Why this matters now
Ottawa's National Heat Pump Rebate pays up to $10,000 below the median income and $2,000 above. Under the process the government described, you apply in a portal, buy a pre-approved heat pump from the Eligible Products List, and upload receipts after the install. Receipts mean itemized invoices matter more than ever. Quote discipline protects you whether or not prices move.
Step 1: get a real load calculation
A load calculation measures how much heat your house loses, so the unit is sized correctly. BC Hydro requires one under CSA F280-12 for its whole-home rebate, and Ontario's heat pump stream limits electric, oil and wood homes to specific NRCan sizing options. A contractor who sizes by square footage alone is guessing. Ask for the calculation on paper.
Step 2: get three itemized quotes
Ask each contractor for the same scope: equipment make and model, number of indoor heads or ducted coil, electrical work, line set, condensate, removal of old equipment and permits. Itemized quotes make an inflated line obvious. Use our top-rated installers by city, ranked by Google reviews, to find contractors to call.
Step 3: ask for the price with and without the rebate
Say plainly: "What is the price for this exact system if I never claimed a rebate?" A fair contractor can answer. If the number is higher once rebates exist, ask why.
Step 4: check the model against the lists
- BC: the unit must be on BC Hydro's eligible list and installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network member.
- Ontario: the unit must be on NRCan's cold-climate list and installed by a participating HVAC contractor after written pre-approval.
- Federal: the Eligible Products List is not published yet. Ottawa says it will have over 100,000 options.
Step 5: do not pay for a federal promise
The federal rebate is not open, and retroactivity is only reported as under consideration. A contractor who offers to "lock in" the federal rebate is promising what nobody can deliver. Compare quotes on the price of the work.
Step 6: confirm who files the paperwork
In Ontario, the contractor files the pre- and post-install applications. In BC you apply with your invoice. For the federal program, the homeowner uploads receipts. Ask who does what, and when payment is due.
Red flags worth walking away from
- No site visit, or a quote by phone with no measurements.
- Pressure to sign today because a rebate "is about to end" or "is about to rise". Program rules are public, so check them yourself.
- A single lump sum with no model numbers.
- A unit that is not on the cold-climate list your province uses.
- A contractor who is not registered with the program, such as a BC Home Performance Contractor Network member or an Ontario participating HVAC contractor.
- No written warranty terms for the equipment and the labour.
A good contractor welcomes comparison. If yours does not, that tells you something.
Step 7: keep the paper trail
Save the signed quote, invoice, proof of payment, photos of the old and new equipment and the nameplate. If Ottawa adds retroactive claims, you will have what it asks for.
Not sure where to start? Get a plan emailed with top-rated installers near you, or read the federal rebate page first.
Common questions
Will contractors raise prices when a rebate starts?
Some may. Itemized quotes, three bids and a no-rebate price make it harder to hide.
What is a heat load calculation?
A calculation of how much heat your home loses, used to size the heat pump. BC Hydro requires one under CSA F280-12.
Can I install a heat pump myself to save money?
Rebates require a qualified contractor in BC and Ontario, so a DIY install generally forfeits them.
How many quotes should I get?
Three, with the same scope written out.
Who files the rebate paperwork?
It depends on the program. In Ontario the contractor files, in BC you apply, and the federal program has you upload receipts.
More on the federal heat pump rebate
- National Heat Pump Rebate: everything confirmed so far
- Should you wait for the federal rebate?
- What stacks: federal and provincial rebates
- Heat pump on a natural gas home
- Heat pumps in Alberta and Saskatchewan cold
- Renters, condos and landlords
Sources, read October 9, 2026: BC Hydro: renovating your heating system, Home Renovation Savings, Prime Minister of Canada: news release, Environment and Climate Change Canada: news release.