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TEK CLIMATE · HOMEOWNER Q&A
Practical answers about heat pumps, home sizing, efficiency ratings, maintenance and planning a good installation in British Columbia.
Questions 1–10 reviewed October 12, 2026; 11–20 reviewed October 19, 2026; new questions 21–30 reviewed October 26, 2026. General guidance for homeowners; the right design depends on your home and equipment.
TEK Climate can complete your home's heat-loss and heat-gain calculations using TECA tools and CSA F280 methods. Gather any plans and records you have for windows, insulation, air sealing, additions and other renovations. Tell your TEK Climate advisor about rooms that feel uncomfortable and any upgrades you are planning. A CSA F280 calculation depends on the home's actual construction, air leakage, ventilation and local design conditions. If details are unknown, say so: the TEK Climate team needs to verify inputs or explain assumptions. Accurate information helps the sizing reflect your home as it is today.
Tonnage is a nominal size category, so it does not describe every operating condition. Two models can have different heating output in cold weather, cooling output, airflow requirements and ability to reduce output during milder weather. Ask your TEK Climate advisor for the exact equipment combination and its performance data. When comparing other quotes, request the same details from each contractor. A useful comparison checks those figures against your home's heating and cooling loads, rather than assuming two systems with the same tonnage will deliver identical comfort.
Ask your TEK Climate advisor for the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers and, where available, the AHRI certificate for the proposed matched system. Request the same details for any other quotes you are comparing. Compare SEER2 with SEER2 for cooling, and HSPF2 ratings using the same climate region for heating. Older SEER or HSPF numbers use different test methods. Check that each rating belongs to the combination on your quote. A product family's advertised maximum may describe a different combination from the one proposed for your home.
The minimum operating temperature tells you the lower limit at which the equipment is designed to run. It does not show how much heat it can supply there. Ask for heating capacity and efficiency at temperatures relevant to your location, including your home's winter design temperature. The TEK Climate team should compare that capacity with the calculated heat loss and explain the supplementary-heating plan. A low operating limit alone cannot establish whether the system will keep your home comfortable.
Ask the TEK Climate team for an assessment of duct condition, airflow and static pressure, which is the resistance the blower works against. Existing ducts may have leaks, restrictive transitions or limited return-air capacity. A new heat pump can also need different airflow from the old furnace. Point out rooms with comfort problems before equipment is selected. The proposal should explain any duct changes and how the finished system's airflow will be checked against the manufacturer's requirements.
Start by asking your TEK Climate advisor about an electrical load assessment for your proposed heat pump. The assessment should be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor whose licence covers the work. The answer depends on your existing service, other household loads and the selected heat pump, including any electric supplementary heat. Mention future plans such as an EV charger or suite. If capacity is tight, ask about suitable load-management options as well as an upgrade. BC Hydro advises assessing these options before assuming every heat pump installation needs a larger electrical service.
Choose a filter your system can accommodate. A higher MERV rating generally means better particle capture, but the filter must also fit correctly and allow the required airflow. Ask the TEK Climate team to confirm the suitable size, thickness and efficiency for your system before changing filter type. Follow the manufacturer's replacement instructions and check for heavy dirt buildup. Do not bend or crush a filter to make it fit; gaps can let air bypass it.
Ask where defrost water will go and how the installation will keep drainage away from walkways, crawl spaces and other equipment. The outdoor unit also needs the manufacturer's airflow clearances, secure support and appropriate clearance from snow or ice buildup. Discuss bedroom windows and nearby sitting areas when considering sound. Ask your TEK Climate advisor to explain the proposed location and drainage route before installation begins so these details are agreed in advance.
Request the exact equipment details, heat-load summary, applicable permit records, manuals, warranty information and completed installation checklist. Ask your TEK Climate installer to demonstrate thermostat settings, filter care and any supplementary-heating controls. For a ducted system, ask for the recorded airflow or pressure checks used to confirm setup. Keep these records together for future service. A useful handover also explains the maintenance schedule and whom to contact if the system does not behave as demonstrated.
Ask your TEK Climate advisor who will perform each part of the job and request the applicable licence numbers. Technical Safety BC's contractor registry shows active licences within its scope and the work each licence authorizes. Check the business name and licence scope, including electrical or gas work where relevant. Ask separately about equipment-specific training and who will arrange permits. The registry is one verification step; it does not establish every training credential or guarantee the quality of an installation.
Ask your contractor to review the calculation when your home's insulation, windows, air sealing or heated floor area changes. These changes can alter how much heating and cooling the home needs, so an older result may no longer describe it accurately. If you are planning upgrades, share the scope and timing before equipment is selected. The contractor can explain which conditions the calculation assumes and whether it needs revising. Better insulation may allow a smaller heat pump, but that decision should come from the updated assessment rather than a guess.
The total heating requirement and the way heat reaches each room are separate parts of the design. Rooms can have different needs because of their windows, insulation, exposure and location. A room-by-room load calculation helps identify those differences. The contractor then needs a suitable plan for delivering air or placing indoor units in the areas served. If a bedroom is consistently uncomfortable, describe when it happens and whether its door is usually closed. Ask for a room-level assessment before assuming the whole heat pump needs to be bigger.
No. A coefficient of performance, or COP, describes efficiency at particular operating conditions. A heating COP of 3 means the heat pump delivers three units of heat for each unit of electrical energy used at those conditions. The value changes with temperatures and operation. Seasonal ratings combine performance across a defined heating or cooling season, so they answer a different question. Ask what outdoor temperature a quoted COP represents, and review both seasonal efficiency and cold-weather performance. Neither number on its own predicts your exact electricity bill.
EER2 describes cooling efficiency at a specific hot-weather test condition, including an outdoor temperature of 35°C (95°F). SEER2 describes efficiency across a defined cooling season with changing temperatures. Looking at both gives you more context than either number alone, particularly when comparing systems for hot summer afternoons. A higher rating indicates better efficiency within the same metric, but neither number tells you whether the equipment is correctly sized for your home. Ask your contractor to explain both ratings alongside the cooling-load calculation and the proposed system's cooling capacity.
It should reflect your home, equipment and goals. The thermal balance point is the outdoor temperature where the heat pump's heating output matches the home's heating requirement. Below that point, supplementary heat may be needed. A dual-fuel system may also have an economic balance point, based on electricity prices, fuel prices and equipment performance. These temperatures are not automatically the same. Ask the installer to explain the chosen control strategy and settings. A TEK Climate advisor can help you understand the options without relying on a generic changeover temperature.
A steady, comfortable temperature is a useful starting point, but the best schedule depends on your system and controls. A large temperature drop can require a long recovery period and may bring on supplementary heat, reducing the savings you expected. Some heat-pump-compatible controls can manage scheduled changes with less backup heat. Ask your installer whether setbacks suit your equipment and how recovery is configured. Follow that guidance rather than copying a furnace schedule or repeatedly turning the thermostat up when the home is warming more slowly than expected.
Some frost can form on the outdoor coil during cold, damp weather. The heat pump periodically runs a defrost cycle to clear it, and you may briefly notice water vapour, a change in sound or the outdoor fan stopping. Normal heating should resume afterwards. Persistent ice buildup, repeated unsuccessful defrosting or declining comfort deserves a service check. Note what you see and how long it lasts so the technician has useful information. Leave ice removal and equipment adjustments to a professional rather than chipping at the coil or opening the unit.
Yes. Filter care helps airflow, but it does not replace a professional check of the equipment. A service visit can include controls, electrical connections, drainage, coils and other checks appropriate to your system. Natural Resources Canada recommends regular professional maintenance, and your manufacturer's instructions should guide the schedule and required work. For filters, ask which ones are washable and which need replacement, then follow the specified method and interval. Keep a simple service record and mention changes in comfort, noise or water drainage when booking the appointment.
Commissioning checks that the installed system operates as intended. Depending on the equipment, it includes verifying airflow, checking refrigerant charge using the manufacturer's procedure, measuring electrical operation and testing the controls. For a ducted system, the airflow needs to suit the indoor equipment; newly designed ductwork may also require room-by-room balancing. Ask which measurements will be recorded and how they will be checked against the manufacturer's requirements. Feeling warm or cool air at a vent is useful, but it does not establish that all these checks have been completed.
Ask both contractors for a written breakdown of the equipment and work included. Compare model numbers, the areas being served, the sizing approach, installation work, controls, commissioning and warranty coverage. Clarify whether electrical work, duct changes, removal of old equipment, taxes and any required permits are included or priced separately. Also ask about experience with the proposed system and who handles service afterwards. A lower total may reflect a different scope. A TEK Climate advisor can walk through the proposed work so you can compare the offers on the same basis.
Your home’s heating needs change with outdoor temperature. A CSA F280 calculation uses local design conditions to estimate the heating capacity needed for sizing, rather than sizing equipment around one unusually warm or cold day. The contractor should identify the outdoor design temperature and indoor temperature used, then compare the home’s calculated heat loss with the heat pump’s performance at those conditions. Ask to see those assumptions; a capacity figure without its temperature context tells only part of the story.
A heat pump needs enough output for cold weather, but much of the heating season is milder. If its lowest output is still greater than your home needs, it may switch on and off instead of running steadily. That is why minimum capacity and modulation range matter alongside maximum capacity. Ask the contractor how the proposed model’s low-output performance fits your home’s smaller heating loads. A bigger maximum rating does not automatically mean a better fit.
Heat pumps often deliver a larger amount of air at a lower temperature than a furnace. The air can therefore feel less hot at a register even while the system is heating the home effectively. Judge normal operation by whether rooms maintain the requested temperature, not just by how the air feels against your hand. If the home cannot maintain temperature, or performance suddenly changes, arrange a professional assessment rather than assuming that cooler-feeling supply air is always normal.
A typical ductless heat pump heats or cools air already inside your home; its outdoor unit does not mean it supplies fresh ventilation air. Ventilation is a separate job. Depending on the home, that may involve an HRV, ERV or another ventilation arrangement. Ask your contractor what provides outdoor air, how stale air is removed and whether the proposed equipment changes that arrangement. Do not assume adding a heat pump replaces an existing ventilation system.
For a central forced-air system, closing several supply vents is not a reliable energy-saving shortcut. It can reduce airflow through the equipment and create pressure imbalances that affect operation and comfort elsewhere. Keep supply and return openings unobstructed unless your contractor has provided system-specific instructions. If you want different temperatures in different areas, ask whether properly designed zoning is suitable. Closing registers yourself is not the same as installing a system designed and controlled for separate zones.
Filter life depends on how much the system runs, the filter design and conditions inside the home. Pets and dusty conditions can shorten the useful interval. Treat a package’s replacement estimate as a starting point, not a promise that the filter will last that long. Check it regularly using the equipment manufacturer’s instructions, and replace or clean it only as directed for that filter type. Ask your service provider for a schedule suited to your equipment and household.
During cooling, moisture from indoor air can collect on the cold indoor coil. That water needs a functioning condensate drainage arrangement. A blocked drain can lead to water damage and humidity problems, so it deserves attention even when the unit still seems to cool. Ask the installer where condensate goes and what inspections the manufacturer requires. If you notice indoor leaking or staining, arrange service promptly; do not dismantle the unit or improvise a drain-cleaning treatment.
Sources: ENERGY STAR: Maintenance checklist.
Not necessarily. A manufacturer’s parts warranty and labour coverage can be different, and some costs may remain the homeowner’s responsibility. Before buying, ask for the written terms for the exact equipment and any separate labour agreement. Check registration requirements, who handles claims and whether diagnosis, travel, refrigerant or other charges are covered. Keep the documents with your installation records. A verbal statement that the system has a warranty is not enough to establish what a future repair would cost.
Ask for references from homeowners whose projects were reasonably similar to yours. Useful questions include whether the installation met expectations, whether work finished close to the agreed schedule and budget, and how the contractor handled questions or problems afterward. Ask about comfort and communication, not just whether the equipment turns on. References are one part of checking a contractor; they do not replace verifying the qualifications required for the work or reviewing a detailed written proposal.
No. SEER2 describes seasonal cooling efficiency under a standardized test; it does not predict your complete heating and cooling bill. SEER and SEER2 use different test procedures, so they should not be treated as interchangeable numbers. Actual costs also depend on your home, weather, settings, equipment operation and energy prices. Ask for a cost estimate that states its assumptions and separates heating from cooling. Treat that estimate as a planning tool, not a guaranteed saving.
Talk with the TEK Climate team about your heating and cooling needs. An on-site assessment can help clarify equipment options and installation requirements.
Use the homeowner instructions supplied with your equipment. Leave electrical, gas, refrigerant and internal repair work to qualified professionals.
