Best Heat Pumps in Canada for 2023: Top Recommendations for Energy Efficiency

Throughout the years, we have sought to perform extensive research to ensure we recommend the best products to Canadians looking to enhance their lifestyles. Each product that ultimately remains in our final selection has gone through various stages of research and evaluation. We have spent years making sure that what we present to you is a list of the most relevant and high-quality products available.

To bring you the best recommendations, we use various methods to discover the best products on offer. These include in-depth analysis and expert evaluation of each product.

During our evaluation of the best heat pumps in Canada, we used specific criteria:

• Dimensions. Product dimensions are an essential aspect of determining which heat pump is right for you. No matter the type of installation, heat pump systems such as a mini-split tend to come in 2 units, and you’ll have to know how much space they’ll take up. This will help you visualize whether the heat pump in question will fit in your home or place of business.
• Cooling power. Measured in British Thermal Units, the cooling power of the best heat pumps in Canada will let you know how well they can remove heat. While this is more relevant for the warmer weather months, it can help you see how the overall system performs.
• Special features. The special features can make some heat pumps stand out from others. These are the specifications that show how the heat pump in question can be relevant to you.
• Efficiency ratio. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, also known as SEER, indicates how efficient the heat pump is. This can be very useful information, especially if you want to reduce energy consumption and be more eco-conscious.

Why Should You Use a Heat Pump in Canada?

Heat pumps can provide great energy efficiency to Canadian households and businesses. They act as two separate air conditioners that provide cooling in the summer along with heating in the winter. If you are interested in preserving the environment while still enjoying comfortable indoor conditions regardless of the season, switching to a heat pump can be a convenient option.

Heat pumps can be an excellent choice for Canadians because they cover such varied weather conditions. Instead of investing in two separate heating and cooling systems, you can get what you need from just one product. These products tend to use hydroelectricity, which can be cleaner and more efficient than alternatives. On average, they can be less expensive to operate than more traditional heating and cooling solutions.

For cooling, heat pumps can be up to 50% more efficient than air conditioning window units, depending on the type, when compared to a natural gas furnace. For heating, they can provide up to 300% more efficiency than other types of electric heaters. The practicality of having one system that efficiently fulfills two functions is the main benefit of using a heat pump. Professional installation tends to be recommended when dealing with heat pumps, but once they are in place, they are usually straightforward to use.

In many cases, heat pumps offer extensive smart and remote features, such as Alexa or Wi-Fi connection. Remote controls are usually provided with heat pumps, with some including tracking technology that uses reading from the remote control to automatically adapt the temperature settings for the space.

How to Choose a Heat Pump for Canadians

When you are ready to find the right heat pump for you, there are various things you should take into consideration. We are here to help you narrow down the available selection with features that are relevant to you.

Here is a detailed look at the specifications you will usually encounter when searching for the best heat pumps in Canada. This exploration will show you how these attributes can help you decide while analyzing how they can be suitable to your preferences.

Product Dimensions

Space is usually one of the biggest considerations when thinking about heat pumps. Canadians might have more or less space for a heat pump to occupy, but it is always a good idea to know exactly how much a heat pump will cover. With heat pumps frequently made from two separate units, indoor and exterior space availability needs to be known and planned out.

With heat pumps, the usual dimensions highlight the height, width, and depth of the system in question. Larger heat pumps can be more powerful and therefore more efficient with performance, but also more expensive. They will take up more space and may require specific arrangements to fit in the intended home or place of business. Smaller heat pumps can provide a specific amount of energy efficiency that can suit smaller spaces better, while also being friendlier for the budget.

Before purchasing a heat pump in Canada, you should be aware of the space you have available and of the size you would like to choose. This will help ensure that when it arrives, it will be the right fit.

Cooling Power

Knowing the cooling power of a heat pump can shed further light on its efficiency. The way to establish this cooling power in Canada is by measuring it with the British thermal unit. This is how we measure the amount of heat necessary to raise water’s temperature. The important thing to keep in mind when looking at a heat pump’s BTU is the size of the room where you will use the product. You should also take into account the height of the room with how tall the ceilings are.

This is a generalized scale as each room will have different specifications, but when it comes to BTU, you should seek a heat pump with around 5,000 BTU for small rooms, 8,000 BTU for medium rooms, and 12,000 to 14,000 for large rooms. Higher BTU does not imply better efficiency if the space is not suitable to support it. Getting the maximum efficiency out of a heat pump in Canada will involve getting the right one for your specific space.

Special Features

Special features can provide an appealing bonus to Canadians interested in heat pumps. While the other specifications can be very important, special features are what can make a heat pump stand out from others to the point of attracting attention for all its other characteristics.

There are many types of special features you might encounter when looking at heat pumps. Some are related to the exclusive technology used for the system, while others refer to the operating modes offered by the heat pump. You can also find special features related to the design of the product, as well as to what it can offer that is special, such as multiple handlers.

The type of system used by the heat pump can also count as a special feature, depending on how it operates.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

The seasonal energy efficiency ratio usually appears as SEER. It is a good way to establish how much you can expect the heat pump to use when it comes to power consumption. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the heat pump will be. With this information, you can plan how the heat pump may affect your utility bills and even your impact on the environment.

There is not a singular SEER number that is the one you should be aiming for. As long as it is above 13.4, which is the minimum expected for air conditioners, you can expect the efficient operation of the heat pump. You can decide to opt for a specific SEER number if you are interested in achieving a particular type of efficiency.

Heat Pump Types

There are various heat pump types that you may encounter while looking for one. Here are the most common heat pump types you might notice in Canada:

• Ductless. This type of heat pump doesn’t require ductwork or a specific furnace blower to be able to circulate air. These may be more expensive than other options, but they require less infrastructure for installation.
• Ducted. This type of heat pump uses ducts to circulate air through space. While this can be convenient in a location with ductwork already installed, it may require more costs when that isn’t provided.
• Air-source. If you are looking for a heat pump in Canada, this is the most popular type in the country. This type will use heat from the inside to circulate outside while cooling, and it will take air from outside to heat the inside during winter thanks to the expansion valve.

Heat Pump Benefits

When choosing a heat pump, the benefits it can offer you may likely be at the top of your list. These benefits can vary, depending on what you are looking for. They can involve how energy efficient the heat pump is expected to be, or how suitable it is for a specific size of room.

They can also specify what kind of functions they have and if they offer various types of modes, from dehumidifying to turbo fan.

How to Safely Install a Heat Pump in Canada

Installing a heat pump in Canada usually requires technical knowledge. It is recommended that when you purchase a heat pump you ask a professional to perform the installation. In many cases of heat pumps that include a warranty, you will be required to use the services of a professional HVAC installer to meet the conditions of the warranty.

You should only ever attempt the installation of a heat pump if you are sure you have the technical knowledge and all the necessary components at your disposal. Usually, the installation of the heat pump will be straightforward if there is knowledge of the process and can be done quickly depending on its characteristics.