Heat Pump or Furnace? Choosing Heat for a Greater Victoria Home
In most of Canada, the cold decides how you heat your home. In Greater Victoria, mild winters tip the balance toward heat pumps, though there are still good reasons to consider other options.
Request an HVAC technicianThe climate argument
Victoria averages about 5°C in January and dips below freezing on only about ten nights a year. Heat pumps are at their most efficient in that range, so they spend most of the winter doing what they do best.
What a heat pump gives you
Heating and cooling from one system, no combustion in the house, and lower running costs than electric baseboards in most homes. The trade-off is a higher upfront cost and, in older homes, possible electrical or duct upgrades.
When a furnace still makes sense
If you already have natural gas and a newer, efficient furnace, it may be worth keeping it as backup in a hybrid setup rather than replacing it outright. A furnace also heats quickly during a rare deep freeze.
Hybrid systems
A hybrid pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump handles most days, and the furnace takes over in very cold weather. It suits homes with good ducts and existing gas service.
Questions to ask
What size system does my home need, based on a heat-loss calculation? How will it perform at the coldest temperatures here? Will my ducts and electrical panel handle it? What rebates apply right now?
Next steps
See heat pumps and furnace repair, or send a request with details of your current system.
Running costs and comfort
Heat pumps deliver steady, even heat rather than the blasts of hot air some furnaces give, and they dehumidify in summer. Running costs depend on electricity and gas rates, the home's insulation and how the system is set up, so ask the contractor for an estimate for your home rather than relying on averages.
More HVAC guides
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