Heat pumps · verified October 2, 2026
Heat pump rebates in Toronto and Ontario
There's no City of Toronto heat pump rebate in 2026 — the City's own HELP rebates closed in January 2025. What Toronto homeowners can get is the provincial rebate, City financing and, for income-qualified households, a heat pump installed free. Here's the stack, with the amounts that apply to your house.
The provincial rebate: Home Renovation Savings
Across Ontario, heat pump rebates come from the no-assessment stream of Home Renovation Savings. The amount depends on how you heat today and on the kind of heat pump:
| How you heat now | Cold-climate air-source | Ground-source |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity, oil, propane or wood | $1,250 per ton, up to $7,500 | $2,000 per ton, up to $12,000 |
| Enbridge natural gas | $500 per ton, up to $2,000 | $3,000 |
Worked through: a 3-ton cold-climate heat pump replacing electric baseboards earns 3 × $1,250 = $3,750; the same unit in a gas-heated home earns 3 × $500 = $1,500, and you can keep the furnace as backup (program page ↗).
The rules that trip people up:
- Use a participating contractor, and wait for written pre-approval before buying. Anything installed before approval gets nothing.
- Replacing an existing heat pump doesn't qualify, and homes occupied for less than six months are excluded.
- Oil-heated homes must size the heat pump to cover the full heating load.
- The contractor files the completion paperwork within 30 days; the cheque follows within about 60 days of approval (stream requirements ↗).
Toronto's part: HELP financing
The City of Toronto finances rather than rebates. Its Home Energy Loan Program lends up to $125,000, or 10% of your home's assessed value if that's less, repaid on your property tax bill. Projects that include a heat pump qualify for the 20-year term, and a heat-pump-only project doesn't need the EnerGuide assessment — the installer signs an attestation instead. The City resets its fixed rates every quarter: the table valid until September 30, 2026 ran from 3.34% (5 years) to 4.75% (20 years), and no newer table was posted when we checked on October 2, 2026, so check the City's current rates. A 2% administrative charge applies (toronto.ca ↗). The City says HELP can be combined with provincial and utility rebates.
Free heat pumps for income-qualified homes
Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program installs cold-climate air-source heat pumps at no cost in homes heated by electricity or oil, along with insulation and draft sealing. It's for households under its income limits — $48,220 for one person up to $127,576 for seven or more — or receiving benefits such as ODSP, Ontario Works, LEAP or OESP. Call 1-844-770-3148 or apply online (Save on Energy ↗).
What about federal money?
- The Canada Greener Homes Grant closed to new applicants in February 2024, and its final deadline passed on December 31, 2025.
- The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program closed to new federal applications on July 31, 2026. Ontario's oil-heated, income-qualified homes are served through the Energy Affordability Program above.
- The Greener Homes Affordability Program isn't delivered in Ontario.
Get the size right before you buy
The rebate is the small number; the heat pump is the big one. A CSA F280 heat-loss calculation sizes the system to your house instead of to the old furnace, and air sealing or attic insulation first can shrink the unit you need. That's why an energy assessment is still worth having even though this rebate doesn't require one. More in switching to a heat pump.
Common questions
Does the City of Toronto have a heat pump rebate?
Not in 2026. The City's HELP rebates closed in January 2025. The City now offers HELP loans, and the rebate comes from the provincial Home Renovation Savings program.
How much is the Ontario heat pump rebate?
For homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood: $1,250 per ton up to $7,500 for a cold-climate air-source heat pump, or $2,000 per ton up to $12,000 for ground-source. Gas-heated homes get up to $2,000 (air-source) or $3,000 (ground-source).
Can I get a heat pump rebate if I heat with gas?
Yes — up to $2,000 for an air-source heat pump or $3,000 for ground-source through Home Renovation Savings, and you can keep your furnace as backup.
Do I need an energy audit for a heat pump rebate in Ontario?
No, but you need a participating contractor and written pre-approval before you buy. A heat-loss calculation is still the best way to size the system.
Can I get a free heat pump in Ontario?
Income-qualified households in homes heated by electricity or oil can get a cold-climate heat pump installed at no cost through Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program.
Sources
- Home Renovation Savings — heat pump rebates
- Home Renovation Savings — heat pump stream requirements
- City of Toronto — Home Energy Loan Program
- City of Toronto — HELP terms (City rebates fully subscribed)
- Save on Energy — Energy Affordability Program
- NRCan — Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (closed)
Program facts checked against these pages on October 2, 2026. Programs change — confirm on the official page before you spend.
Size it before you buy it — get matched with an advisor
Tell us where you are and what you’re planning. We’ll connect you with a registered service organization for your area — no spam, no shared lead lists.
Email us what you’re planning, your postal code and the type of building (a house, a duplex or triplex, or a larger multi-unit building) — we’ll reply with registered service organizations for your area and which rebates apply.
Email dave@clickshift.ca