CleanBC Dual Fuel Ducted 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 dual fuel ducted heat pump combines a heat pump and a gas or propane furnace for back up heating, distributing heat and cooling through ductwork connected to vents in each room. A switch-over set point temperature determines when the backup furnace turns on.

CleanBC Dual Fuel Ducted Heat Pump Rebate

Overview

Rebate amount

Up to $6,000

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

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

Rebate amount

Requirements

HSPF ≥ 10.00 and SEER ≥ 16.00
or HSPF2 ≥ 8.50 and SEER2 ≥ 15.20**
Variable speed compressor is not required

Primary fuel before upgrade

Rebate

Fossil Fuel (natural gas or propane)

$3,000

Fossil Fuel (natural gas or propane)

Northern offer*

$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
    • Propane not supplied by FortisBC

Requirements for your contractor

The new heat pump 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.
  • Contractors interested in becoming registered in to become a HPCN member can register at homeperformance.ca/contractornetwork.

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.
    • The AHRI certified reference number for dual fuel ducted heat pumps must show the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace.
  • Be listed as a qualified system on the Qualified Heat Pump Product List.
  • Have the thermostat, outdoor temperature switch-over control or equipment control board set to the following temperatures for the life of the system:
    • Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland: <5oC
    • Southern Interior and Northern BC: <2oC
  • Be sized to ensure that it has the capacity to meet the heat demand at or below the required temperature set points.
  • Be installed in accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes.
  • A heat load calculation is required and must be submitted to access the rebate, see What are the load calculation requirements for heat pumps?

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.

Replacing an electric heating system
  • Replacing an existing electric heating system is not eligible for a dual fuel ducted heat pump rebate
Replacing a fossil fuel (oil, propane, or natural gas) heating system
  • Your home must have had natural gas or propane as the primary heating system for at least 12 consecutive months. This may be confirmed by reviewing your utility billing history.
  • The new heat pump must be replacing an existing natural gas or propane furnace with a dual fuel ducted central heat pump as the primary heating system.
  • Boilers are not eligible for a dual fuel ducted central heat pump rebate.
Replacing a wood or solid fuel heating system
  • Replacement of a wood or solid fuel heating system is not eligible for a dual fuel ducted heat pump rebate.

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. 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 or FortisBC Electric customer that is converting to a heat pump from natural gas or propane.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?

FAQs and more