Heat Pumps

An air supply heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it inside for heating. It works by using a refrigerant to absorb heat from the outside, compressing it to increase its temperature, and then releasing it inside. This process can also be reversed for cooling. Traditionally, air supplied heat pumps have been used for areas with milder climates. However, this landscape is rapidly changing, and companies claim to have prototypes reaching -25 C, with product launch forecast for 2024.

The air supply heat pump’s cold climate shortcoming had weakened it’s use in the Canadian market. With the technological advances, and based on economical considerations, the heat pump, in conjunction with an ERV, could well begin to overtake the furnace/ Air Conditioner solution for homes in Canada.

There is also the geothermal heat pump, which could be used for the Canadian market, however, the geothermal vertical piping cost is a prohibiting factor, and most homes don’t have sufficient land in order to support a horizontal piping layout.