Success stories: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program

With help from the OHPA program, Cheryl replaced oil heating with a heat pump that keeps her family comfortable all year long while reducing heating costs. 

“I am a single mom that was paying way too much for oil. Winters were hard to make ends meet and this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Since my install I haven't had any worries and the heat has been great for even the -30°C weather that us northerners have to endure.

The process was easy and very straightforward. The grant showed up only a few business days after I applied for it (I was shocked!) and the website was very user friendly.

The system works amazing in my home and has cut down my heating bills by 70% in the winter months! It also gave me an insurance rebate and definitely makes me feel safer to know that I do not have any fossil fuels in my home. I was also on the brink of losing my home's air conditioner and this also replaced that at the same time, which also saved me another couple thousand dollars! WOW!

This has been life-changing for my finances and my family's safety. I am definitely happy to have an energy efficient home when it comes to heating because I do care about our environment. Healthwise, when my old furnace was removed, they found TONS of black mold inside it and my son and I have found that our health has improved immensely since they removed it.”

“Heat has been great for even the -30°C weather that us northerners have to endure."

“The cost of fuel oil has become unaffordable. What I like the most is the difference in the cost of heating, because as a retired person I was finding it harder and harder to heat myself at a reasonable price.

I highly recommend the OHPA program! This makes it much easier to replace heating with oil for many people who would not be able to make the change financially. I’m very happy with the switch to a heat pump and my house was more comfortable this winter.”

“What I like most is the difference in the cost of heating.”

“We had wanted to make the switch but could not possibly have afforded it without this program. We, like many people, were traumatized by the 2021 heat dome in BC which was followed by catastrophic flooding in November that same year. We felt we were contributing to the climate crisis by using fossil fuel and wanted to find a greener alternative. Also, the price of oil was getting higher every year. And the cooling function [of the heat pump] is amazing. This summer was the first year with the heat pump, and it is a game changer!”

“This is an amazing program for incentivizing people to make the switch.”

“I’m happy to contribute to reducing my carbon footprint while enjoying a better heating/cooling system. Cost of heating oil was the main factor. Everything went smoothly and as described on the website. I received the grant a few days later.”

“Everything went smoothly.”

“For a long time, I knew that at some point I’d have to change my oil heating system for an electric one. The OHPA program gives me the opportunity to do just that. In addition to being a pollutant (we only have to look at the black smoke that came out of the chimney each time the heating went away), it costs a lot to heat with oil (the price of fuel increases every year and may fluctuate depending on the world market), and to maintain the increasingly outdated system (I must have an annual maintenance plan with the company). I can say that the process was fluid, simple and I did not feel any bureaucracy or requests for unnecessary paperwork or evidence.”

“I can say that the process was fluid, simple.”

“Our furnace system was aging and required an upgrade . This was an opportunity which presented itself at ideal timing. Utilizing our oil furnace was becoming quite costly, the financial picture was most motivating. To fill our oil tank (~600L @ 1.33 per litre) would cost us $1000 per fill, once all taxes were paid. Additionally, home insurance was becoming a challenge to secure, and required significant expense to pay for furnace and oil tank inspections required by our insurance provider. The financial incentives covered the majority of the cost, making the switch from oil to a heat pump a highly worthwhile investment.”

“Simple, timely and worthwhile.”

“My oil burner needed to be replaced, and I was looking for something more affordable than oil. The cost of an electric heat pump was comparable to replacing my oil-fired boiler. Additionally, the electric heat pump allowed better zoning of the house as well as offering ‘central’ heating and cooling (previously cooled the house with 3 window units). Plus, no more oil costs! My contractor was awesome. His advice on how to zone the house and choice of units was invaluable, and his installation was meticulous.”

“My home has never been this pleasant.”

Confirm with your contractor that the recommended heat pump is eligible. Your contractor must include the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) number with the quote(s) for the selected heat pump the brand name, and the model numbers of the corresponding indoor and outdoor units.

You can verify if the heat pump recommended by your contractor is eligible under the OHPA program by searching the eligible product lists.

It’s mandatory that your contractor signs an attestation form after your heat pump is installed, confirming that the heat pump is capable of distributing heat throughout your entire home, and is eligible under the OHPA program. Ensure your contractor will agree to sign the form (before you hire them, and they begin the work).

Confirm that all the work can be completed within 6 months of receiving your grant payment.

For ground source heat pumps, the contractor must attest that the installation has been completed according to the CSA C448 standard (latest version) – Design and installation of ground source heat pump systems. You must submit this form after the work is complete.