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Heat Pump vs. Furnace: A Winter Breakdown for Ontario Homes

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Heat Pump vs. Furnace: A Winter Breakdown for Ontario Homes

Posted On: December 8, 2025

Heat Pump vs. Furnace: A Winter Breakdown for Ontario Homes

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:

by peter in Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Very impressed with this company. They show up on time , kept my place clean and after they left it looks like they were never there. Very professional team. Those people know what they doing . Their installation was on the highest standard. They are very knowledgeable especially they're worker Peter. I strongly recommend this company to everybody. After the installation I receive the call making sure I'm satisfied with their products and their job. Bravo!!!

by James in Bowmanville on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Greg and his brother were referred to us by a friend. They arrived when they said they would, did an exceptional job and left the place as tidy or tidier then they found it. Their professionalism is only surpassed by their kind and friendly demeanor. Even after several calls to help me with my high tech thermostat I feel that I could always call with any concern (No one responds to my texts as quickly as Greg) and have a friendly helpful response. I found out their grandfather started the company and now as a 3rd generation company, they are doing their grandfather proud. I would highly recommend Twintech over any other hvac company out there.

by RJW in Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Thanks to the guys at Twintech Heating for a great job installing a new hot water tank. They set a time and day to remove the old tank and install the new one. They were on time and had the work done quickly and cleaned up after they were finished. Excellent work and great value.

by Marilyn in Milton on Twintech Heating and Cooling

In November, we contacted Twintech for a quote on a high efficiency furnace plus installation. Dave, the sales representative for the company was very friendly and informative. Upon arrival at our home, he willingly showed us his company licenses, clearly explained the operation of a high efficiency furnace and answered all our questions to our satisfaction. As well, Dave was the only sales representative that we contacted that was willing to make the arrangements for an energy audit. For us, this was a big plus as we found the government rebate program somewhat confusing to navigate. The furnace was installed on the date that was arranged in an efficient and professional manner by Greg (the owner) and Peter. Both men worked diligently, throughout a long day to complete the job and upon finishing, left the job site immaculate. When a neighbour raised concerns about the furnace venting location, Greg located an alternative location and resolved the situation with diplomacy. We chose the Napoleon furnace for its excellent warrant;y on the heat exchanger and because it was made in Canada! In addition, to the furnace warranty, Twintech offered us a 5 year warranty on labour which speaks to the quality and pride this team has in their workmanship. It has been over a month now (with some of the coldest January days on record) since we have had the furnace installed. The furnace runs quietly and distributes heat more evenly throughout our 90 year old Toronto home. We can't speak highly enough of the Twintech team and are very satisfied with their workmanship and job ethics. We have no hesitation about recommending them.

by Barry in Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

What more could you ask for! Grant and Greg Dainty provided a professional,diligent and thorough approach to the installation of my furnace. I would highly recommend there services.

by Hector in Scarborough on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Last week our Furnace failed overnight. We called Twintech to help us get it running again. They did a really thorough check on it, and got it running in less than an hour. Given that it was an old Furnace (+20 years old), we were giving two options: repair it or replace it. Instead of doing a repair on it that could break in a week or two, they recommended us to change it. I like that they were honest on the recommendation, not forcing a new furnace on us. At the end we went with a new Furnace. Twintech solutions service & salesman gave us recommendation on the size of the unit and many options that could work for our home. They ended up doing an excellent work in our furnace, replacing the filter to a better option and replacing some pieces that had water damage. They cleaned after themselves and leave everything even better than what they found. They even went far and beyond tiding up the hose connections that we had on the basement.

by Ryan Doherty in Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I am in the process of finishing my basement and wanted to make sure I got the low hanging duct work fixed in advance. After reviewing 5 quotes I selected Twintech to award the contract to. The price was competitive however what won me over was Grant's (co-owner) attention to detail and his ability to focus on what my goals and priorities were for the project. His team completed the job over 3 days as there was significant duct work changes and the relocation of all of the equipment. They also completed the job with little downtime so we weren't left overnight without heat during freezing winter temperatures.

by Private User from Oshawa on Twintech Heating and Cooling

My father woke up to no heat one Saturday morning. We had a few names that friends had recommended but while checking out the companies' ratings on HomeStars, we found Twintech with great ratings too. The other companies either didn't get back to us or didn't have time to come at such short notice. TwinTech made the time in their schedule for what they judged to be an emergency: no heat in the home of an elderly person. At no extra fee for a short notice, weekend visit. They recommended an upgraded furnace unit and explained that we would qualify for a rebate that would bring the price down to that of a lower model. They set us up with the rep from the MNR that covers the rebate so that we didn't have to deal with the paperwork & phone calls ourselves. Installation was quick, efficient, & smooth. We were so pleased with their service we ordered a new water heater too. Both are working great (efficient & quiet!) & my father is safe & comfortable. We can't say enough about how pleased we are with their service. We have already recommended them to others.

by joe calabro in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Twintech Heating & Cooling. I just want to say thanks for helping me . My Furnace stopped working. And l phone Dave Getgley he set me up with Greg. What an amazing team they did a great job in setting me up with a new Furnace. Anyone that needed a new Furnace these are the guys to call. Thanks again for a job well done.

by Peter from Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Our home has had poor heating and air conditioning the past couple of years. Dave recommended a Goodman solution with more power than we had. Grant and Greg installed the units in late November. Heating is better than ever. We have a warm home again and look forward to the winter. Can't wait to see how the AC runs in 2018. Job was super clean and professionally done. Highly recommended.

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See What Our Customers Are Saying:

by Aaron on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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.

by Linda on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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!

by Robert Rogers on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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.

by Robert Mizuno on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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!

by Ruth on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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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