Take advantage of green rebates for home energy improvements before they’re gone

Priority Heating, Cooling and Plumbing can help you secure up to $6,500 in rebates.

According to a report by the Canada-first website Made in CA, the home improvement industry in Canada was valued at $38.5 billion in 2022. Of that $38.5 million, the number one home activity undertaken by the DIY crowd was painting interior spaces.

However, for those individuals looking to improve energy efficiency in their home, upgrading HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment was also a popular choice.

In recent years, the Government of Ontario offered incentives to homeowners to improve home energy efficiency through programs like the Greener Home Grant. That proved to be an exceptionally popular program as thousands of homeowners applied for government rebates of up to $6,500.

However, like all good things that involve you getting government refunds, the Government of Ontario prematurely ended the program in January.

The loss of the grant program doesn’t diminish the value of adding a heat pump to help improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Companies like Priority Heating, Cooling and Plumbing are still encouraging homeowners to convert their system using a new electric heat pump.

“In our climate it’s still a good idea to move to more of a hybrid system,” said Steve Wissmach, a home comfort specialist with Priority Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.

“So you still have the benefits of a natural gas furnace, but you have the heat pump to add a layer of efficiency to your air conditioning and to supplement your heating as well.”

According to Wissmach, the heat pump is used in those times when winter temperatures are hovering around zero degrees.

In those milder conditions the system will activate the heat pump, using electricity and reducing your carbon footprint by producing zero emissions to heat your home. The gas furnace is still available to take on the brunt of harsh winter temperatures.

It’s like using a hybrid car. When it’s cold the system will automatically switch from the heat pump to natural gas. With our cold climate heat pumps, we work with the customer to set the temperature at which the heating system will switch. Some people combine the heat pump with an electric furnace to reduce their footprint even further.

Steve Wissmach

Adding a new heat pump to an existing furnace to upgrade your system can be a good idea regardless of how old your current gas furnace is. However, Wissmach says maximizing the efficiency of your HVAC system may require an upgrade to your furnace as well.

“I compare it to owning a car,” he said. “When it comes to the point you’re sinking more and more money into your furnace, you may want to think about getting a new one.

“You have to do a repair/replace analysis. Typically, a furnace will last 12 to 15 years. On the other hand, a furnace that old is not going to be as efficient as a new model.”

Energy-efficient heat pumps use as much as 50 percent less energy than electric resistance furnaces and can both heat and cool your home; this replaces the need for a separate A/C unit.

For those homeowners who may not be in the market for upgrades but who still want to extend the life of their HVAC equipment, Priority Heating, Cooling and Plumbing has a number of service packages that can keep your system running efficiently.

“One of the things we offer at Priority is the Priority Plus Plan,” said Wissmach. “It’s a monthly plan you pay for to ensure your system is maintained all year round. It also covers discounts on service fees.

“Even though you may not have upgraded your system recently, you can keep it operating efficiently. There are ways to ensure the system you have lasts longer when properly maintained.”

Priority Heating, Cooling and Plumbing is family owned and operated and ready to earn your business. Connect with them online.

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