Ductless mini-splits
Indoor units on a wall or floor heat or cool the room they serve. A mini-split has one indoor unit per outdoor unit; a multi-split has several. Practical where there is no ductwork.
One system. Every season.
Heat pump installation in Calgary.
Heat pump and ductless mini-split installation for Calgary homes. Start with a plan for your space, your existing heating, and the cold days ahead.
The National Heat Pump Rebate will pay $2,000, or up to $10,000 for households below the median income.
Prefer to talk? 587-316-4292
National Heat Pump Rebate
Rebate help, start to finish. You press submit.
The National Heat Pump Rebate will pay $2,000, or up to $10,000 for households below the median income.
Announced on October 8, 2026, and not open yet. No launch date has been announced, though officials have said they expect early 2027.
You apply on the government’s online portal and approval is confirmed within 24 hours. After the install, you upload your receipts, and payment is approved within five days.
Read the rebate guideRebate facts last checked .
- 01We choose a heat pump for your home from the government’s Eligible Products List once it is published.
- 02We give you the model details the pre-approval asks for and walk you through the application.
- 03We book the install once you’re approved.
- 04We send your itemized invoice and receipts the day the job is done.
- 05We follow up until your rebate is paid.
Is a heat pump right for your Calgary home?
A heat pump suits a Calgary home when its heating capacity, plus backup heat for the coldest days, covers the home’s heat loss. Gencon checks the insulation, layout, ductwork, electrical service and furnace, then compares ductless, ducted and hybrid systems.
Ducted heat pumps
The indoor coil sits in your ductwork. Heat pumps move more air than furnaces, at a lower temperature, so we check that the ducts can carry it without added noise.
Hybrid systems
A heat pump with a furnace or boiler as backup. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) calls it a good option when a heat pump replaces a central air conditioner.
Cold-climate performance
How a heat pump handles a Calgary winter
Outdoor air holds heat even far below freezing, and a heat pump moves it indoors. The colder it gets, the less heat it can move.
Read our guide to heat pumps in a Calgary winterCold-climate models
NRCan says cold-climate models can operate down to -30°C. A conventional air-source unit may need supplemental heat from -10°C to -15°C.
The balance point
For many installations, below a certain outdoor temperature the heat pump’s output no longer matches the home’s heat loss, and backup heat makes up the rest.
Defrost cycles
Near or below freezing, frost forms on the outdoor coil. The unit switches into defrost mode to melt it, and backup heat may run meanwhile.
Backup heat
Backup heat and dual-fuel systems
NRCan says most air-source installations need backup heat for the coldest days. It comes in two forms.
Electric backup
Resistance elements in the ductwork, or electric baseboards. They work at any outdoor temperature and can run with the heat pump, but they add electrical load.
Dual-fuel with a furnace
A hybrid system pairs the heat pump with a furnace. Only one runs at a time, switched by an outdoor sensor at a temperature the installer sets. It can also be switched by hand.
Pricing
What drives the price of a heat pump installation
NRCan says cost depends on the type of system, your goals, and the equipment and ductwork already in place.
Heat loss
Heat loss sets the heat pump’s size and how much backup it needs. It should be calculated with a recognized method such as CSA F280, counting planned upgrades.
Ducted or ductless
Ducts may need changes for the heat pump’s airflow. Each ductless indoor unit needs a location, refrigerant lines and a condensate route.
Panel capacity
Moving from gas heat can mean a panel upgrade. NRCan says an all-electric air-source heat pump normally needs 200-amp service.
Backup heat
Keeping a furnace, adding electric backup or replacing the furnace each change the work. Furnace work adds a gas permit.
City of Calgary
Calgary permits for a heat pump installation
The City’s permit guide for energy upgrades lists what a heat pump needs. Your estimate names each permit.
Electrical permit
Required for an air-source heat pump.
Mechanical permit
May be required when ductwork changes or is added.
Gas permit
Required for furnace work. The City issues it to a qualified gas fitter.
The installation, explained
From first visit to commissioning.
Home visit
We look at the rooms, insulation, furnace, ductwork and electrical panel.
Heat loss and design
We assess the heat loss, size the system and plan the backup heat.
Written estimate
Equipment, locations, line routes, electrical work, permits and inclusions, in writing.
Permits and booking
We confirm the permits the work needs and book the installation date with you.
Installation
Outdoor unit, indoor units or coil, refrigerant and condensate lines, and the electrical work.
Commissioning and handover
Start-up checks, switchover settings and inspections, then a walk-through of the thermostat and filter. NRCan advises cleaning or changing the filter every three months.
Scheduling
What affects the installation timeline
The schedule is confirmed once the scope is set. Here is what moves it.
Plan around the rebate’s timingElectrical upgrades
A service upgrade goes through ENMAX. NRCan suggests planning ahead: electrical upgrades and other renovations can take up to a year.
Permits and inspections
The City issues each permit and inspects the work.
Shared buildings
In a townhouse, rowhouse or condo, the City requires you to talk to your condo board or homeowner association first.
The rebate
The government has not confirmed whether heat pumps installed before the program opens will qualify.
A useful first conversation
An estimate built around your property.
Equipment is one part of the cost. Access, connections, and the condition of your existing systems shape the rest. Share what you know; we’ll help fill in the gaps.
Read our guide to installing heating in a Calgary winterHelpful details to have ready
- Your neighbourhood and type of home
- Rooms or floors you want to heat and cool
- Existing furnace or heating system
- Whether the home has central ductwork
- Any known electrical panel limitations
A little clarity
Your heat pump questions, answered.
Can a heat pump work through a Calgary winter?
A cold-climate heat pump can heat a Calgary home in winter, with backup heat planned for the coldest days. Natural Resources Canada says these models can operate down to -30°C. Gencon assesses the home’s heat loss, furnace and backup-heating needs before recommending a system.
Can I keep my furnace with a heat pump?
A compatible furnace can stay with a heat pump as a hybrid, or dual-fuel, system. The two take turns rather than running together, switching at an outdoor temperature set at installation. Gencon reviews the furnace and ductwork to confirm a combined system makes sense.
Will a heat pump reduce my energy bills?
Whether a heat pump lowers a Calgary home’s energy bills depends on the home, the equipment’s efficiency, outdoor temperatures, electricity and gas rates, and the control settings. Ask for projected operating costs against your current system, with the assumptions, before you decide.
Do I need ductwork for a heat pump?
A heat pump does not always need ductwork. Ductless mini-splits connect wall or floor units to an outdoor unit, while a ducted heat pump uses central ductwork. The rooms you want to serve and the home’s layout decide which fits.
How much is the National Heat Pump Rebate?
The National Heat Pump Rebate will pay $2,000, or up to $10,000 for households below the median income. The government has not published the median-income threshold yet.
When does the rebate open?
The National Heat Pump Rebate is not open yet. The federal government announced it on October 8, 2026. No launch date has been announced, though officials have said they expect early 2027. You can sign up on canada.ca to hear when applications open.
Will a heat pump installed before the rebate opens qualify?
The government has not confirmed whether the National Heat Pump Rebate will be retroactive to installs made before it opens. The steps announced so far have you get approval before you buy. If your heating can’t wait, we can install now and keep your paperwork ready in case earlier installs are made eligible.
Which heat pumps qualify for the rebate?
Eligibility for the National Heat Pump Rebate goes by model, not by brand. A heat pump must be an electric cold-climate air-source model on the government’s Eligible Products List, which will offer over 100,000 options. The list has not been published yet.
Does my installer need a licence for the rebate?
No installer licence or registration requirement has been announced for the National Heat Pump Rebate. The government says it will work with HVAC installers on the rollout, and with technical colleges and industry associations on certifications.
Who applies for the rebate?
Under the announced steps, the homeowner applies for the National Heat Pump Rebate on the government’s portal, submits the receipts and is paid. Gencon gives you the model details the pre-approval asks for, walks you through the application, and sends your receipts the day the job is done. You press submit.
How long does installation take?
How long a heat pump installation takes depends on the number of indoor units, the line routes, any electrical upgrade, site access, and the permits and inspections. Gencon confirms the schedule once the scope has been assessed.
Official sources for this page
- Natural Resources Canada: Heat pumps
- Natural Resources Canada: Heating and cooling with a heat pump
- Natural Resources Canada: Heat pump basics, transitioning from gas heating
- City of Calgary: Permits for clean energy improvements
- City of Calgary: Heating, cooling and ventilation
- City of Calgary: Electrical permits
Last checked against these sources on .
Let’s get started
Get a rebate-ready estimate.
Tell us where you’re located and what you have in mind. We’ll follow up to understand the scope and discuss next steps.
587-316-4292