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How to Choose the Best Cold-Climate Heat Pump for Your Home

Choosing a cold-climate heat pump is one of the smartest upgrades you can make for your Ontario home.
These modern systems are engineered to deliver strong, efficient heating even in freezing temperatures — making them ideal for our long, snowy winters.
But with so many models and features available, how do you know which heat pump is right for your home?
Check for Cold-Climate Certifications
To ensure a heat pump can handle Ontario conditions, look for systems specifically designed for cold climates.
These models are tested to perform efficiently at temperatures well below freezing.
When comparing options, look for:
Rated heating performance at –15°C, –20°C, or colder
High heating efficiency (HSPF2)
Strong low-temperature capacity
A certified cold-climate system guarantees better comfort and lower operating costs in winter.
2.
Choose the Right Size for Your Home
One of the most important steps in selecting a heat pump is choosing the correct system size.
Bigger is not always better — and smaller definitely isn’t.
A properly sized system will heat your home consistently without wasting energy.
A professional sizing assessment evaluates:
Square footage
Insulation levels
Window quality
Ductwork condition
Your home’s layout
Twintech Heating & Cooling performs these calculations to ensure you get a system perfectly matched to your home.
3.
Look for High Efficiency Ratings
Cold-climate heat pumps come with two key efficiency ratings:
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) — winter efficiency
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) — summer cooling efficiency
Higher numbers mean better performance and lower annual energy bills.
Premium brands offer some of the best ratings, making them excellent long-term investments.
4.
Consider Variable-Speed Technology
Heat pumps with variable-speed compressors offer:
Steadier temperatures
Lower noise levels
Reduced energy consumption
Improved comfort during both mild and extreme temperatures
Instead of turning on and off constantly, these systems adjust automatically to meet your home’s heating and cooling needs.
This makes them ideal for Ontario’s fluctuating winter weather.
5.
Evaluate Your Home’s Ductwork (or Lack of It)
Your home’s existing ductwork plays a major role in selecting a heat pump system.
Ducted Homes
A whole-home cold-climate heat pump can connect to your current ductwork if it’s in good condition.
Ductless Homes
Mini-split heat pumps are perfect for older homes without ducts.
They’re efficient, quiet, and easy to install with minimal disruption.
Twintech can inspect your existing ducts or recommend ductless solutions based on your home’s structure.
6.
Explore Hybrid Heating Options
In very cold regions like Ontario, a dual-fuel (hybrid) setup can provide the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency.
In this configuration, a heat pump works alongside your existing gas furnace.
The system automatically chooses the most efficient heat source depending on outdoor temperature — maximizing energy savings all year long.
7.
Compare Warranties and Long-Term Reliability
A heat pump is a major investment, so choosing a brand with a strong warranty is essential.
Look for:
Long compressor warranties
Coverage on major components
Optional extended warranties
Brands like Amana offer exceptional warranty protection, giving homeowners peace of mind and long-term savings.
8.
Get a Professional Installation You Can Trust
Even the best heat pump won’t perform correctly without proper installation.
A certified, experienced HVAC team ensures:
Accurate sizing
Correct refrigerant charging
Proper airflow
Safe electrical connections
Optimal placement of indoor and outdoor units
Twintech Heating & Cooling is trained in installing today’s top cold-climate heat pump systems, ensuring your equipment delivers peak performance from day one.
Find the Best Cold-Climate Heat Pump with Twintech Heating & Cooling
Selecting the right cold-climate heat pump doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
When you work with Twintech Heating & Cooling, we guide you through every step — from choosing the perfect system to installing it with professional care.
Whether you’re upgrading an older furnace, switching to a more efficient heating system, or improving year-round comfort, we’re here to help homeowners across the Durham Region and Toronto find the ideal solution.
Our hot water tank died and with an after hours phone called Bob the sales guy jumped into action. Friendly, courteous and genuinely wanted to do whats best for our house hold we were given options and he awaited an answer with no pressure.
We decided on what we wanted and it was installed asap and Greg and team worked and cleaned up so well, you would never know there was a hot water tank there before!
We love our hot water tank and being able to have back to back to back showers without having to wait for the hot water tank to heat the water!
I had heard of Twin Tech from a good friend of mine.
I needed to get a new Air Conditioner. It was not working properly and was 19 years old. I decided to get a new furnace at the same time.
I gave them a call on Saturday June 28.
I spoke to Bob Graham. I made arrangements for him to attend my house the following day.
I saw him on Sunday June 29 at 1100 AM.
He was on time and looked professional.
He spent 2 hours with me going over what I needed. He also suggested that I purchase a Humidifier. He gave me a quote of just under $11,000.00 for the purchase and installation of a Air Conditioner, Furnace and Humidifier. He was not pushy and gave me time to speak to my wife.
I called Bob on Monday June 30 and made arrangements to have it installed by the end of the week.
On Friday June 3 they arrived at 830 AM.
Again, right on time.
Greg and Mitch worked all day and finished the installation by 430 PM.
They made sure that everything was working properly and the basement was just as clean as it was before they came.
I will now be using Twin Tech to perform any maintenance needed on this equipment.
I was completely satisfied from start to finish with the service provided.
Thank You,
Gary Grieves.
Upchurch Ave.
Ajax.
We contacted TwinTech after having another ductless air-conditioning company come in to quote on a solution for our townhouse. We had a unique problem where my office was a hot spot - it's at the front of the unit and gets a lot of sun. If it's 20C outside, It's 29C in my office. The other company could not build a solution that would get a ductless unit to that room because of the location - the AC unit would have to be at the rear, and ductless systems would have to be on that side of the interior. TwinTech suggested a hybrid solution to fit our unique problem, where the ductless unit would move cold air to an air exchanger installed in our bedroom closet, and then they built a ducted vent system between all the upper rooms. This was less intrusive than building a central air system, and less expensive. Each room has a vent that I can close off, so I can push more cold air to my office when needed. We really didn't want ductless units sitting on the walls, and this looks and works better. I really appreciate the extra thought and care that went into the design of a solution, and the attention to detail in the installation. They answered all of our questions, and were able to do a bit extra by installing the ducts around the vents and painting them for us. It cost more than we originally planned for, due to our unique needs, but the fact that they offered financing helped us budget for more.
The job was done fast (I think we got lucky with timing where it wasn't the AC install busy season yet), and the team was very friendly and professional. They arrived and finished each day when they said they would. My office is now running at a comfortable temperature! I'm extremely happy with the experience and would whole heartedly recommend them.
How lucky are we to have this team come save us from our broken down, under sold, poorly installed previous unit (mind you there is a reason SEARS went bankrupt). Bob arrived on time to give us a detailed review of our unit and furnace; very knowledgeable. Greg arrived as planned with the new unit and reiterated what Bob explained how our furnace is equipped to handle the new unit and we didnt need to spend more money on a variable speed air conditioner. Cant say enough on how professional, efficient and personable this team is. Thank you so much guys!
We used Twintech for our replacement AC. Bob did a great job assessing what we needed and organized the install and showed up on install date. Greg and Mitch were on time and were very neat. They covered the traffic areas with a drop cloth and did an excellent install. Great clean up after install complete. Would recommend Twintech for heating and cooling.
They were fantastic, clean, freindly, great service. Would definitely recommend. Answered ally questions and more.
We woke up at about 7 a.m. the Sunday morning before Valentine's Day to a house that was barely 15 degrees Celsius on a really cold day. We tried to call some other suppliers but no answer or call back. We did a quick google search and Twintech came up. Had never dealt with them before. They had a chat line and lo & behold, someone answered; Greg. Helped us diagnose that our 40 year old furnace pilot light was out and walked us through how to relight it. All worked well; he even called me during this process. No charge I was told when asked.
15 minutes later, the pilot went out. It would not stay lit. Greg had Bob call us and we set up a meeting for about 11 a.m. that same Sunday.
Bob walked us through the options and even brought 3 electric space heaters for us to use. By Tuesday afternoon, we had a new Furnace and central air installed.
The team was helpful, responsive and respectful. Very glad we found them by accident and looking forward to a nice cool summer after a warm winter.
Thanks guys!
Dealing with Bob and the installation crew was a pleasure. They took the time to explain everything. What would benefit us the most and the price difference. They were in and out in a reasonable time frame and fit us in within a couple days of original meeting. Quality of work is excellent as well.
A pleasure dealing with Bob ,Spencer and Mitch . They are professional and they also observe the covid 19 precautions . Bob explained the whole process and got the new furnace up the next day . Highly recommend
Would like to thank TwinTech for their quick response to our furnace repair. We used TwinTech to install a new furnace and AC a few years
back. Our furnace started to have problems early in the evening of extremely cold night. Contacted TwinTech and they were able make a service call later that evening. They got the furnace going and came the next day to replace a part. The part was under warranty and there was
no charge for either service call!
We are extremely happy with their customer service and would highly recommend them.
Gary & Kelly
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We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.
Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!
Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!
TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
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