Heat Pump Installation in Burnaby, BC

Start with space, access and approvals in Burnaby

In an apartment or townhouse, the first question may be where equipment is allowed rather than which brand to choose. Ask the strata which exterior areas, balconies, walls and electrical services are common property and what submission it needs. Give a contractor those constraints before asking for a firm proposal, so that the design and estimate refer to a location you can actually use.

In a detached home, explain whether you want whole-home heating and cooling or relief for selected rooms. Ductless and ducted proposals can cover different scopes even when both are described as heat-pump installation. Ask what happens in bedrooms with closed doors, how the system is controlled and whether existing heating remains as backup.

Coordinate the electrical and mechanical work

Share any existing or planned EV charging with the contractor. The electrical assessment must consider the proposed equipment and other loads; the number stamped on a panel is not a complete capacity assessment. Ask for alternatives where appropriate, including management of charging demand, and have the written proposal identify any service or utility work separately.

For an outdoor unit near a neighbour or a shared path, discuss sound, clearances and service access before selecting the position. Request a plan for condensate and defrost drainage suitable for the actual location. Verify Burnaby’s current permit requirements and any rebate programme timing independently, and retain the model numbers, approvals and commissioning documents.

Make quotes comparable

Give each contractor the same brief: your home type, current heating, known electrical service, preferred equipment location and any other upgrades planned in the next year. Ask what the price assumes, what needs a site visit and which costs remain provisional. Keep equipment model numbers and permit responsibilities in writing so that a lower total does not hide a smaller scope.

After an assessment, review the contractor’s official estimate or quote and its terms before authorising work. Ask about commissioning, maintenance access and warranty responsibilities. Programme registration, a directory listing and a completed online form do not establish that a particular installation is approved, funded or booked.

Contractor listings serving Burnaby

Frequently asked questions

How should I choose a contractor?

Compare written scopes, verify licences and insurance, check recent references and ask who completes each trade’s work. Listings are not endorsements and are not ranked by payment.

Are rebates available?

Eligibility depends on the current programme, property, equipment and application timing. Verify directly with the official programme before installation; no rebate is guaranteed.

Can a heat pump provide heating and cooling?

A suitable reversible heat pump can do both. The contractor must assess the home, equipment performance and any backup-heating requirements.

Do I need a 200-amp upgrade?

Not automatically. An electrician must assess demand and proposed loads. Existing capacity or suitable load management may be options; a panel change is not the same as increasing utility service capacity.

How long will installation take?

Timing depends on scope, equipment, permissions, utility coordination and contractor availability. Ask for a schedule in the written proposal; submitting a request does not reserve a date.

Who arranges permits?

Ask the contractor to identify the required permits, responsible applicant and inspection process for your address. Strata permission, where needed, is a separate requirement.

How many quotes should I compare?

Where available, compare two or three written proposals with equivalent scope. Retrofit Network may share a consented request with up to 3 contractors, but cannot guarantee three responses.

What is excluded from the online range?

The model is before tax and rebates. Confirm equipment supply, permits, utility/service work, access, building repairs and concealed conditions in a contractor’s official written estimate. Actual costs can fall outside the displayed band.