Adam Chisholm Rev. Feb 13, 2026
Summary
In 2023, I eliminated all natural gas use from my 100+ year old Toronto home by switching to heat pumps. The house is quieter, more comfortable, and cheaper to operate in summer. Winter costs are higher, but overall this was a deliberate climate choice that cost me roughly the price of a nice vacation.
If you’re facing a furnace or hot water replacement in the next few years, this is a realistic alternative—even in an old house.
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The Home (Why This Is a Tough Test Case)
• Built in 1922
• ~1,600 sq ft, including basement
• East York, Toronto
• 6’4” basement ceilings
• Existing central ducted HVAC
• Partial window upgrades (not fully modernized or high efficiency)
Why this matters:
This is not a new, airtight, highly insulated home. If heat pumps work here, they will work in many similar Toronto houses.
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What I Replaced
• Gas furnace + aging air conditioner → Cold climate air source heat pump (ASHP)
• Gas water heater → Heat pump water heater
• Gas stove → Induction
• Old and inefficient windows → Replaced where possible
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Equipment Used (Examples, Not Endorsements)
• Space heating/cooling:
Mitsubishi Zuba 2 ton cold climate heat pump
(PUZ HA24NHA / PVA A24AA7)
• Hot water:
Rheem Proterra 50 gallon heat pump water heater
• Cooking:
Café induction range (mid to high end; many cheaper options exist)
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Why These Choices
• Cold weather reliability: Mitsubishi is widely regarded as strong in Canadian winters.
• Intentional oversizing:
I chose 2 tons for peace of mind. A smaller unit might have worked—get a proper load calculation.
• No full insulation retrofit:
A better sealed home would likely need less capacity.
• Water heater size:
With two people, 50 gallons is generous—but larger tanks allow off peak scheduling to reduce costs.
• Induction stove:
This model was mostly an aesthetic choice.
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But… My Poor Wallet! (2023 Dollars)
Installed Costs
• Heat pump water heater: $5,600
• Heat pump HVAC system: $18,500
• Induction stove: $3,500
• Energy audits (required): $600
Costs Avoided & Incentives
• New gas furnace + AC avoided: ~$13,000
• Government incentives: ~$10,000
Adjusted capital cost: ~$5,200
In other words, going all electric cost me roughly what I’d spend on a good vacation.
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Operating Costs
• Summer: noticeably cheaper
• Winter: higher electricity bills
• Overall: not dramatically different
Do not assume you will save money. Whether you do depends heavily on:
• Your existing insulation and ducting
• Future electricity prices
• Carbon pricing
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What Living With a Heat Pump Is Actually Like
They run differently than furnaces
Heat pumps run longer and more steadily. The result is:
• Less noise
• Fewer on/off cycles
• More even comfort
My TV is near the old furnace location. I used to turn the furnace off to hear clearly. I never do that now. I generally don’t notice the sound at all.
The air feels “cool”
Supply air is usually near room temperature, not hot. This is normal and expected. You lose the blast of “toasty air,” but not the heating.
Old ductwork behaved better (unexpected benefit)
Despite undersized ducts, upstairs comfort improved. The slower, continuous airflow seems to help. This isn’t guaranteed—but it surprised me.
Cold weather performance
Modern cold climate units remain efficient down to their rated temperature and switch to electric resistance heat below that.
After three Toronto winters, comfort has never been an issue.
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Practical Gotchas (Read This)
• Measure your space carefully
o Heat pump water heaters are taller than gas ones.
o Indoor air handlers are furnace sized but tighter clearances matter.
o Horizontal installation is possible in low basements.
• Thermostats
o Your Smart Thermostat probably won’t work
o Heat pumps don’t behave like on/off furnaces.
o Manufacturer thermostats are usually more efficient.
o You’ll likely stop “setback scheduling”—and you won’t miss it.
• Gas customer charges
o Enbridge’s fixed monthly charge (~$25–30) becomes very noticeable once usage drops.
o Locking the meter is free; and so is removing the gas meter. I was told it would cost a lot to remove the gas meter, but that was 2023 and this rule has changed since then. If you are told this, challenge it.
• Financing
o Use low interest financing if available.
o Even if you can pay cash, the math may favor financing.
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Who This Makes Sense For
• You expect to replace your furnace or AC in the next few years
• You want a quieter, more consistent indoor climate
• You are uncomfortable locking in another 20 years of gas use
• You are willing to trade some uncertainty for lower carbon emissions
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If You’re Interested, Do This Now (Before It’s Urgent)
1. Find the age and expected lifespan of your furnace and AC
Emergency replacements remove good options—especially grants.
2. Assume you only get one shot
A new gas furnace is a 20 year commitment.
3. Make a replacement plan
o Target year
o Required capacity
o Space constraints
o Outdoor unit location (may replace an existing AC)
Planning ahead turns this from a stressful emergency into a rational decision.
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Final Thought
I did not do this to save money. I did it to stop burning fossil gas in my home. The cost, in the end, was surprisingly modest—and the day to day experience has been better than I expected.
If you’re already facing major HVAC replacements, choosing a heat pump is not a leap. It’s a practical transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my house actually stay warm during a Toronto winter?
Yes. After three full Toronto winters, I’ve had no issues maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures, including during cold snaps. Modern cold climate heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently well below freezing. In practice, the house has never been too cold, and heating performance has been reliable throughout.
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What happens during a power outage?
The same thing that happens to a gas furnace: it stops working. Modern gas furnaces can’t produce heat without electricity since the fan, safety and ignition all require electricity.
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Will I need to upgrade my electrical panel?
You may want to check, but many homes are already well positioned.
If you currently have central air conditioning, your electrical service likely already supports an air source heat pump. Additional loads—such as a heat pump water heater and an induction stove—do increase demand.
I chose to upgrade to a 200 amp panel, not because it was strictly required, but to allow room for future additions like an EV charger. I don’t expect household electricity demand to decrease over time, and future needs are hard to predict. For me, the panel upgrade was about flexibility and long term planning rather than necessity.
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How long does the whole process take?
The individual steps are fairly quick; coordination is the challenge.
• Energy audits: about 1–2 hours each (typically one before and one after upgrades)
• Quotes: can be provided within days once you know what you want
• Installations:
o Full HVAC system: ~2 days
o Single unit: often ~1 day
The slowest part is often financing and rebates, not construction. I paid upfront and waited anxiously for rebate cheques. If you use low interest financing, that delay matters much less.
If you want to move quickly and want a specific model, a realistic timeline is roughly 6–8 weeks, depending on supplier availability. Rebate processing, however, can take many months—which is another reason financing can reduce stress.
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What about noise, snow, maintenance, and reliability?
Noise
• The heat pump water heater is louder than many people expect. It’s best placed in a garage or laundry room.
• The indoor air handler is extremely quiet.
• The outdoor condenser is quieter than my previous air conditioner.
Snow and ice
• Snow is not a major concern. Heat pumps have automatic defrost cycles.
• My outdoor unit is partially wind protected, but recently handled about 12 inches of snow without any issue.
Maintenance
• Routine maintenance is similar to a furnace or AC: clean filters and seasonal checkups.
• In three years, the only repair I’ve done was replacing a thermistor in the water heater—a simple fix with a screwdriver and tape. Rheem provided guidance and parts to do it myself, though a professional could also handle it easily.
Reliability
• I can’t yet speak to 20 year reliability, but air source heat pumps are a mature and widely deployed technology and are generally considered very reliable. My experience so far has been entirely positive.