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Heat pump questions? Here are the answers (including how to access rebates up to $11,000 in Delta!)

Whether you’re concerned about rising heating costs or you’re looking for ways to do more to reduce your impact on the environment, you may be considering a heat pump .
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Questions about adding a heat pump to your home? The local pros at Good Guys Heating Cooling & Plumbing have the answers!

Whether you’re concerned about rising heating costs or you’re looking for ways to do more to reduce your impact on the environment, you may be considering a heat pump.

At the same time, it’s also a significant investment. What kind of heat pump is best? What heat pump will work for your home? What kind of rebates are available?

We checked in with Good Guys Heating Cooling & Plumbing for the answers to these and other heat pump questions.

  1. What is a heat pump? A heat pump is like an air conditioner that can also operate in reverse, providing both heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.
  2. Why is that better for the environment? Heat pumps only move heat, they don’t create it. Because they can extract more than 1 watt of heat from outdoor air for each watt of electricity consumed, this makes them very efficient. And, since they consume electricity rather than gas, they result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions – why the federal and provincial governments are providing incentives to install them.
  3. But I’m really more interested in summer air conditioning … In the warm weather, a heat pump works in reverse, removing the warm air from inside the home. The result is a comfortable indoor environment year-round.
  4. How is a heat pump more affordable? Heat pumps can produce up to four watts of heat for each watt of electricity consumed, and so can reduce heating costs by up to 40 per cent – that’s significant, especially with natural gas prices expected to increase due to the rising carbon tax.
  5. Which kind of heat pump should I choose? Two varieties of heat pumps are available here in BC: An air source heat pump, which exchanges heat with the outdoor air, and a ground source – or geothermal – heat pump, which uses a system of pipes to exchange heat with soil below ground. BC Hydro recommends the first option as they’re less expensive and easier to install. It’s also important to consider whether the home is ducted. A central heat pump system is for homes with a furnace that blows air through ductwork. Only one indoor unit needs to be installed to replace the furnace. Ductless heat pumps – or mini-split heat pumps – are for homes that currently have boilers.
  6. What kind of incentives are available? A heat pump is an investment, but homeowners can take advantage of a variety of rebates, thanks in large part to energy efficiencies they offer, and their role in reducing greenhouse gases. Here’s a look at some of what’s on offer: The Federal Greener Homes Grant provides between $2,500 and $5,000 toward heat pump installations, with the maximum grant for a qualifying “cold climate heat pump” for regions with temperatures well below freezing. The $2,500 and $4,000 rebates have slightly lower efficiency requirements. Provincially, heat pumps that qualify for the Greener Homes Grant will typically also qualify for the $3,000 CleanBC rebate. Additionally, if your home uses electricity from BC Hydro, there’s another $3,000 possible. That means up to $11,000 in rebates are available – in some cases more than half the cost of installing a heat pump!

Learn more about heat pumps at 604goodguy.com/heat-pumps and call 604-GOODGUY (604-466-3489) to schedule a free in-home quote today.