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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.
Imagine, it's 5 minutes after the midnight countdown New Year's eve and the furnace quits. We called TwinTech fully expecting to leave a message and actually spoke with Greg, one of the owners! We had an immediate repair early the next morning & a new furnace within the week. We have entrusted TwinTech with all our home HVAC service needs for over 6 years. That's why this week with an opportunity to purchase a new BBQ, we called them 1st to see about a gas line install. It's chicken on the grill tonight! They are efficient, reliable, honest, hard working, and -- attentive is an understatement.
Wonderful customer service, starting from the job quote (Dave), to the clean install, to the follow-up. Twintech is a small company which installed my Napoleon furnace, A/C, John Wood tank, and ran the line for my gas dryer. The installation was completed as promised in one day. The work area was kept very clean, and they even took care of my old rental tank. The professionalism and wonderful customer service is second to none. They completed all of my rebate paperwork, and now I'm getting $2000 back! You will not be disappointed if you hire this company for your project.
I was referred to Twintech by a neighbour and was not disappointed. Not only was the customer service excellent their workmanship was second to none. Greg and Grant work extremely clean covering the pathway to the furnace room, labeling the essential parts, left the area spotless and were efficient. They cleaned up the mess left by the previous installers (wiring, improperly installed AC coil, and gaps in venting etc). They also ran through the operation of the new furnace and gave me some maintenance tips. Greg and Grant are professional and all around good guys. I will definitely recommend their service to anyone without hesitation.
Very satisfied with service from Twintech , beginning with all the information provided by Dave , which helped make the decision much easier . Installation was very smooth & done on time as promised & cleanup was well done . Would definitely recommend this company & use them again for any future needs . Well done.
Twintech Heating & Cooling Inc. came in and replaced my 39 year old furnace with a beautiful Napoleon variable high efficiency furnace! Their work was efficient and professional and they were a pleasure to deal with, from sales to installation! I would highly recommend them.
After receiving numerous quotes to replace my old furnace and AC unit (which was 20 years old) I went with Twintech. Dave, in sales, answered questions professionally and promptly and worked diligently in order to secure my business. Installation was scheduled the week after and Greg and Peter showed up, as scheduled, and did a fine job installing both units. The site was left tidy and neat. I would highly recommend Twintech for your furnace and AC work.
I chose TwinTech because they installed my new furnace a few years ago and did a great job. When they installed my new A/C, they replaced all parts -- the copper pipes, the housing on top of the furnace and the wiring. (Apparently, the wiring for my old A/C was insufficient.) Their pricing was competitive. The sales representative came to see me within a few hours of my call. My new A/C was installed a few days later and I couldn't be happier with Twintech's professionalism and work. I would recommend TwinTech to any homeowner.
Had a great experience with this company. Great price and great customer service. You wont be disappointed with twintech. Discussed the job with Greg while he was installing who was extremely informative and obviously enjoys the work he does.
I needed my AC unit relocated due to upcoming landscape work. I reached out to the Twintech team through Homestars. Dave connected with me immediately to discuss the project and various options. We decided the best option was to mount the unit on the wall. Greg was in touch with me the same day as well and we scheduled the work for later that same week. This was a small job so I did not think I would get immediate attention. The Twintech team exceeded my expectations in every respect. They were very knowledgeable and friendly. The team arrived exactly on time on the scheduled day and worked efficiently to get the job done quickly. I would definitely use Twintech again for any Heating and AC projects.
I have used Greg Dainty for over 15 years in 3 different homes, for heating, cooling, pool heaters, appliances and bbq lines. Greg has always been so professional, friendly and the workmanship nothing short of fantastic. Greg has always discussed my options and fixing versus replacing, giving his honest opinion and what works best for me cost effective wise and long term. I have valued his opinion so much and have not trusted my gas needs with anyone since using him. I have also referred him to many of my friends and family and have always been so thankful with how well and quickly he looks after us all. I hold Greg in the highest regard and would recommend him to anyone with complete confidence!
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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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