Furnace to heat pump conversion in Toronto, for owners of 15-25 year old gas furnaces. Two paths. A full-electric cold-climate heat pump that replaces the furnace outright, or a dual-fuel hybrid that keeps the furnace for the coldest hours. A written Manual J decides the tonnage. A static pressure test decides whether the ducts need a return added. Enbridge HER+ pays up to $7,100 for a cold-climate unit replacing gas, and HRSP adds $5,000-$10,000. Our TSSA gas tech caps or reconnects the gas line in-house.
Is your furnace ready to be replaced?
Most conversions start with one of these:
- Furnace is 15-25 years old, mid-efficiency, rising repair bills
- A tech left a heat exchanger warning or red tag
- The central AC is also near the end, so both would need replacing anyway
- You want to get off gas before the next carbon charge or rate change
A new furnace plus a new AC costs about what a heat pump costs, and the heat pump comes with rebates the furnace doesn’t.
Full-electric or dual-fuel: how do you choose?
| Full-electric heat pump | Dual-fuel hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace | Removed, gas capped | Kept as backup |
| Coldest hours | Cold-climate heat pump runs to -30C | Switches to gas near -18C |
| Typical install | $10,000-$22,000 by size | $12,000-$20,000 |
| Rebate path | Larger fuel-switch amount (HER+) | Eligibility differs |
| Gas bill | Heating gas gone | Small winter gas use |
Neither is wrong. Full-electric with a cold-climate heat pump makes sense when the furnace is old and the panel can handle it. A dual-fuel hybrid makes sense when the furnace is newer or you want gas as a safety net.
Will your ducts carry heat pump airflow?
Heat pumps deliver cooler supply air than a furnace, so they move more of it. Toronto homes built around furnaces sometimes have small returns, especially upstairs. We measure static pressure and check CFM per ton before quoting. Most homes pass or need one added return. Some need Manual D duct design on a section. Rarely a full rebuild. The Davisville semi on this page passed with the original trunk lines.
What happens on conversion day?
- Outdoor unit set on a raised pad or wall bracket
- Air handler installed in the furnace spot, or a cased coil on the furnace for dual-fuel
- Line set brazed under nitrogen, pressure tested, micron vacuum
- Gas line capped at the furnace by our TSSA technician, or reconnected for dual-fuel
- Electrical by our ESA-licensed tech, thermostat setup, commissioning
Stove, dryer and water heater stay on gas unless you’re going all-electric. Want the last gas appliance gone? Add a heat pump water heater and pull the meter.
How do the rebates work on a conversion?
The pre-retrofit audit happens before install day. We book it. After commissioning, the post-audit, then we submit Enbridge HER+ and HRSP for you. 40-60% of the install is commonly offset on eligible homes. All amounts are up to and depend on program terms. The step-by-step is on our Ontario heat pump rebate 2026 page.
What will it cost to run?
Depends on your Enbridge rate, your Toronto Hydro plan (TOU or ULO) and how tight the house is. A cold-climate heat pump runs near a 3:1 COP in most winter weather and stays above 1:1 even in deep cold. Mid-efficiency furnaces run at about 80% AFUE. We put a running-cost estimate on both quotes so the comparison is real.
Conversions are steady Toronto heat pump work in North York bungalows and downtown semis. If you’d rather keep the ducts and swap everything, read central ducted heat pumps. Then book the load calc.
