What Manitoba pays for a heat pump in 2026
Each card names the official page we read. Efficiency Manitoba's program guides and terms are separate PDFs that we did not open, so check them before you sign.
Air source heat pump rebate
For a cold climate air source heat pump installed by a contractor registered with Efficiency Manitoba, in your primary home. Your contractor files within 90 days of installation and a cheque is mailed to you.
Ground source heat pump program
No upfront cost for qualifying homeowners, with a total repayment of $13,500. Large projects need a deposit. The loan comes due if you sell the house and does not transfer to a buyer.
Energy Efficiency Assistance Program
For lower-income owners, renters and landlords in a single-detached or semi-detached home. Household income limits run from $46,264 for one person to $122,432 for seven or more.
Manitoba Hydro financing
Efficiency Manitoba says you can add a Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan to a rebate. Apply for the loan before any work starts. We could not confirm the loan limit or rate, so ask Manitoba Hydro.
Federal oil-to-heat-pump program
The deadline to apply was July 31, 2026. People who applied in time can still file final receipts until January 31, 2027.
Efficiency Manitoba also pays suppliers a $100 bonus on applications that include an F280 heat load calculation, completed before March 31, 2027. That money goes to the supplier, not to you, but it is a good reason to ask for a heat load calculation in every quote.
Which Manitoba homes qualify for the $2,000 rebate
Efficiency Manitoba says the rebate is for a heat pump retrofit that supplements an electric resistance or natural gas heating system. Homeowners converting from propane or fuel oil are also eligible. The rules we read say the heat pump must go in a residential property, so new homes are not eligible. It must be your primary home, not a seasonal one, and it cannot replace an existing heat pump system.
The contractor also has to be registered with Efficiency Manitoba. If you hire anyone else, the rebate does not apply, so check the registered contractor list before you ask for a quote.
Ducted or ductless: why the amount differs
A centrally ducted cold climate heat pump earns $2,000, and a ductless cold climate model earns $1,500. A ducted system connects to the same vents your furnace uses, so it can heat most of the house. A ductless system heats the rooms its indoor units serve. If you have a working duct system, ask your installer to price both, and compare the cost after the rebate, not the sticker price.
Ground source heat pumps: pay over time instead of up front
For a ground source heat pump, Efficiency Manitoba's plan has no upfront cost for qualifying homeowners. You pay $75 a month for 15 years, with no interest, for a total of $13,500. Projects above $38,000 for a retrofit or $18,500 for a replacement need a contribution from you first. The balance comes due when the house is sold or changes hands, and it is not transferable. That is a real trade-off if you may move. The program also requires a contractor who belongs to the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance, and you must wait for written approval before work starts.
Free heat pumps for lower-income households
The Energy Efficiency Assistance Program gives a free air source or ground source heat pump to qualifying homes that now heat with an electric furnace, baseboards or an electric boiler. It also covers a free assessment, insulation and a smart thermostat. To qualify you must live year-round in a single-detached or semi-detached home, and your total household income before deductions must be at or below the limit for your household size. You will need income documents for every adult in the home. If you do not qualify, the regular rebate is still open to you.
The new federal heat pump rebate
On October 8, 2026, Ottawa announced a National Heat Pump Rebate of up to $10,000 for below-median income households and $2,000 for others, with a launch expected in early 2027. The rules are not published. Nobody has confirmed whether it can be combined with Efficiency Manitoba's rebate, so do not plan around stacking. Our National Heat Pump Rebate guide tracks what Ottawa has confirmed, and our guide on whether to wait gives a simple rule. If your furnace is failing this winter, do not wait. Efficiency Manitoba's rebate is open today.
How to claim the Manitoba air source rebate
- Check that your home qualifies: primary residence, not a new build, and not replacing an existing heat pump.
- Browse Efficiency Manitoba's list of registered contractors and get several quotes. Ask each quote to include a heat load calculation.
- If you want financing, apply for Manitoba Hydro's Home Energy Efficiency Loan before any work starts, including buying equipment.
- Have the registered contractor install a qualifying cold climate air source heat pump. They handle permits and licences.
- Your contractor submits the rebate application within 90 days of installation. Expect a mailed cheque, and possibly a post-installation inspection.
More for Canada homes
- Canada home rebates: every program in one place
- National Heat Pump Rebate guide: what Ottawa has confirmed so far
- Should you wait for the federal rebate?: a simple rule for deciding
- Heat pumps in Alberta and Saskatchewan: cold, cost and rebates: what works in prairie winters
- Rebate calculators: calculators for BC, Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia and US states
Common questions
How much is the Manitoba heat pump rebate in 2026?
Efficiency Manitoba pays $2,000 for a centrally ducted cold climate air source heat pump and $1,500 for a ductless one. Ground source heat pumps can be installed with no upfront cost and $75 a month for 15 years.
Can I get a Manitoba heat pump rebate on a natural gas home?
Efficiency Manitoba says the rebate is for a retrofit that supplements an electric resistance or natural gas heating system, and homeowners converting from propane or fuel oil are also eligible. The free heat pump for lower-income homes is for homes with electric heat.
Do I need a registered contractor in Manitoba?
Yes. The contractor must be registered with Efficiency Manitoba, and for ground source systems must belong to the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance.
How long do I have to apply for the rebate?
Your contractor must submit the application within 90 days of the installation date. A cheque is then mailed to you.
Is there a free heat pump program in Manitoba?
Yes, for qualifying lower-income households with electric heat. Income limits run from $46,264 for one person to $122,432 for seven or more, and the home must be a single-detached or semi-detached house lived in year-round.
Will the new federal rebate replace Efficiency Manitoba's rebate?
Nothing says so. The federal rebate was announced on October 8, 2026, with launch expected in early 2027 and rules still to come. We cannot say whether the two can be combined.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 10, 2026: Efficiency Manitoba: air source heat pump rebate, Efficiency Manitoba: ground source heat pump program, Efficiency Manitoba: Energy Efficiency Assistance Program, Natural Resources Canada: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability.