Frequently asked

Heat pump questions, answered

Courtenay Heat Pumps answers 3 common questions before every installation in the Comox Valley. We help you figure out system sizing, CleanBC Energy Savings Program steps, and Technical Safety BC permits. You get clear facts from us before making any decisions for your home. We provide clear answers to help you choose the right heat pump setup.

How much is the rebate on a heat pump in BC?

There are two CleanBC programs, and which one pays you more comes down to your income rather than what you are replacing. The Home Renovation Rebate has no income test and pays up to $4,000 if you heat with electricity. The Energy Savings Program is income-qualified: at Levels 1 and 2 you can get up to $13,000 for that same electrically heated home, and Level 3 is the tier you fall into if you are switching off oil, gas or propane. Both programs require a CleanBC Better Homes registered contractor, and we help you work out which one you qualify for before quoting.

What if the house is on electric baseboards?

If you heat with electric baseboards, you qualify for strong rebate support. The CleanBC Home Renovation Rebate pays up to $4,000 with no income test. If you qualify by income for the Energy Savings Program at Level 1 or 2, you can receive up to $13,000. Your household income sets your rebate amount rather than your heating fuel.

Can an existing heat pump be replaced under a rebate?

No, and we would rather tell you that now than after you have committed. If you already have a heat pump, neither swapping it out nor adding a head to it is eligible under either CleanBC program. The rebates are for changing what heats your house, not for upgrading equipment you already have.

Does a heat pump work through a Comox Valley winter?

Yes. The cold-climate heat pumps we install keep heating well below any temperature our valley usually sees.

Will the electrical panel need upgrading?

Sometimes, but we settle that with a load calculation under CEC Rule 8-200 rather than by looking at how old your panel is. Plenty of older services here turn out to have room. If your electrical panel needs an upgrade, the Energy Savings Program offers an add-on to help cover that work.

What does a heat pump cost in the Comox Valley?

We quote between roughly $3,500 and $18,000 before rebates. A single-head ductless system sits at the bottom of that range and a central ducted system at the top. What moves you along it is mostly the state of your ductwork and what your panel can carry — which is why we measure before we price.

Is a contractor required for the rebate?

Yes, we work with CleanBC programs. Both CleanBC programs need the work done by a registered CleanBC Better Homes contractor, and doing it yourself makes you ineligible.

Do condos and apartments qualify?

Not for the Energy Savings Program, no. The program covers you if you live in a ground-oriented home. We can still install for you — there just is not a rebate behind it.

How is the size of a heat pump decided?

We size it from a heat-loss calculation on your house, not from its square footage. We run a CSA F280-12 heat-loss calculation to make sure your new heat pump keeps your house comfortable in cold weather.

What is the practical difference between ducted and ductless?

A ducted system heats your whole house from one unit through the ductwork you already have. A ductless system uses one outdoor unit and one to three indoor heads, each covering a zone. If you have usable ducts, ducted is normally the cheaper way to get whole-house performance; if you do not, we rarely think building a duct network is worth it.

Is a permit required to install a heat pump?

Yes, and we pull them. Your job needs an electrical permit in most cases, with a licensed electrical contractor doing that work, plus a gas permit if we are modifying or removing a gas furnace or boiler. The refrigeration permit only bites above 5 kW in a building of five or more units, or with a toxic or flammable refrigerant, so it almost never applies to a house.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

You can — Technical Safety BC lets you apply for electrical and gas permits yourself. But the Energy Savings Program separately requires a registered contractor and will not accept self-installation. Both are true at once, so pulling your own permit is allowed and will cost you the rebate.

What happens if the work starts before the rebate is registered?

You lose the rebate. Energy Savings Program eligibility codes stay valid for 3 months once issued to you. We guide you through the rebate steps upfront so you do not miss out on funding.

How long is there to claim after the work is done?

It depends which program you are on, and we track it either way. The CleanBC Energy Savings Program gives you a 3-month validity window for your eligibility code.

Does a heat pump cool the house in summer?

Yes, and through the same equipment you already paid for. A ducted system cools through your existing ducts, a ductless one through the same indoor heads. We size for cooling at the same time as heating, so it is never a separate purchase.

Is a backup heat source still needed?

Not for capacity reasons on this coast — the equipment we install holds its rated output well below anything the Comox Valley reaches. We can integrate your existing backup heating if your house needs extra heating support during extreme cold. We discuss all system options with you to help you qualify for up to $4,000 through the Home Renovation Rebate.

What maintenance does a heat pump need?

We service it once a year — coil condition, refrigerant charge, airflow and static pressure, condensate drainage, electrical connections and the defrost cycle. If yours is ducted, your filter and return path account for most of the capacity lost between visits.

Does living near the water change anything?

Yes. Salt air shortens the working life of an outdoor coil, so if you are near Baynes Sound or on the shoreline a coated coil usually earns its extra cost. We will raise it at quote stage, because it cannot be added later.