Heating
One efficient system for heating and cooling — cold-climate heat pumps built for Ontario winters, with rebate guidance.
Cold-climate heat pumps have changed the math for Toronto homes. Modern inverter systems hold useful heating capacity down to −25°C, deliver three or more units of heat for every unit of electricity, and cool the house in summer from the same equipment. For many GTA homeowners that means one system replaces both the furnace and the air conditioner — with meaningful rebates available.
NorthPoint designs each installation around your actual house. We run a heat-loss calculation, review your ductwork and electrical service, and determine your balance point — the outdoor temperature below which backup heat is needed. That number drives the entire design and it is what separates a heat pump that performs from one that leaves a family cold in a deep freeze.
From there we lay out the honest options. A full electric changeover with sized backup suits well-insulated homes. A dual-fuel setup pairs the heat pump with your existing or a new gas furnace, letting the controls switch automatically to whichever source is cheaper at any given temperature — usually the best fit for older Toronto housing stock. Ductless multi-zone works where there are no ducts at all.
We handle rebate paperwork, permits, electrical coordination, refrigerant line work, full commissioning, and a walkthrough of how the controls actually behave in winter so nothing about the system surprises you in January.
The balance point is the outdoor temperature below which the heat pump alone can no longer keep up and backup heat is needed. Set it correctly and you run cheap heat almost all winter. Get it wrong and you run expensive backup for months. We calculate it from your home's actual heat loss rather than picking equipment off a chart.
A full electric changeover with properly sized backup suits well-insulated homes. Dual-fuel pairs the heat pump with a gas furnace and switches automatically to whichever source is cheaper at a given temperature — usually the best fit for older Toronto housing stock. Ductless multi-zone works where there are no ducts to use.
HSPF2 rates heating efficiency and SEER2 rates cooling. What matters more in our climate is rated capacity at low ambient temperature — how much heat the unit still makes at −15°C or −25°C. A high seasonal rating with poor cold-weather capacity is the wrong machine for Toronto.
Heat pumps move more air at a lower temperature than a furnace, so returns and duct sizing often need attention. Electrical service and breaker capacity get checked before we quote, not after. We handle the rebate paperwork, the permit, and a walkthrough of how the controls behave in winter so nothing surprises you in January.
“We switched from another plumbing and HVAC service to NorthPoint and we couldn’t be more happy. Their prices are more affordable, their people more knowledgeable, and they get to you fast — especially important when your AC blows out in the middle of summer!”
— B. Parker
“The techs are prompt, friendly and trustworthy. They are knowledgeable and professional, and they explain what they are doing instead of just handing you a bill. I highly recommend them.”
— Barbara K.
“Showed up the same afternoon and explained everything he was doing. Very thorough, polite and professional — and cleaned up the whole area afterward.”
— Aimee B.
A heat pump is worth considering if:
We match the right system and configuration to your home:
Cold-climate heat pumps are a strong fit for Toronto's climate, especially as a dual-fuel hybrid that leans on the heat pump for most of the season and a furnace for the coldest days. We design systems that make sense for how GTA homes are built and heated.
Yes. Cold-climate heat pumps are designed to heat efficiently well below freezing. Many GTA homeowners pair one with a furnace for the coldest stretches.
It can, especially versus electric or oil heat, and it replaces your AC too. Savings depend on your current system and rates.
Heat pumps often qualify for manufacturer and government rebates. We help identify and document what applies to you.
If you have ductwork, a ducted heat pump serves the whole home. If not, ductless is an excellent option.
Not always, but a hybrid setup with a furnace is popular in our climate for peak-cold reliability.
Yes. See our financing page for flexible options.
