What is the cold climate heat pump?
A cold-climate heat pump is an air-source heat pump built to keep heating efficiently in a Canadian winter, not just in mild weather. The models we install in Toronto and the GTA keep producing heat down to about -25°C to -30°C, depending on the model, and they also cool your home in summer.
- ✓ Authorized dealer for Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Bosch and AirQuest
- ✓ Registered HRSP rebate contractor for Ontario heat pump rebates
- ✓ Sized from a heat-loss calculation, not a rule of thumb
- ✓ 1-year labour warranty on every installation
❄️ What Makes a Heat Pump "Cold Climate"?
Every air-source heat pump pulls heat out of outdoor air, even when it feels cold to us. A standard heat pump loses a lot of its output as the temperature drops and often needs backup heat below about -10°C. A cold-climate model uses a variable-speed (inverter) compressor and refrigerant circuit designed to hold most of its heating capacity much lower.
- ✓ Rated output at -15°C (5°F): ENERGY STAR's cold-climate designation requires a COP of at least 1.75 at -15°C, and the unit must keep at least 70% of the heating capacity it has at 8°C (47°F).
- ✓ Low-temperature operating limit: the coldest outdoor temperature at which the unit still heats. Look for -25°C or lower.
- ✓ Variable-speed compressor: it runs longer at lower speed instead of cycling on and off, which is more efficient and more comfortable.
- ✓ Defrost control: smart defrost cycles keep the outdoor coil clear without long interruptions in heat.
COP (coefficient of performance) is heat delivered divided by electricity used. A COP of 2 means two units of heat for every unit of electricity. See what COP means and HSPF ratings.
🌡️ How Cold Can They Go?
| Outdoor temperature | What a cold-climate heat pump does |
|---|---|
| Above 0°C | Heats very efficiently; this is most of the heating season in Toronto |
| 0°C to -15°C | Still efficient, usually two or more units of heat per unit of electricity |
| -15°C to -25°C | Keeps heating at reduced output and efficiency; good models still hold most of their capacity |
| Below -25°C to -30°C | Approaching the unit's limit; backup heat (furnace, boiler or electric) carries the load |
Toronto rarely spends long below -20°C, so a well-sized cold-climate heat pump can cover most or all of the winter. North of the city, in places like Barrie, Orangeville and King, nights get colder, so backup heat matters more.
🏠 Which System Fits Your Home?
| Your home | Best fit | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted home with a gas furnace | Hybrid (dual fuel) heat pump: the heat pump heats most days and the furnace takes over in deep cold | Hybrid heat pumps |
| Ducted home going all-electric | Central heat pump with an air handler and electric backup | Central heat pumps |
| Home with radiators or no ducts | Ductless cold-climate heat pumps, single-zone or multi-zone, alongside your boiler | Ductless heat pumps |
| Home on oil, propane or electric baseboard | Cold-climate heat pump; these homes qualify for the largest rebates | Oil to heat pump |
🏷️ Cold-Climate Heat Pumps We Install
Hyper-Heat wall-mount, ducted and Zuba-Central systems. Shop Mitsubishi.
Cold-climate ClimaPure XZ and EXTERIOS Z ductless, plus ducted hybrid systems. Shop Panasonic.
Climate 5000 ductless (Regular and MAX Performance) and IDS ducted systems.
Ducted inverter heat pumps, hybrid and all-electric systems, and multi-zone ductless.
The low-temperature limit varies by model and size. Each product page lists the rated operating range.
💲 Rebates & Running Costs
Qualifying cold-climate heat pumps can get Ontario heat pump rebates. The amount depends on how your home is heated today. Also see the new federal heat pump rebate. Running cost depends on your electricity and gas rates, your home and how the system is set up; a hybrid system lets the controls switch to gas when it is cheaper.
🔗 Related Guides & Services
- ✓ Heat Pump Installation
- ✓ Hybrid vs Fully Electric
- ✓ Mini Split Sizing Guide
- ✓ What Is a Ductless Heat Pump?
- ✓ Air Conditioner or Heat Pump?
- ✓ Heat Pump Rebates
- ✓ HVAC Financing
- ✓ Contact Us
📍 Areas We Serve
Cold-climate heat pump installation throughout Toronto and the GTA:
Toronto · North York · Scarborough · Etobicoke · Vaughan · Markham · Richmond Hill · Aurora · Newmarket · East Gwillimbury · King City · Stouffville · Mississauga · Brampton · Oakville · Milton · Burlington · Barrie · Innisfil · Orillia · Bradford · Keswick · Ajax · Pickering · Whitby · Oshawa · Orangeville
🌡️ Get a Cold-Climate Heat Pump Quote
Send us a few photos and the size of the space. We will recommend the right system and give you a clear written price.
or fill out our form for a free consultation · Serving Toronto & the GTA