Exploring Newer Features for Heating and Cooling Systems

Does A Heat Pump Make Sense For Canadian Homeowners?

8 July 2015

Jessie Nichols

If you're considering replacing your existing heating system, or if you're building a new house, you've likely looked at installing a heat pump system. Such systems work by transferring heated air from just below the soil line to the interior of your home, reducing the need for natural gas, electricity or propane to be used as combustion fuels to generate heat. These systems also include a back-up natural gas-powered system for when the air and ground is too cold to generate any useful heat.

Using air that is naturally heated saves energy, is kinder to the environment and can save on your utility bills. However, a heat pump system is necessarily the right choice for every Canadian household:

Reasons to invest in a heat pump

1. Heat pumps offer energy savings. Because they draw from the earth's naturally-heated air, heat pumps can save you money on your winter heating bills. The amount you save will depend on how often your heat pump needs to rely on the back-up natural gas system. However, according to the Canadian government, even homeowners in the coldest parts of the country will realize some savings by making the switch.

2. One system both heats and cools. A heat pump system not only transfers heated air from the exterior of your home to the interior in the winter, but also transfers warm air from the inside to the outside of your home in the summer, acting as both a heating and a cooling system. A good heat pump system will replace both your furnace and your central air system.

3. Heat pumps are quieter. Heat pumps operate much more quietly than a traditional forced-air furnace. With a heat pump, you don't have the noise of the blower turning on and off continually.

4. There are tax benefits to installing a heat pump system. Many Canadian provinces offer tax credits to homeowners who install energy-savings appliances, including heat pump systems.

Why a heat pump might not be the right choice for your family

1. Heat pumps work best in temperate climates. Heat pumps work best where the temperature rarely stays below freezing for an extended period of time. When that happens, the auxiliary gas-powered system kicks in and you lose much of the energy savings inherit in the heat pump system.

2. This type of system is more expensive initially. The average price of a heat pump is quite a bit higher than the price of a traditional forced-air furnace. However, a heat pump replaces the function of both a furnace and an air conditioning system.

A heat pump offers energy savings and the potential to save on your winter heating bill. However, such a system isn't the right choice for every Canadian homeowner. It's wise to weigh the pros and cons of such a system carefully before you invest.

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