WaterFurnace (NIBE)
Standard warranty: all parts 10 years with a 5-year labor allowance (7 Series); optional 10-year parts and 10-year labor allowance, depending on the dealer
Heat pump types · checked October 19, 2026
Geothermal, window and no-outdoor-unit heat pumps
Most homes get an air-source heat pump. These are the other options: ground-source systems that hold their output in any weather, and small units for apartments and rooms where an outdoor unit isn't possible.
Geothermal (ground-source) heat pump makers
A ground loop keeps the heat pump's source near 5–10°C all winter, so capacity doesn't fall in a cold snap. The loop (drilled or trenched) is most of the cost, and its design decides how well the system works. Geothermal units aren't in ENERGY STAR's air-source list, so this section uses the makers' own pages.
ClimateMaster (NIBE, via Climate Control Group)
"Standard 10-year limited warranty on all parts"; 5-year labor allowance; optional warranty extends the labor allowance to 10 years (US and Canada; not transferable)
GeoComfort / Enertech (Enertech Global, LLC)
10-year warranty on all unit components; 5-year labor allowance credit (transferable); optional 'Peace of Mind' one-time compressor and air-coil replacement up to 18 years after installation
Nordic (Maritime Geothermal Ltd.)
10-year limited warranty on the compressor and major refrigerant-circuit components, 5 years on other components; 5-year labour allowance on major parts; start-up record due within 90 days
Bosch (Bosch Home Comfort, including FHP water-source)
Warranty terms not published on the pages we could read.
Comfort-Aire / Century geothermal (Heat Controller)
Warranty terms not published on the pages we could read.
Why people choose it
- Heating capacity doesn't drop with outdoor air temperature, so ground-source suits the coldest regions
- Highest efficiencies of any heat pumps (WaterFurnace 7 Series up to 47.0 EER / 5.2 COP; ClimateMaster Trilogy 45 QE 45.1 EER part-load)
- Most makers include 10-year parts coverage plus labor allowances
- Some units also make domestic hot water (e.g., ClimateMaster Q-Mode)
Watch-outs
- 'Labor allowances' follow capped schedules and may not cover the full labour bill
- Coverage depends on dealer paperwork (e.g., Nordic start-up record within 90 days; WaterFurnace warranty options depend on the dealer)
- Needs a ground loop and a specialist dealer, and loop quality largely determines performance
- ClimateMaster's standard residential warranty isn't transferable to a new owner
None of these makers publish prices; installed cost is quoted by dealers and depends mostly on the ground loop (drilling or trenching).
Rebates that cover ground-source systems
| Province or territory | Program | Status | Ground-source terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Home Renovation Savings — heat pump rebates (no assessment) | Open | Owned homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood: cold-climate air-source (centrally ducted, ductless or partially ducted mini-split, or multi-split) $1,250 per ton up to $7,500; ground-source $2,000 per ton up to $12,000. Enbridge natural-gas-heated homes: air-source $500 per ton up to… |
| Ontario | Save on Energy Energy Affordability Program — free cold-climate heat pumps | Open | A cold-climate air-source heat pump installed at no cost for income-eligible households; listed under Comprehensive Support 'for homes heated by electricity or oil'. No ground-source offer. |
| Quebec | LogisVert — residential heat pump and geothermal grants | Open | Air-source (central or mini-split): $50 per 1,000 BTU/h of heating capacity at −8°C for an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump; $120 per 1,000 BTU/h if it is an ENERGY STAR model 'classified cold climate' (Hydro-Québec's summary card says 'up to $6,700' without a breakdown). Eligible multi-unit… |
| Quebec | Hydro-Québec dual-energy offer (natural gas + electric central heat pump) | Open | $7,300 for Énergir customers or $6,800 for Enbridge Gaz Québec customers to add an electric central heat pump to a forced-air natural gas system in a detached, semi-detached or row house, or a condo with its own heating system. Duplexes, triplexes and hot-water systems are said to qualify but no… |
| British Columbia | Home Renovation Rebate — air-source heat pump replacing electric heat | Open | Ducted or ductless (mini-split, multi-split or central) replacing hard-wired electric heat: whole home $4,000; partial home $1,500 (same amount from BC Hydro or FortisBC). BC Hydro limited-time bonus: up to $1,000 for an eligible air-source heat pump completed, invoiced and paid between August 1… |
| British Columbia | CleanBC Energy Savings Program (income-qualified rebates) | Open | Up to 100% of eligible costs, capped by income level (Levels 1/2/3): central ducted or 3-head multi-split replacing oil, gas or propane $13,000 / $7,000 / $3,500; replacing electric or wood $5,000 (Level 1) or $4,000 (Level 2, wood only); 2-head multi-split or two single-head mini-splits: oil… |
| Alberta | Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) — residential property-tax financing | Open · limits apply | No rebate: financing of up to 100% of eligible upgrade costs (air-source and ground-source heat pumps included), repaid on the property tax bill over up to 20 years for some upgrades. Calgary: up to $50,000 at an estimated 6.00%–6.10%, closed until winter 2026/2027. Edmonton: 6.00% fixed, waitlist… |
| Manitoba | Ground Source Heat Pump Program (on-bill) | Open | No upfront cost, then an interest-free $75 a month for 15 years ($13,500) on the Manitoba Hydro bill; retrofit projects over $38,000, or replacement systems over $18,500, need an upfront contribution; the balance is due on sale or transfer. |
| Manitoba | Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (free heat pumps; Greener Homes Affordability partner) | Open | A free air-source or ground-source heat pump for qualifying homes. Separate offers: Red River Métis Citizens can get a free ground- or air-source heat pump; First Nation communities get enhanced heat pump rebates (Community Heat Pump Program). |
| Nova Scotia | Home Energy Assessment rebates | Open | Ductless mini-split $300 per ton; centrally ducted $500 per ton; closed-loop geothermal $600 per ton; within the $5,000 assessment-path maximum. Tons = rated capacity at 47°F (12,000 BTU/h per ton, pro-rated), counting only newly added capacity minus any heat pump capacity removed. |
| Nova Scotia | Moderate Income Rebate (top-up) | Open | Ductless mini-split $500 per ton; centrally ducted $1,500 per ton; combinable with the assessment-path heat pump rebate; up to $5,000 more (up to $10,000 in all). No geothermal top-up listed. |
| New Brunswick | Total Home Energy Savings Program — space heating rebates | Open | Central ducted air-source heat pump $1,500; furnace heat pump add-on $1,000; mini-split $400; multizone $350 per indoor head; geothermal $2,000. |
| Prince Edward Island | efficiencyPEI heat pump rebates (ended) and free heat pumps (closed) | Closed now | None for new purchases: rebates for air-source heat pumps (mini-split or central) and ground-source heat pumps ended April 15, 2026. Heat pumps bought between April 15, 2025 and April 15, 2026 can still be claimed within one year of the purchase date. Applications for free heat pumps and for OHPA… |
| The North (YT · NT · NU) | Heat pump rebate (heating system rebate) | Open | Existing home: 50% of project costs up to $10,500 (air-source or ground-source). New home: up to $1,500 (rebates overview page). |
Window and saddle heat pumps (US only for now)
In our October check, no cold-climate window heat pump was confirmed on sale to Canadian homeowners. Gradient's warranty covers the continental US only, and Midea had only announced a Canadian pilot (December 2025).
Gradient All-Weather 120V (Gradient)
"Operates -13 °F to 115 °F"; 7,026 BTU/hr heating at -13°F (-25°C)
Midea window heat pump, PWHP (Midea)
No low-temperature figure published.
Friedrich Kühl+ heat pump window units (Friedrich, a Rheem company)
Kühl+ units "heat effectively down to 45 degrees" (unit not stated, presumably °F); 230-volt models add backup electric heat
Comfort-Aire RAH-123 / RAH-183, 230V (Heat Controller)
No low-temperature figure published.
Where they make sense
- Plug-in 120V option (Gradient) with no refrigerant work and about a 30-minute install
- Cold-climate models (Gradient, Midea) keep heating well below 0°F
- Works for renters and apartments where mini-split outdoor units aren't allowed
Watch-outs
- Most need up-and-down (sash) windows; Gradient needs at least 26 in of width and weighs 140 lb
- Conventional window heat pumps (e.g., Friedrich Kühl+) stop heating efficiently around 45 degrees and fall back to electric resistance heat
- Limited availability in 2026: Gradient sells only to building owners, Midea's unit goes through distributors and installers, and Canadian availability is minimal
- Small capacities (about 7,000-14,000 BTU/h heating), so plan one unit per room
- Not sold to individual consumers ('Gradient doesn't sell directly to consumers', WBUR Feb 2026); only building owners can buy
Midea PWHP: US$2,800-3,000 through Midea distributors (Fast Company, Dec 2025). Gradient: no public price; the Boston pilot costs about US$5,400 per apartment including installation and a smart thermostat (WBUR, Feb 2026). Friedrich and Comfort-Aire don't publish prices on their sites.
Heat pumps with no outdoor unit
Wall-mounted units that breathe through two holes in the exterior wall, for heritage buildings, condos and rooms where an outdoor unit isn't allowed. They are less efficient in deep cold than a split system.
The main maker certified for Canada is Innova (sold in the US as Ephoca until 2026). See Innova's certified models and warranty.
Air-to-water heat pumps
For homes with radiators or in-floor heating. Makers with lines in North America include Mitsubishi Electric (ecodan, launched in the US in 2026), Daikin (Altherma 3 H HT, US 2026), Samsung (EHS) and Carrier. They aren't on ENERGY STAR's air-source list; ask installers for the maker's performance data at your design temperature.
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