Frequently Asked Questions

A single-zone ductless mini-split typically runs $4,500 to $8,000 installed, and a multi-zone system with two to four indoor heads $9,000 to $18,000. A ducted heat pump that uses your existing furnace ducts is usually $10,000 to $18,000, and a variable-speed cold-climate system, new ductwork or an electrical service upgrade can push a job past $20,000. BC Hydro's own guidance puts most installs between about $6,000 and $16,000. The biggest swings come from how many rooms need their own head, the state of the ducts, whether the electrical panel has room, and where the outdoor unit can legally sit.

A high-efficiency gas furnace replacement typically runs $5,500 to $11,000 installed in Metro Vancouver. The price moves with the furnace size and brand tier, whether the venting has to change from a chimney to a side-wall plastic vent, whether the ducts or return air need work, and whether a new AC coil or heat pump is being added at the same time. The gas permit and inspection are normally included in a contractor's quote. There is currently no general rebate for a like-for-like gas furnace in Metro Vancouver.

A fair quote names the exact equipment model and its rated capacity, explains how that size was chosen (ideally from a heat loss calculation rather than the old unit's size), and lists what is included: removal of the old equipment, venting, electrical work, the line set and pad for a heat pump, ductwork changes, the thermostat, permits and inspection, and start-up. It should say what warranty applies to the parts and to the labour, whether the contractor registers the equipment warranty for you, and what would change the price once the old system is opened up. Get two or three quotes for any replacement job and compare them line by line.

Yes, for any replacement over a few thousand dollars. HVAC quotes in Metro Vancouver can differ by 30 to 50 percent for what looks like the same job, and the difference is usually in the equipment tier, the sizing, and what the quote leaves out. A second quote is also the easiest way to check a diagnosis: if one contractor says the heat exchanger is cracked and the furnace must be replaced, a second look before you commit is reasonable.

Yes. Metro Vancouver's winter is mild by Canadian standards, with most days between about 0°C and 10°C, which is where modern inverter heat pumps are most efficient. The question is what happens in a cold snap below about -5°C. A cold-climate model keeps producing most of its heat well below that; a standard model leans on backup heat (electric strips or the existing furnace in a dual-fuel setup). A heat loss calculation tells your contractor how much capacity you need at the design temperature for your area, which is colder on the North Shore mountainsides and in the eastern Fraser Valley than in Richmond or downtown.

Both are allowed in Metro Vancouver, including the City of Vancouver, where a like-for-like gas furnace replacement still only needs a gas permit. A heat pump adds summer cooling and usually lowers carbon emissions; whether it lowers your bill depends on gas and electricity prices and how well the home holds heat. A dual-fuel setup, where a heat pump does most of the work and the furnace covers the coldest days, is a common middle path when the furnace is still in good shape. Income-qualified households can get CleanBC rebates for switching from gas, which can change the math significantly.

No. In the City of Vancouver a ground-mounted inverter unit can go in without a development permit only within set zones close to the house, at least 90 cm from the property line and one unit per yard, and wall-mounted units usually need review. Burnaby requires units to sit outside the required front and side yards and enforces a noise limit of 55 dBA by day and 45 dBA at night. The City of North Vancouver requires a building permit application and a signed noise acknowledgement. In a strata, written approval is needed before anything goes on a wall, roof or balcony.

It depends on what heats your home now and your household income. BC Hydro's Home Renovation Rebate pays toward a heat pump that replaces all-electric heat such as baseboards or an electric furnace, installed by a contractor in its Home Performance Contractor Network. Income-qualified households can apply to the CleanBC Energy Savings Program, which pays substantially more, including for switching from gas. For higher-income homes heated by gas, there is currently no general CleanBC fuel-switching rebate in Metro Vancouver, and the federal Greener Homes grant and loan have closed. Programs change often, so confirm eligibility with the program before you buy.

A gas furnace typically lasts 15 to 25 years with annual servicing. Warning signs that replacement is near include repeated repairs in the same season, rising gas bills with no change in use, uneven heating, a yellow or flickering burner flame, and any finding of a cracked heat exchanger, which can leak carbon monoxide. A furnace over 20 years old with a repair quote above roughly a third of replacement cost is usually better replaced.

Outside the City of Vancouver, yes. Inside the City of Vancouver, from January 1, 2027 every replacement water heater in a detached house or duplex must meet the city's highest efficiency standard, which in practice means a heat pump, hybrid or electric water heater rather than a standard gas tank or tankless unit. There are exceptions where it is not practical, such as a lack of space or electrical capacity, so ask your contractor to confirm for your home before the old tank fails.

A gas tankless unit gives endless hot water and saves space, and typically costs $3,500 to $6,500 installed versus $2,000 to $3,500 for a standard tank. The savings on gas are modest for most households, the unit needs a larger gas line and new venting, and it should be descaled periodically. It makes the most sense for larger families, homes where the tank is in the way, or when a combi boiler can do both heating and hot water. In the City of Vancouver, check the 2027 efficiency rule before choosing a gas tankless unit.

Often, yes. A 25 to 40 year old cast-iron boiler may run at 60 to 70 percent efficiency, while a modern condensing boiler can exceed 90 percent when the system runs at lower water temperatures. The best results come when the contractor adds outdoor-reset controls and checks the radiator or tubing layout. A boiler replacement typically runs $8,000 to $18,000 in Metro Vancouver. Air-to-water heat pumps are an option worth asking about for low-temperature radiant floors.

In the City of Vancouver, new permanently installed air conditioning in a detached house or duplex has had to be a heat pump, able to both heat and cool, since January 1, 2023. Outside the City of Vancouver a cooling-only central AC is still allowed, though most contractors now quote a heat pump for new cooling because it costs little more and also heats. Portable and window units remain an option where a permanent system is not practical.

Many homes benefit from one. Metro Vancouver's long damp season, tighter windows and newer airtight construction trap moisture indoors, which shows up as window condensation and mould. An HRV exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering most of the heat. Newer homes often already have one and need it serviced, not replaced. In an older house, good bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans ducted outside are the first step; an HRV or ERV typically costs $1,500 to $4,000 installed.

Keep windows closed during a smoke event, run the furnace or air handler fan with the best filter your system can handle (MERV 11 to 13 is a common upgrade), and seal gaps around the return air so it draws through the filter. A portable HEPA air cleaner in bedrooms makes a measurable difference. If you have an HRV, check whether it has a recirculation or boost mode and a filter rated for fine particles. A contractor can confirm your blower can handle a higher-MERV filter without choking airflow.

In most cases, yes. An electrical permit is needed for the heat pump circuit, and it is issued by your municipality in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, the City and District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Maple Ridge, and by Technical Safety BC everywhere else. The City of Vancouver also requires a mechanical permit when a heating or cooling system is installed or replaced with a different type, and some municipalities, such as the City of North Vancouver, require a building permit application. If a gas furnace is being removed or kept for dual fuel, a gas permit is needed too. Your contractor normally pulls the permits and includes them in the price.

Technical Safety BC issues gas permits in most of the province. Six Metro Vancouver municipalities run their own gas permit programs for most residential work: the City of Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver. In Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Delta, the Langleys, West Vancouver and the rest of the region, the gas permit comes from Technical Safety BC. Gas work must be done by a gas fitter working for a gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC.

BC allows a homeowner gas permit for work on a single detached house that you own and live in, with no suite, no strata and no home business, and the work must pass inspection. In practice most homeowners hire a licensed gas contractor, because venting, combustion and carbon monoxide safety are unforgiving and a failed inspection costs more than the labour saved. Refrigerant work on heat pumps and air conditioners must be done by a person certified to handle refrigerants under BC's halocarbon regulation, so that part is never a DIY job.

If your home has a fuel-burning appliance such as a gas furnace, boiler, water heater or fireplace, or an attached garage, yes. The City of Vancouver's Fire By-law requires carbon monoxide alarms in every such dwelling, inside each bedroom or within 5 metres of each bedroom door. Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver they are strongly recommended and required in many situations. Replace alarms at the age the manufacturer states, usually 7 to 10 years.

No. Vancouver HVAC Pro is a free matching service that connects Metro Vancouver homeowners with local heating and cooling contractors. We do not install or repair equipment ourselves. Before hiring, confirm the contractor's Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence for any gas work, their WorkSafeBC coverage and their insurance.

Nothing. Describe what you have now and what you want, and we send your request on to local HVAC contractors who reply by email. There is no obligation to hire anyone, and no phone number is needed.