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Ductless Mini-Split or Multi-Split Heat Pump Rebate

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Ductless Mini-Split or Multi-Split Heat Pump Rebate

Space heating is the largest use of energy in homes. A properly installed heat pump is two to three times more efficient than other alternatives and can provide you with both heating and cooling for today’s cold winters and hot summers.

A ductless mini-split (single-head) and multi-split (multi-head) heat pumps distributes heat and cooling without using ducting. Wall-mounted indoor heads provide zonal heating to the rooms in which the heads are installed. For more information, see What is a heat pump and what are its benefits?

Overview

Rebate Amount:

Up to $3,000 (plus northern top-up)

Who Can Apply:

B.C. citizens who live in an eligible home and have residential utility accounts with BC Hydro, FortisBC, or municipal utility

Deadline:

Application must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date

Qualifying Products:

Must be on the qualified product list

Funding Provided By:

The Province of British Columbia, BC Hydro, FortisBC

If you are new to CleanBC Better Homes rebates, learn how the rebate process works.

Rebate Amount

Heat pump efficiency requirements
Heat pump efficiency requirements Primary fuel before upgrade Rebate

Ductless mini-split heat pump

HSPF ≥ 10.00 and SEER ≥ 16.00
or HSPF2 ≥ 8.50 and SEER2 ≥ 15.20**
A variable speed compressor is required

Home must be 1,200 sq ft or less

Electricity supplied by BC Hydro

$1,000

Electricity supplied by FortisBC

$1,200

Wood or Solid Fuel

$1,000

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
BC Hydro electric territory

$3,000

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
FortisBC electric territory

$1,500

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
Northern offer*

$6,000*
Heat pump efficiency requirements
Heat pump efficiency requirements Primary fuel before upgrade Rebate

Ductless multi-split heat pump

HSPF ≥ 10.00 and SEER ≥ 16.00
or HSPF2 ≥ 8.50 and SEER2 ≥ 15.20**
A variable speed compressor is required

A minimum of two indoor head units required

Electricity supplied by BC Hydro

$1,000

Electricity supplied by FortisBC

$2,000

Wood or Solid Fuel

$1,000

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
BC Hydro electric territory

$3,000

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
FortisBC electric territory

$1,500

Fossil Fuel (Oil, Propane, or Natural Gas)
Northern top-up*

$6,000*

*Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) and must be connected to BC Hydro electric service.

**The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program will accept either the HSPF/SEER or HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard data from AHRI. The new HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard tests heat pumps to a higher standard that better represents homes in Canada, resulting in different efficiency data. An eligible heat pump that meets either the HSPF/SEER requirements or the HSPF2/SEER2 requirements and is on our qualified product list will qualify for a rebate.

Related rebates

If you apply for this rebate you should also consider the following:

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for this rebate, all of the following requirements must be met. Please read them carefully. Contact an Energy Coach if you have questions.

Please note: You may be eligible for one primary space heating system rebate per home, regardless of the number installed. For example, you cannot get a rebate for a furnace and a heat pump, even if you install a dual fuel ducted heat pump. Your second rebate application will be denied.

Requirements for the home

You must live in an eligible home:

  • The home must be a year-round primary residence that is at least 12 months old.
  • You must have a residential utility account with FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility.
  • The home must be one of the following types:
    • Single family home (detached dwelling)
    • Secondary suite in a single-family home (detached dwelling), with its own separate utility meter
    • Mobile home that is permanently fixed, sits on a foundation and is structurally complete with installed and connected plumbing, heating, electrical, water and sewer services; towing apparatus and axle must be removed
    • Duplex, triplex, row home or townhome, where each unit has its own natural gas and/or electricity meter; utility accounts must be in the name of the resident and/or homeowner.  Utility accounts in the name of a strata corporation are not eligible.
  • Your home must be primarily heated with:
    • Natural Gas or piped-propane supplied by FortisBC
    • Natural Gas supplied by Pacific Northern Gas
    • Electricity supplied by FortisBC, BC Hydro, or a municipal utility
    • Oil or propane not supplied by FortisBC
    • Wood or other solid fuels

Requirements for your contractor

New heat pumps must be installed:

  • By a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed (e.g. Heat pumps must be installed by a licensed residential heating and cooling contractor). Self-installations are not eligible, and
  • In accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Guide for Existing Homes, and
  • As of July 1, 2022, you need to hire a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member for your heat pump installation to be eligible for heat pump rebates. If your installation invoice is dated before July 1, 2022, this requirement does not apply. To identify contractors in your region, use the Find a Contractor search tool.

Requirements for the upgrade

The new heat pump must:

  • Replace the existing primary heating system.
  • Be sized to function as the primary heating system of the home.
  • Have a minimum capacity of 12,000 BTU (1 ton).
  • Serve a main living area (e.g. family room, living room, or open-concept kitchen-living room).
  • Have an AHRI certified reference number that references all components of the heat pump.
  • Be listed as a qualified system on the Qualified Heat Pump Product List.

Please Note: The primary back up system must not be natural gas, oil or propane. Homes with natural gas or propane fireplaces are eligible if the fireplace is a secondary heating system.

Requirements for the equipment being replaced

The old heating system must also meet requirements in order to be eligible for this rebate.  Select your existing system type to learn more.

  • Your old electric system must be hard-wired (for example, baseboards or an electric furnace) and the back-up system must be electric.
  • Replacing an existing heat pump or adding a head to an existing heat pump is not eligible.
  • Emergency replacement of broken electric heating system is not eligible.
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  • The fossil fuel heating system must be removed.
  • If the home’s primary heating system is a fossil fuel combination boiler providing domestic hot water and hydronic space heating, contact betterhomesbc@gov.bc.ca to receive instructions and pre approval on the removal of the hydronic space heating equipment.
  • Emergency replacement of broken fossil fuel heating systems is eligible.
  • Homes in non-integrated areas of electricity grid must contact betterhomesbc@gov.bc.ca for pre-approval prior to installation.
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  • The existing wood or solid fuel heating system may be retained in safe and working order or removed in accordance with all applicable laws.
  • If you are keeping your wood or solid fuel heating system, you must submit a copy of an inspection report completed by a Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT)-certified professional.  The inspection report must be dated within the 12-month period before or 6-month period following the date of the heat pump installation invoice and include the inspector’s WETT certification number, the installation address of the wood or solid fuel heating system and whether the installation is compliant with relevant codes.
  • If you are removing your wood or solid fuel heating system, you will be asked to provide before and after photos of your wood or solid fuel heating system’s removal.
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Deadlines

The application must be submitted within 6 months of the invoice date of the upgrade.

How to Apply

Before you begin

  1. Carefully read the Program Requirements and Additional Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Purchase an eligible heat pump and have it installed by a licensed contractor.
  3. If you are switching from oil, propane, or natural gas to a heat pump, include proof of your fossil fuel system removal or modification.
  4. Once your upgrades are installed, complete the online application and upload all supporting documentation including copies of all receipts and invoices. See sample invoices.
I am… Apply Here

A BC Hydro Electric customer that is completing an electric system upgrade to a heat pump.

 BC Hydro online application

A BC Hydro Electric customer or FortisBC Electric customer that is converting to a heat pump from natural gas, propane, oil or wood.

 BC Hydro online application

A FortisBC Electric customer that is completing an electric system upgrade to a heat pump.

 FortisBC online application

Please Note: If you are submitting an application that includes both a heat pump and a natural gas fireplace or natural gas hot water heater, use the BC Hydro online application.

Who to Contact

Questions about the rebate?

Contact an Energy Coach to get clarification or help with understanding this rebate.

Questions about your application?

BC Hydro Customers

FortisBC customers

Program Updates

As of October 01 2022, eligibility requirements for ductless mini-split, ductless multi-split, Tier 2 central ducted, and dual fuel ducted heat pumps have changed.

  • Heat pumps must meet new energy efficiency requirements:
    • SEER: >16.00
    • HSPF: >10.00
  • Ductless mini-split heat pumps must be installed in a home that is 1,200 sq ft or less
  • Ductless multi-split heat pumps must have at least two indoor heads installed
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As of July 1, 2022, you need to hire a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member for your heat pump installation to be eligible for heat pump rebates.  If your installation invoice is dated before July 1, 2022, this requirement does not apply.  It identify contractors in your region, use the Find a contractor tool.

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FAQs and More

Learn about heat pumps

Rebate FAQs

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Finding the right contractor is key to having a successful home energy retrofit.

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