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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.
On coldest night of the year our furnace quit. At 8:40 in the morning Greg arrived and gave us a diagnosis and a recommendation. By 2:30 we had a new furnace and were warm again. Great company. Great customer service. Good reasonable price.
Peter, Pickering
Twin tech team was very efficient and prompt. They provided a quote within hours of request and got the job done on time. No disruption to home function. We would highly recommend this team. Job well done.
Our furnace bit the dust, and Twintech came out to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem within a couple of hours. Mitch was super helpful, patient, and answered all of our questions. When we decided to get the furnace replaced, the crew was over first thing the next morning and did a fantastic job. Not only did they complete the job in a few hours, but they cleaned up and respected our house as they went, and answered all of our follow-up questions. I've used Twintech for our HVAC needs in the past and will continue to do so. I'd recommend them to anyone, and it feels good to support a local, family-owned business.
Dave and the Twintech team were fabulous from day 1 and helped us through the process to identifying a new furnace and AC unit. This was our first time through this process and Dave did a thorough job explaining all the components and was very patience answering all our questions. Dave provided great insights and fair pricing.
The Twintech team did an awesome installation. Very clean and efficient. I would highly recommended their service.
We had a new Amana furnace installed by Twintech and we were very pleased with the installation. It is nice to have a warm house again.
Excellent job. Excellent service. Competitive price. Its rare to find a company with the knowledge and professional results we have experienced with Twintech. The clean and neat installation with attention to detail and drop sheers to respect our property is a clear indication of Twintechs high level of integrity. The 1-1/2 gas line upgrade they did for our pool 3 years ago was awesome. Can't say enough. Thank-you Twintech.
Twitch did a great job with the installation of our new furnace. I really appreciated their honesty and I could trust what they were telling me. Another company tried to suggest significantly more work at a greater cost claiming it was necessary to meet current building code. Twintech is very fair. All staff I meet were friendly, polite and trustworthy. I would recommend Twitch for a furnace.
This is a professional team that's easy to deal with. I would strongly recommend them
Very professional firm from start to finish!
They removed the old oil tank and furnace. They installed air conditioning and a new propane furnace.
Professional installation, on time and no mess.
Very pleased with their work and would highly recommend the company. Our house is three stories so they spent the time to do all the calculations to make sure we would have great performance on each floor.
Thank you again!
Upon a routine yearly maintenance, it was discovered there was a leak in the heat exchanger and a I needed a new furnace. I know nothing about these things and was completely stressed out. The company I had the maintenance plan with quoted me a huge number to rent a furnace, I just wanted to cry. Then I spoke to Dave at Twintech. He was so knowledgeable and calming, provided me a fair quote and within a few days I had an amazing crew show up to my house and install my new energy efficient furnace! I have already recommended these wonderful people at Twintech to a good friend of mine. Thank you Twintech!!
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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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