How a ducted heat pump works in a Vancouver house
The outdoor unit pulls heat from outside air - even on a wet 2°C January night - and moves it indoors through refrigerant lines to a coil on your air handler or furnace. The blower then pushes that warm air through your existing ducts. In summer the cycle reverses and the same system cools.
Because Metro Vancouver rarely gets much colder than a few degrees below zero, a cold-climate ducted heat pump can carry the whole house for nearly all of the heating season.
All-electric or dual fuel
| All-electric ducted | Dual fuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Backup heat | Electric strips in the air handler | Existing or new gas furnace |
| Gas bill | Gone, once the gas is capped | Lower, but stays |
| Electrical demand | Higher - may need a panel upgrade | Lower |
| Rebates | Standard $4,000 for electric homes; income-qualified for gas homes | Income-qualified gas homes only |
Not sure which setup suits your house?
We'll check your ducts and your panel and price both options side by side.
Get my free quoteor call (604) 332-3083
What we check before quoting
- Ductwork: size, leakage and return air capacity.
- Electrical service: existing amperage and what else is on the panel.
- Heat loss: a CSA F280 calculation sets the size - a common mistake is matching the old furnace's rating.
- Outdoor unit location: setbacks, drainage and distance from neighbours' bedrooms.
Price
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-zone ductless mini-split | $5,500–$9,500 | One indoor head, short line-set run |
| 2-zone ductless multi-split | $9,500–$15,000 | |
| 3–4 zone ductless multi-split | $13,000–$21,000 | |
| Central ducted heat pump (existing ducts) | $14,000–$20,000 | Most single systems in Metro Vancouver land near $15,000 |
| Dual fuel (heat pump + gas furnace) | $15,000–$22,000 |
See the heat pump cost guide for what drives the price and a calculator.
See a real example: an East Vancouver home that swapped its gas furnace for a ducted system on the existing ducts.