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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.
This review is late coming so my apologies to the amazing Twin Tech team! I contacted Dave at Twin Tech for a quote this past Feb (as I was collecting a few) and his recommendation was excellent. From the first meeting with Dave to the team installing the new furnace, not once did i feel uncomfortable . The team were extremely professional yet personable and clean and tidy. Decent companies still exist!
The new furnace just purrs and its just amazing the difference it has made!
(PS my sibling ended up getting a furnace from them as well)
The service was Twintech was excellent.
Dave our salesperson was easy to talk to and was professional. The unit recommended meets our needs and budget.
Greg and his team arrived on time for the installation and even got rid of the garbage the contractors left in our furnace.
Would definitely recommend Twintech.
Our old water tank was installed in 1997. Wasn't working as well as it should so we looked into a tankless as it is more efficient and a space saver! we had used Twintech in the past for a furnace cleaning and were satisfied with that so we decided to ask for a quote for the changeover. Gary arrived and provided the options and the quote fit within our budget so we decide to go with them after receiving a few alternative quotes from other companies. They did what the said would be done and it was completed within a reasonable time frame! Removal and cleanup of the old tank was seamless. We are now enjoying consistent and efficient Hot water! I recommend Twintech and would use them for future projects!
One of the most honest HVAC companies out there! Dave was very helpful and informative in helping us choose a new AC unit. While they werent the lowest quote, we went with them because we trusted Dave and he was the most honest guy out of the companies that quoted us.
Greg and his crew who installed the unit were very professional and did a great job. If I could do it over again I would choose Twintech again.
Relocated and replaced our air conditioning unit. Fast, professional, and high quality service. We would definitely use them again for future projects!
The term excellent or incredible does not seem high enough praise for the Twintech Heating and cooling company that recently replaced our 15 year old furnace. To start with, the response from Dave at Twintech to our original pricing request was the quickest and most professional of the 5 prices we received which included two of the primary natural gas providers. The Twintech pricing was the most competitive by a considerable margin.
We had Dave visit our home to confirm all pricing which he did and scheduled us for next day installation which was not offered my the majority of the other providers.
The installation; the team arrived on time and provided coverings to all of the hardwood flooring and stairs and proceeded with the removal and reinstallation of the new furnace, the workers predicated six hours and were completed in five hours. I have to mention how courteous and polite the workers were each time we interacted with them from start to finish.
The final result was amazing, all materials were cleaned up and removed from the house and the workmanship very impressive.
One feature that really stood out for me which shows a high level of professionalism was that we had various condensation hoses from the furnace , humidifier and an air filtration unit meeting at the one drain, the installation crew ran PVC tubing including elbows along two sides of the furnace to guide the hoses into one PVC tube at the drain, it looks great!
When the install was completed and tested the Twintech technician guided us through the features and recommendation's for care of the new furnace.
We highly recommend Twintech to anyone for the outstanding service provided to us.
I didn't hesitate to call Twintech in for a 2nd time as they did an outstanding job installing my new furnace last year. This time my 18 year old air conditioner was on its last legs. Greg and the team are top notch, highly skilled technicians. The job was executed in a timely and professional manner. Greg was extremely thorough and went the extra mile to make sure everything was operating efficiently. Lastly, Dave is a true gentleman and really made the customer experience pleasurable and worry free. Always remember that good work ain't cheap and cheap work ain't good.
It's so hard to find solid companies these days, but I was very pleased to find one in Twintech. Greg and his crew were very clean, respectful and professional. We were most impressed at how all the things they said they would do, were done. Sounds strange, but usually when a contractor comes to your home they say they will take care of this and that, make sure this is done, etc but when the work starts you have to constantly remind them of your previous discussions. Greg ensured every item he said he would do was done, no reminders required. The work was done right, at a fair price and on time. We will be sure to call them when our A/C unit dies (fingers crossed that's not going to happen too soon :) )
Replaced our aging hot water tank with a tankless system. Excellent work, fast efficient and clean.
Walked us through the new system and recommended maintenance schedule.
This is our second time working with TwinTech and we are very happy with the quality of their work and professionalism.
Efficient work and great follow up by the team at Twin Tech. Great product and communication.
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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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