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Heat Pump vs. Furnace: A Winter Breakdown for Ontario Homes
Posted On: December 8, 2025
When winter hits Ontario, reliable heating isn’t optional—it’s essential.
For decades, gas furnaces have been the default choice for cold weather comfort.
But modern cold-climate heat pumps are changing the conversation.
Thanks to major advancements in efficiency and performance, heat pumps now outperform furnaces in many key areas, especially when it comes to energy savings and overall comfort.
Here’s a winter breakdown of heat pumps vs.
furnaces—and why more Ontario homeowners are choosing heat pumps.
Heating Performance in Cold Weather
Winner: Heat Pumps
Today’s cold-climate heat pumps are engineered specifically for freezing temperatures and continue delivering dependable heat well below zero.
Unlike older models, modern systems maintain strong performance throughout most Ontario winters without relying heavily on backup heat.
Furnaces produce intense bursts of heat but cycle on and off frequently, which can lead to uneven indoor temperatures.
What homeowners notice with heat pumps:
More even warmth throughout the home
Fewer cold spots
Comfortable temperatures without extreme hot air blasts Winter Energy Efficiency
Winner: Heat Pumps
Furnaces create heat by burning fuel—this process is inherently less efficient.
Heat pumps simply move heat, allowing them to deliver significantly more heat energy than they consume.
Cold-climate heat pumps can produce two to three times more heat per unit of energy than many traditional heating systems, especially during milder winter days that make up much of Ontario’s heating season.
Monthly Heating Costs
Winner: Heat Pumps
Because they run more efficiently and at consistent speeds, heat pumps help lower winter heating bills.
Homeowners often see savings immediately compared to electric baseboards, older furnaces, or oil systems.
Hybrid heat pump systems maximize cost control by automatically switching to the most economical heat source based on outdoor temperature.
Comfort and Indoor Air Quality
Winner: Heat Pumps
Heat pumps deliver steady, gentle heat rather than sudden temperature spikes.
This reduces dry indoor air—a common complaint with furnace heating.
They also provide:
Continuous air circulation
Improved filtration
Less dust movement
The result is a more comfortable and breathable indoor environment throughout winter.
Maintenance and Reliability
Winner: Tie (Slight Edge to Heat Pumps)
Modern heat pumps are designed to operate continuously with less stress than furnaces that cycle frequently.
With proper maintenance, heat pumps often experience fewer mid-winter breakdowns and consistent performance.
Plus, one system handles both heating and cooling—reducing long-term service needs.
Environmental Impact
Winner: Heat Pumps
Furnaces rely on fossil fuels, producing direct emissions.
Heat pumps run on electricity and produce no on-site emissions, making them one of the most environmentally friendly heating solutions available.
As Ontario’s electrical grid becomes cleaner, heat pumps continue to grow even greener over time.
Long-Term Value
Winner: Heat Pumps
While upfront costs can be comparable, heat pumps typically deliver:
Lower annual energy costs
Fewer emissions
Reduced long-term operating expenses
Year-round heating and cooling in one system
When you factor in energy savings and potential incentives, heat pumps often offer better overall value than furnaces.
The Bottom Line: Heat Pumps Win Modern Ontario Winters
Furnaces still have their place, but cold-climate heat pumps have proven they’re more than capable of handling Ontario winters—often doing so more efficiently, comfortably, and affordably.
For homeowners in the Durham Region and Toronto, Twintech Heating & Cooling helps assess whether a heat pump or hybrid system is right for your home and heating needs.
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See What Our Customers Are Saying:
May 13, 2020
We are very happy with our new furnace. The service was excellent the guys worked 6 hours straight through and there was no mess at all they took the old furnace boxs etc with them they then explained everything to us they were very helpful and pleasant , when we need a new air conditioner we know who to call!
May 12, 2020
The crew from sales to installation was very professional and had great attention to detail
May 11, 2020
We couldnt have been more impressed with Twintech - from our first service call with Mitch who took the time to thoroughly diagnose the issue with our furnace, to Dave who proposed a well thought out solution to meet our needs and finally Greg and team who acted quickly to install given we had no heat.
We did our due diligence by soliciting quotes from alternate providers and were shocked and disappointed by the aggressive and manipulative tactics used.
Twintech was honest in their approach, detailed in their product knowledge, reasonably priced, diligent in their follow-up and valued our business.
Well done Twintech! You made this a positive experience for us and our new furnace works beautifully!
May 10, 2020
We recently purchased an Amana high efficiency furnace and humdifier through Twintech. The work was completed very professionally and the quality of the workmanship was high. There was some additional sheet metal work required to complete the installation, which they were able to complete themselves. Overall I am very pleased with the work and would highly recommend Twintech for a furnace replacement.
May 9, 2020
We were very pleased with every aspect of the work that was done. They were very professional and polite. They arrived when they said they would and job was completed on estimated time
We would highly recommend them to whoever needed a recommendation
We have a very large dog and they were very understanding and respectful of him being around
May 8, 2020
The blower on our furnace stopped working leaving us with a cold house. Dave from TwinTech responded immediately to our HomeStars service request. From beginning to end Dave was nothing but helpful, friendly and professional, he did a great job of walking us through the quote and scope of work.
The replacement of the furnace went smoothly. The Guys did a great job, everyone was very friendly and polite. There were no hiccups, or unexpected costs. The only surprise was they left the work area cleaner than it was before they started.
Was a great experience with the whole TwinTech team. Its been a couple of months since the new furnace has been installed and its working great!
May 7, 2020
I heard about TwinTech when researching new furnaces at furnaceprices.ca. After contacting them about my broken down furnace, Dave came to my house the next day to assess my situation and requirements for a new furnace. He recommended one that had stainless steel heat exchangers which sold me since my previous furnace had issues with a rusted secondary heat exchanger that had to be replaced. Dave also set me up with an appointment with an energy audit company so that I could take advantage of a rebate to help improve the energy efficiency of my home and get some money back. A few days later, Greg, Grant, and Mitch came to install the new furnace and remove the old one. When delivering and removing the furnaces, they were very careful not to damage my floors and walls, and even laid out red carpeting to protect the floors. They were very friendly and professional. The installation was completed in the time they said it would take and they cleaned up their work areas. Within a week, Dave called to follow-up to see how everything was going. I have already recommended them to several friends and family members who may need new furnaces soon.
May 6, 2020
Twintech did a great job, from Dave the Sales Rep to the Office staff and The Professional Technicians who did the installation. They were professional, courteous, knowledgable and informative. From beginning to follow up we were completely satisfied with everything. Thanks Again. Sincerely The Laytons
May 5, 2020
Great product, great service, great follow-up. The Twintech Heating and Cooling arranged removal of my existing oil tank and they installed the new gas furnace Amana (made in USA). I am very happy with the final result and support I received throughout the process. My thanks go to the entire Twintech team for their professionalism, great communication and follow-up.
May 4, 2020
We've had Twintech provide us with work in the past, for an inground pool heater and required rough-in for a new gas stove. More recently they provided the same friendly, professional, timely and clean installation of our new furnace.
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