FortisBC Dual Fuel Rebates

[u/HammersHeating]

I own a heating company in Maple Ridge and get asked about this almost daily, so here's my take on the new rebate.

What dual fuel is: A heat pump paired with a new high-efficiency gas furnace. A smart thermostat runs the heat pump most of the year and switches to gas when it gets really cold.

My take: For most homes in the Lower Mainland with gas already in, I think dual fuel is the smartest setup right now. Our winters are mild enough that the heat pump does most of the work. You get AC in the summer. And when we get that week of -8, the furnace takes over and you're not worrying about it. You also keep a backup if something goes down. A heat pump on its own works great in the right home, but if you already have gas, dual fuel is hard to beat. The question I get asked every single time, “what’s cheaper to heat my house with?” And my answer is a gas furnace - that being said as per program requirements we need to set it up so that the heat pump is the primary heater down to 5 degrees Celsius. You have control of the thermostat settings to use whichever heating source you prefer.

What it costs: For a standard-size home, expect roughly $17,000 to $20,000 installed. Where you land depends on the brand, how tricky the install is, and what we're taking out.

Rebates through FortisBC:
$4,000 standard rebate
$8,000 if you're income qualified

Income qualified limits (total household income, all sources):
People in the home / Max household income
1 $51,100
2 $63,600
3 $78,200
4 $94,900
5 $107,600
6 $121,400
7+ $135,100

Some of the requirements are:
It has to be a new heat pump and a new furnace installed together. Replacing an existing dual fuel system doesn't qualify.
The equipment has to be on FortisBC's eligible list, and a licensed contractor has to install the connected thermostat.
You'll need to show proof of income for the $8,000 rebate.

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

FortisBC Dual Fuel Rebate Link

[u/Tobu3838]

How long does it take one of these to pay for itself? My guess is its like 5-10 years given the upfront costs even after the rebates

[u/HammersHeating → u/Tobu3838]

Are you asking how long it takes for the heat pump to pay for itself since you would now be using the heat pump to heat your home instead of natural gas? It actually is cheaper to heat your home with a high efficiency natural gas furnace than it is with a heat pump. With a dual fuel system you have the option to use either.

There is a calculator on the government website where put your heating system type in and when compared to a high efficiency gas furnace and it will say the gas furnace is more efficient.