Central ducted heat pumps in Toronto for homes with existing ductwork. A cold-climate outdoor unit, a matched air handler or a cased coil on your furnace, and one thermostat for the whole house. A 3-ton system runs $10,000-$16,000. A cold-climate 4-ton runs $14,000-$22,000. We test static pressure and check CFM per ton before we quote, because ducts built for a furnace aren’t always ready for heat pump airflow.
Why test the ducts first?
A heat pump delivers cooler air than a furnace, around 35-45C instead of 50C+, so it moves more of it. If the ducts are restrictive, three things happen: the blower runs loud, the coil can freeze in summer, and the far rooms never get enough heat. Toronto houses built around old furnaces often have one central return and nothing upstairs.
On the first visit we measure total external static pressure at the plenum and estimate CFM per ton. Good numbers, we go straight to quoting. High numbers, we find the restriction and fix it before the heat pump goes in. That’s where Manual D duct design comes in.
Air handler or cased coil?
| Configuration | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Air handler | Replaces the furnace. Fan coil with backup strip kit | Full-electric, old furnace |
| Cased coil on furnace | Coil sits on your furnace, which stays | Dual-fuel, newer furnace |
Both run on your existing ducts. The hybrid dual-fuel route keeps gas for the coldest hours. Full-electric uses an air handler with an ECM blower and usually qualifies for the larger fuel-switch rebate.
Which central systems do we install?
- Carrier Infinity 24VNA6. Variable-speed, strong on larger two-storey homes
- Daikin Fit DX17VSS. Side discharge, great on narrow lots, full-electric or dual-fuel
- Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat ducted. Excellent low-temperature output
All cold-climate capable and AHRI matched with their indoor sections. More on Daikin.
Fixing the hot upstairs
It’s the number one complaint in Markham, Richmond Hill and Mississauga two-storeys. The bedroom floor runs 3-4 degrees hotter in July. The cause is almost always return air. The Unionville job on this page had high static and no second-floor return. We added one, then installed a 4-ton central heat pump with a matched air handler. Even floors, front to back. The owner’s words: the bedrooms aren’t 4 degrees hotter than the kitchen anymore.
Longer, slower inverter run cycles help too. A heat pump that runs 20 minutes at low speed mixes the house better than an AC that blasts for 6 minutes and shuts off.
What drives the price?
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Tonnage (Manual J) | 3-ton vs 4-ton is the biggest swing |
| Duct fixes | Added return, resized trunk sections |
| Air handler vs coil | Air handler costs more, replaces the furnace |
| Panel | 100A homes may need an upgrade for full-electric |
| Outdoor placement | Pad vs wall bracket, line set length |
All on the written quote before you commit. Full price list on pricing.
Is it worth it over a new furnace and AC?
Usually. The installed cost is close, the heat pump replaces both functions, and a listed cold-climate system can pull in Enbridge HER+ and HRSP rebates the furnace never sees. Replacing just a dead AC? See AC to heat pump replacement.
Central ducted is our most common install in Markham and Richmond Hill. Read the full installation process, or book the duct test and load calc.
