Do Heat Pumps Actually Work?

MATTE STORY – WORD COUNT: 744

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Author: Ari Lord, A Living Here Publication

Heat pumps are a hot topic. Whether you’re considering professional installation with financial support or tackling a DIY project, there are two main routes to switch from methane gas to efficient electric heat pumps. We spoke with Georgina and Don, two British Columbians who chose different paths.

Financial Support and Contractor Help Route

Georgina Havelka lives in Coquitlam, British Columbia, with her husband and two kids.

“Coquitlam is a fairly small community. We love this city to raise a family,” says Georgina. “There are hiking trails, the Coquitlam River, lakes and the ocean nearby.”

The family owns a detached house, built in 1974, which came with a gas furnace.

“I tracked our bills, and they were higher than the neighbouring houses. In the winter, you could feel the cold coming in through the single-pane windows, and I knew (the house) wasn’t efficient,” says Georgina.

So the couple decided to make their house more efficient.

“Given the heat dome and the past few summers, we were like, ‘wow, we need a better solution for cooling in the summer,’ which we haven’t needed in the Lower Mainland before,” says Georgina.

So, the family installed a heat pump.

“You have that high cost initially, but we expect it to pay off over time. It’s an investment in comfort and efficiency,” says Georgina. “We are paying less for our energy… $1000 or $2000 less a year. In the summer our house is way more comfortable.”

To ensure their heat pump ran efficiently, they had to do some upgrades. The heat pump cost $20,000 after the Canada Greener Homes loan and provincial rebate.

Georgina thinks her municipality should require new buildings to have cleaner technologies like heat pumps.

“Why are we still using fossil fuels to heat and cool within Southern BC when our winters are not that cold and we have clean hydroelectric power? Every new house should be efficient and future-proofed.”

Georgina says our governments need to do more and fast.

“It’s scary. For the future of my children… We need our governments to engage quickly. Heat pumps are a small piece of that. But we need to attack this on so many fronts.”

The DIY Way

Don Barthel and his wife have owned a house on Mayne Island, B.C., for the last twenty years.

“It’s a quiet, relaxed lifestyle. We are outdoors people. This is a great place for paddling,” says Don.

Their house, circa 1992, is a bungalow rancher. Don decided to install a heat pump six years ago.

“It’s the smallest (heat pump) we could get. I didn’t know if installing it myself was going to work. It wasn’t expensive. It worked so well that I got a second one… five years later,” says Don.

Don, like Georgina, was motivated by more extreme temperatures.

“We had that heat dome, and we got to use (the heat pump) for the first time in air conditioning mode. That was a good experience. It got up to 37 outside, and the whole house stayed at 27, which is still warm but bearable.”

Other changes have come about as a result, Don says.

“I haven’t run my furnace since I got my second heat pump. My heat pumps are about 30% cheaper to run. Overall, our costs went way down. We still use the woodstove, but my wood usage is down from prior winters.”

For Don, getting a heat pump was about more than saving on bills.

“The last few years, we’ve started to get smoke. That’s all new. I’m convinced that’s a direct result of forest fires due to climate change.”

Don, like Georgina, worries about his kids’ future.

“Things are going to be bad for them if we don’t get away from fossil fuels. Heat pumps are just part of that.”

Don didn’t qualify for rebates since his heat pump wasn’t professionally installed, but he believes heat pumps are a smart choice, no matter the installation route.

“I saved more money doing it myself than the rebate would have given me. But the rebate is great for people who can’t do it themselves.”

Don has even been getting a reputation for his heat pump skills.

“I’ve helped neighbours on the island install heat pumps. There is less firewood burned in the neighbourhood because of more heat pumps. Everybody wins.”

Both Don and Georgina are happy with their heat pumps. No matter which route you go, heat pumps can make life more comfortable and affordable.

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About Neighbours United 

Neighbours United is a community-driven charitable organization dedicated to environmental advocacy and sustainable solutions. We empower communities through leadership development, deep engagement programs, and initiatives that support renewable energy, local food security, and habitat protection. Our work has impacted over 100,000 people across 14 communities and earned national recognition, including Canada’s Clean50 Top Project Award.

As part of our commitment to fostering informed and resilient communities, we publish Living Here, an ad-free, non-profit, independent magazine that shares stories of local solutions addressing social and environmental challenges. This publication highlights inspiring narratives of individuals and groups working towards healthy, safe, and strong communities. Living Here collaborates with local media to amplify these stories, reaching a broader audience and encouraging collective action. 

We envision a future where communities unite for a sustainable and equitable world. For more information about our programs and initiatives, visit neighboursunited.org.

Contact

Montana Burgess, Executive Director
montana@neighboursunited.org
250-921-5497

Resources

LINK TO STORY: https://livinghere.ca/doheatpumpsactuallywork/

PHOTOS LINKS: All photos courtesy of Kim Hikita-Larsen and Dan Barthel.

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Caption: Georgina Havelka with her family in Coquitlam, BC.

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Caption: Georgina in front of her family’s heat pump condenser, the outdoor unit that exchanges cold and warm air with the inside units.

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Caption: Since using rebates to update their 1974 home and switch out gas for electricity, Georgina and her family feel more comfortable at home and are saving thousands in energy bills.

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Caption: Don Barthel’s handiness made it possible for him to construct his own heat pump for his Mayne Island home.