Heat pump rebates in Ontario (2026)
At our October 4, 2026 check, Home Renovation Savings published air-source heat pump caps of $500 per ton up to $2,000 for Enbridge gas-heated homes, and $1,250 per ton up to $7,500 for homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood. Ground source runs higher. Whether you receive anything depends on eligibility and on approval before installation.
| Heating fuel | Air source | Ground source |
|---|---|---|
| Enbridge natural gas | $500 per ton up to $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Electricity, oil, propane or wood | $1,250 per ton up to $7,500 | $2,000 per ton up to $12,000 |
| Rented equipment | Separate caps | Separate caps |
The non-gas row covers homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood on the Ontario grid. Caps are maximums from the program page, not a promised payment. Homeownership, home type, product eligibility and mandatory pre-installation approval apply. Programs change.
On this page
Three inputs set the figure: the type of heat pump, how the home is heated, and the unit's rated heating capacity. Whether any of it is paid then depends on an eligible home and owner, an eligible product, and approval before installation. This page walks through each one, with the arithmetic shown so you can check any figure you are given. For what the equipment costs before any rebate, the Ontario Furnace Prices home page puts the typical installed range of each common system on one scale.
How the per-ton arithmetic works
Air-source amounts are calculated per ton of the heat pump's total rated heating capacity at 8.3°C (47°F). A ton is 12,000 BTU/h, so a unit rated at 36,000 BTU/h of heating at that temperature counts as 3 tons. Multiply by your category's rate, then stop at the cap. For multi-zone ductless systems the figure is the system's total rated heating capacity, not one head.
Ground source works the same way in the non-gas category, using the closed-loop heating capacity, or the open-loop capacity for open-loop-only equipment. In the natural gas category it is published as a single $3,000 figure whatever the size.
-
Air sourceEnbridge natural gas
Up to $2,000
$500 per ton, cap reached at 4 tons
-
Air sourceelectricity, oil, propane or wood
Up to $7,500
$1,250 per ton, cap reached at 6 tons
-
Ground sourcenatural gas
$3,000
Published as one figure, at any size
-
Ground sourceelectricity, oil, propane or wood
Up to $12,000
$2,000 per ton, cap reached at 6 tons
Purchased systems. Each segment is one ton. Caps are maximums from the program page, not a promised payment. Rentals have separate caps.
| Rated heating capacity | Tons | Air source, Enbridge gas | Air source, non-gas | Ground source, non-gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24,000 BTU/h | 2 | $1,000 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| 36,000 BTU/h | 3 | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,000 |
| 48,000 BTU/h | 4 | $2,000 cap | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| 60,000 BTU/h | 5 | $2,000 cap | $6,250 | $10,000 |
| 72,000 BTU/h | 6 | $2,000 cap | $7,500 cap | $12,000 cap |
Arithmetic only, using rates checked October 4, 2026. "Cap" marks the category maximum. Ground source in the natural gas category is $3,000 at any size. How partial tons are counted is set by the program's requirements.
Two things follow. In the gas category the air-source cap is reached at 4 tons, so any larger unit sits at the same $2,000. In the non-gas category the cap is reached at 6 tons, so below that the amount rises with the rated capacity. That is not a reason to buy a bigger heat pump: size it to a CSA F280 heat loss calculation, as our heat pump buying guide explains, and let the rebate follow.
Check the published cap for your heat pump
Estimates update as you change the inputs. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Published cap arithmetic
3 tons × $500 per ton, within the $2,000 cap
- CategoryAir source, Enbridge natural gas
- Published rate$500 per ton
- Category cap$2,000
- Capacity counted3 tons
Arithmetic from the published rates. Eligibility and pre-approval decide whether anything is paid.
Get the real number for your home: a free, no-obligation quote.
Arithmetic only, from the amounts published at our October 4, 2026 check for purchased systems. We apply the rate to the exact capacity you enter; the program's requirements set how capacity is counted. Homeownership, home type, product eligibility and pre-approval before installation still apply, and programs change. Nothing you enter is sent or stored.
Who qualifies
The published requirements set conditions on the owner, the home, the product and the timing. Check each before you rely on any figure above.
- Homeownership. The program has homeownership rules. If you rent the home, read them before anything else.
- Home type. The terms define which kinds of homes are eligible.
- Product eligibility. The exact model must be eligible. A brand or a series name on a quote is not enough.
- Approval before installation. Pre-installation approval is mandatory.
- Not a heat pump replacement. Replacing an existing heat pump used for space heating is excluded.
- Purchased or rented. The caps on this page are for purchased systems. Rentals have separate caps.
Your category follows the home's heating fuel. Enbridge natural gas homes are in the gas category. Homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood on the Ontario grid are in the non-gas category. For electrically heated homes, the program's checker uses the label electric resistance. If another utility supplies your gas, ask the program which category applies.
Backup heat and dual fuel
Most Ontario heat pump installs keep a second heat source for the coldest hours. The terms distinguish the rebated heat pump from compatible backup heating, and that has practical effects:
- Dual fuel: the heat pump is the measure. The gas furnace is backup heating, so its share of the quote carries no heat pump rebate, and a gas-heated home stays in the gas category.
- All-electric: the heat pump is again the measure, and any electric backup is the backup.
- Furnace or AC alone: a standalone gas furnace or a cooling-only AC is not a heat pump rebate measure at all.
Ask the installer to confirm in writing that the backup they propose is compatible under the requirements. Prices for both setups are on our heat pump price guide.
Get a heat pump quote built for pre-approval
A free in-home estimate names the exact model and its rated heating capacity at 8.3°C, and puts a written price on the job.
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Step by step: pre-approval comes first
Check eligibility and find your category
Confirm the owner, home type and that the job is not a heat pump replacement. Note how the home is heated today, Enbridge natural gas or electricity, oil, propane or wood; if another utility supplies your gas, ask the program which category applies.
Get a quote that names an eligible model
Ask for the exact model and its rated heating capacity at 8.3°C (47°F), then confirm that model is eligible before you commit.
Get pre-approval before installing
Apply with the quoted model and capacity. Let no work start, and no equipment go in, until approval arrives, even for a good price.
Install an eligible product
Make sure the model installed is the eligible one you were approved for. A substitution on install day can put the rebate at risk.
Submit the post-installation documents
Send what the program asks for once the work is done. Keep the invoice, model and serial numbers together so nothing holds up the claim.
Allow about 60 days for payment
Payment guidance is about 60 days after post-installation approval. Pay the installer on the contract terms, not the rebate timeline.
Mistakes that cost people the rebate
- Installing first and applying after. Pre-approval is mandatory, so a system already installed is the most common way to lose an otherwise eligible rebate.
- Counting the cooling size on the box. Air-source amounts follow rated heating capacity at 8.3°C, which can differ from the nominal tonnage on the outdoor unit.
- Assuming a rental gets the purchased amount. Rented equipment has separate caps.
- Expecting a rebate for a heat pump swap. Replacing an existing heat pump used for space heating is excluded.
- Treating a direct-install value as cash. The direct-install routes below deliver work and do not reimburse a private purchase. Be wary of anyone who says otherwise.
Ask the installer before you apply
- What is this model's rated heating capacity at 8.3°C (47°F), and can I see the spec sheet?
- Is this exact model eligible for Home Renovation Savings?
- Will you hold the install date until my pre-approval arrives?
- Is the price for a purchased system, or is this a rental or lease?
- What backup heat stays in place, and is it compatible under the requirements?
- Which documents will you give me after installation for the claim?
The rebate against the installed price
Put the arithmetic beside the bill and it becomes clear what a rebate does and does not cover. These scenarios use typical Ontario installed prices before 13% HST and the published formula, assuming everything is eligible and approved first.
| Scenario | Typical installed price | Published formula |
|---|---|---|
| Electrically heated bungalow, multi-zone ductless rated 36,000 BTU/h | $9,000 to $18,000 | 3 tons × $1,250 = $3,750 |
| Enbridge gas-heated two-storey, dual fuel rated 36,000 BTU/h | $11,000 to $20,000 | 3 tons × $500 = $1,500 |
| Oil-heated home, ducted cold-climate heat pump rated 48,000 BTU/h | $9,000 to $18,000 | 4 tons × $1,250 = $5,000 |
| Propane-heated rural home, ground source rated 48,000 BTU/h | $25,000 to $45,000 | 4 tons × $2,000 = $8,000 |
Illustrations, not quotes or promised payments. Rebates arrive after the work, so the installed price is what you pay first.
In every scenario above the formula covers only part of the price, and it arrives after you have paid. Build your budget on the installed price, using the heat pump cost calculator for your setup, and check running costs against gas with the heating cost calculator. Ground source pricing is broken down in the geothermal cost guide, and mini-splits in ductless mini-split prices.
Direct-install routes
If your household income is limited, Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program provides income-qualified support in Ontario through official intake and delivery agents.
Natural Resources Canada lists Ontario as an IESO co-delivery province, with a direct-install project valued up to $25,000.
In both routes the value is work delivered to the home, not cash, and neither should be expected to reimburse a heat pump you buy privately.
Closed programs
New applications for the Canada Greener Homes Loan closed on October 1, 2025. Older articles that pair a heat pump rebate with that loan describe a route that is no longer open to new applicants. The Ontario HVAC rebates overview shows how furnaces, air conditioners and other equipment line up against the heat pump stream.
Programs change: confirm before you buy
Everything here reflects the official pages as we found them on October 4, 2026. Rates, caps, eligible products and requirements can change at any time. Confirm the current terms on the program site, and have your pre-approval in hand, before you sign a contract or book an install. We never promise a rebate amount.
Primary sources, checked October 4, 2026
- Home Renovation Savings: heat pumps per-ton amounts, caps, rentals, eligibility, pre-approval and payment timing
- Home Renovation Savings: terms and requirements rebated heat pump versus backup heating; a standalone gas furnace or cooling-only AC is not a measure
- Natural Resources Canada: participating provinces and territories Ontario IESO co-delivery, direct-install project valued up to $25,000
- Save on Energy: Energy Affordability Program income-qualified support through official intake and delivery agents
- Natural Resources Canada: how the Greener Homes grant process works new Canada Greener Homes Loan applications closed October 1, 2025
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Questions people ask
Can I get a heat pump rebate if my home is heated by natural gas?
Yes, if the home, owner and product are eligible and you are approved before installation. Enbridge natural gas homes fall in the gas category: $500 per ton up to $2,000 for air source at our October 4, 2026 check, or $3,000 for ground source. In a dual fuel setup the heat pump is the rebated equipment and the furnace is the backup.
Does a ductless mini-split qualify for the Ontario heat pump rebate?
A ductless mini-split is an air-source heat pump, so it can qualify when the exact product is eligible and the usual rules are met, including pre-approval. The amount follows the system's total rated heating capacity at 8.3°C, so a multi-zone system is counted as one system. See ductless mini-split prices for installed costs.
I am replacing an old heat pump. Is there a rebate?
Not from the Home Renovation Savings heat pump stream. Its requirements exclude replacing an existing heat pump used for space heating, so a like-for-like swap does not qualify there. Budget the replacement at its full installed price and compare quotes on capacity, cold-weather performance and warranty. Programs change, so check the current terms before you buy.
What if the heat pump was installed before I applied?
Pre-installation approval is mandatory, so a system installed before approval should not be counted on for a rebate. If it has already happened, contact the program directly and ask, rather than relying on an installer's assurance. For anything not yet installed, apply first and keep the install date after your approval.
Is the rebate the same if I rent the heat pump?
No. The program publishes separate caps for rentals, and the per-ton amounts on this page are for purchased systems. If a rental or lease offer mentions a rebate, ask who receives it and how it affects the monthly payment and the buyout. Our rent or buy guide explains how to compare a rental with buying.
How long does the heat pump rebate take to arrive?
Payment guidance is about 60 days after post-installation approval. That clock starts once the program approves your post-installation documents, not on the day of the install, so the money comes well after the installer's final invoice. Plan to pay the full installed price yourself and treat the rebate as a later refund.