A heat pump heats your home by drawing heat from outdoors, from the air or the ground, even in winter. According to Hydro-Québec, it can be up to three times more efficient than electric baseboards during the cold season. But Quebec doesn't have just one climate: January averages -5.5 °C on the Magdalen Islands, -9.2 °C in Montreal, -16.3 °C in Val-d'Or and -23.3 °C in Kuujjuaq (1991–2020 normals). Heating degree-days range from 4,281 a year in Montreal to 8,196 in Kuujjuaq.
Three rules apply everywhere. Choose an ENERGY STAR Cold Climate model. Keep backup heating: below their minimum operating temperature, between -15 °C and -25 °C for newer models, air-source heat pumps shut off. And compare quotes on heating capacity at -8 °C, the figure used to calculate the rebate, without oversizing: an overly powerful unit dehumidifies poorly in summer.
Current financial help:
- LogisVert: $120 per 1,000 BTU/h at -8 °C for a Cold Climate model, $50 for an ENERGY STAR model; $750 per 1,000 BTU/h for a geothermal heat pump; 5% more for two measures in the same application, to be filed within nine months. Customers of municipal networks are eligible.
- Municipal programs: RénoPlex in Montreal, oil replacement grants in Laval (work finished by December 31, 2026) and Gatineau (75%, up to $3,500), and Joliette's conditional grant; Granby's aid is used up for 2026.
- Closed or not yet open: Chauffez vert ended on March 31, 2026, registration for the free heat pump is closed for 2026–2027, and Rénoclimat no longer funds heating. The $2,000 federal rebate (up to $10,000 below the median income), announced on October 8, 2026, has no portal yet.
For LogisVert, the installer must hold an RBQ licence with subclass 15.9 or 15.10 (plus 15.1, 15.7 or 15.8) and belong to the corporation for its trade, such as the CMMTQ or CETAF. Get at least three written quotes and shop early: in the fall, everyone thinks about heating at the same time. Our complete guide, our contractor check guide and the calculator will help you prepare. Then choose your region to see its climate, distributors, local programs and installers.