,891 for a 1 person household
• $124,358 for 2 people
• $152,884 for 3 people
• $185,620 for 4 people
• $210,528 for 5 people
• $237,438 for 6 people
• $264,353 for 7 or more people.
• Your home can have any assessed value.
The rebates at this income level are:
• $10,500 rebate for a central system or a split system with 3 or more heads
• $10,000 for a 2-head ductless system
• $10,000 for a single head ductless system
High income households: $3000 rebate. A $3000 rebate on all-electric heat pump systems will be available with no income limit.
To see the full program details, see the Energy Savings Program PDF and the additional requirements & conditions PDF.
General Heat Pump Information
A heat pump is a system that provides both heating and air conditioning. It is like an air conditioner that can also operate in reverse in the winter. Air conditioners and heat pumps can move heat from a cooler location to a warmer location. Since heat is only being moved rather than created, more than one watt of heat can be created for each watt of electricity consumed.
Heat pump efficiency is usually measured in one of two ways: HSPF or COP.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is the number of BTUs of heat produced for each watt-hour of electricity consumed. It is based on the efficiency a heat pump system is expected to achieve over an entire year in a certain climate (HSPFs are usually stated for Region 4, which includes Vancouver). It also assumes backup heat in the form of electric resistance heaters is being used on colder days.
COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the number of watts of heat produced for each watt of electricity being consumed. It is stated for a given temperature. For example, the Mitsubishi Zuba 38,000 BTU central heat pump has a COP of 2.0 at -15oC, meaning it provides 2 watts of heating for each watt of electricity it is using.
Some homes may have an electrical service that is insufficient to support a heat pump. Most homes will have the electrical capacity to support a heat pump, but homeowners may still decide to upgrade their electrical service so that they can do other things such as charging an EV or running an electric clothes dryer while their heat pump is running.
Mitsubishi Zuba Central Heat Pump: This system is for homes that currently have a furnace (a system that blows air through ductwork). The indoor unit (left) will replace your furnace, and has backup electric heaters for very cold days. The outdoor unit (right) will be placed outdoors.
Mitsubishi Ductless Heat Pump: This system is for homes that currently have a boiler (a system that moves hot water through pipes). The indoor unit (top) will be placed indoors, near the ceiling. Multiple indoor units (or heads) can be placed in multiple rooms. The outdoor unit (bottom) will be placed outdoors.
How much do heat pumps cost?
Heat pumps that qualify for the rebates start at about $16,000 plus GST. This price includes installation and is before rebates. Call 604 GOOD GUY (604 466 3489) to schedule a free in-home quotation and we will provide an exact price to install a heat pump in your home.
Can I get a free heat pump?
In most cases the rebate will not be enough to cover the entire cost of the installation. For the rebate to cover the entire cost, there will be a number of requirements:
• You qualify for the maximum $16,000 rebate.
• Your home has air ducts or is a very small house that can be heated with a single ductless system. If you have a boiler and require a multi-split system to heat your home, the system will cost substantially more than the rebate.
• You will have to install one of the least expensive systems that qualifies for the rebate.
• Your home must not have factors that make the installation more difficult, such as having to run the refrigerant and power lines over long distances.
What about heat pumps that also provide hot water, and air-to-water heater pumps?
If your home has a boiler, you can install an air-to-water heat pump that will use your existing piping instead of requiring indoor units to be installed. You can also receive $3500-$4500 extra if you install a heat pump that also provides hot water. However, these systems are rare and complicated, and we do not currently install them.
Learn more about heat pumps on our heat pumps page. To schedule a free in-home quotation on a new heat pump, call 604 GOOD GUY (604 466 3489) or use our online form.
Is it possible to install the heat pump in town house?
It is possible if your strata permits. You will have to look at the noise and appearance requirements regarding heat pumps.
Are there any Heat Pump Grants for Vancouver Island BC ?
Yes all of the rebates here are available on the island (except for the municipal one). Some rebates are available only in certain municipalities or to customers of certain utility customers, but the CleanBC rebates are available across BC and the Greener Homes Grant across Canada.
I was told that the maximum rebates for a townhome is only 1,500$ how true is this?
Already got approval from Strata, this was just the latest bump on the road. Was told big rebates are only for detached homes. Can you confirm?
As long as you have your own electricity and/or gas meter and your own utility account, your townhouse should qualify.
My home use natural gas heating on the main floor and electrical baseboard heater on the second floor. Will I receive any rebate from the Federal and Provincial government? If so, how much? Thanks
The CleanBC rebates require your primary heating system to heat a minimum of 50% of your home, so you should qualify.
Do you still qualify for rebates if you are replacing electric baseboard heating, not a furnace or boiler?
Homes currently using electric heat qualify for a $2000 CleanBC rebate, which is smaller than the $3000-$6000 rebate for gas systems.
Are condominiums included in the heat pump rebates in the district and/or city of north vancouver?
Unfortunately at this time condominiums do not qualify for any heat pump rebate program.
We are having heated floor system with a gas water heater and water tank. Can we get rebates if we install a centralized heat pump system for 3 bedrooms single house? Thanks.
For homes with boilers ductless systems will be required. Unless you install ducting in your home, which in most situations is too difficult and costly to be considered.
can house in Surrey heat by just just heat pump without backup heat source ? I heard “cold climate heat pump” solution.
There are homes across the Lower Mainland that are being heated exclusively by electric heat pumps. Whether this is a suitable option for you depends on factors such as your homes power supply, ducting size, and other factors. We do install some heat pumps without backup heat although most of our installations still include backup heat (either electric elements or a gas furnace).
Hi, are rebates available for new construction or just retrofit/upgrade?
Unfortunately the CleanBC Better Homes New Construction Program has ended, so there aren’t any major programs for new homes right now.
Heat Pump rebates for an everyday home owner don’t make any sense. I recently got a quote for over $30,000 to convert my house to Heat Pumps and $22,000 for just the upstairs and $14,000 to do just one room. I was also advised that the installer would not be applying for a rebate unless I converted the entire house as I would not qualify. Everyone advertises the $11,000 rebate. No one tells you that it is nearly impossible to get this rebate. The potential pay back on using allot more expensive electricity to run the Heat Pump verses cheaper gas in my furnace does not make any sense. Crunch the numbers, I did multiple times.
I have a 5 – 6 year old HE furnace and a window AC upstairs. I will stay with it. To all those who advertise the LARGE rebates, shame on you.
For homeowners who have boilers and have homes where several ductless units will be required to heat the home, the systems can be so expensive that energy savings won’t make it worth it. However, if you are plan on installing ductless AC units the rebate can often cover the extra cost of heat pumps. It sounds like you are in an unusual situation (inadequate ducting?) where you have a furnace but cannot add a single central heat pump.
Can you apply for a solar and a heat pump rebate at the same time? What about at different times? Are the rebates going to last past March 2024?
The Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants as of February 13, 2024. The maximum rebate was $5000 so if you got a heat pump that qualified for the maximum $5000 rebate it was not possible to also get a solar rebate. The Greener Homes Grant is expected to relaunch in the summer but will only be available to low & middle income homes (the exact income level has not been announced).