7 Questions to Ask a Heat Pump Installer Before You Sign

1. How did you size this system for my home?

The only right answer involves a heat-loss calculation for your specific home — insulation, windows, air sealing, orientation — not a rule of thumb. 'You have 2,000 square feet so you need 3 tons' is the number-one predictor of comfort complaints later. Ask to see the calculation output and the assumed design temperature. It's reasonable to expect this on any quote in BC.

2. What does this equipment actually deliver at my design temperature?

Nameplate capacity is measured at 8°C. Your cold snap isn't 8°C. Ask for the manufacturer's capacity table at your region's design temperature (around -6°C to -9°C on the South Coast, -15°C to -20°C in the Southern Interior, colder up north) and confirm it covers your calculated heat loss. An installer who produces this table without fumbling has done cold-climate work before.

3. What electrical work is included — exactly?

Heat pumps need dedicated circuits, and some homes need panel or service upgrades. Get the electrical scope itemized: circuits, breakers, disconnect, any panel work, and whether a load calculation was done. Quotes that say 'electrical extra if required' are how a $14,000 project becomes $19,000. If your panel is 100 amps, ask specifically whether load management was considered as an alternative to an upgrade.

4. Which rebate programs are you registered with, and who files the paperwork?

Most BC rebate programs pay out only when the installing contractor is registered with the program. Ask which programs they're registered for, who submits which application, and what happens if a rebate is denied. Get the answers on the written quote. A contractor who handles rebate paperwork weekly is also a good signal of volume and legitimacy.

5. What does commissioning include?

Commissioning is the difference between equipment that's installed and a system that performs: verifying refrigerant charge, airflow, control configuration, defrost behaviour, and backup-heat staging, then walking you through operation. Ask what's checked, whether you get a commissioning report, and whether the thermostat/controls setup is included. 'We turn it on and make sure it blows warm' is not commissioning.

6. Who services this after installation — and how fast?

Ask whether they have their own service department, typical response time for a no-heat call in January, and what the first-year checkup policy is. An installer three hours away with no service techs is a real cost you can't see on the quote. This question matters more in the Interior and North, where the pool of local service techs is smaller.

7. What are the warranty terms — equipment AND labour?

Equipment warranties (often 10-12 years on the compressor with registration) only cover parts. Labour warranties are the installer's own promise and typically run 1-3 years — that spread is worth real money. Ask: parts warranty length, labour warranty length, who registers the equipment warranty, and whether warranty service requires their maintenance plan. Get all of it in writing.

When you're ready to put these questions to work, request quotes from local installers through Retrofit Network and compare their answers side by side — the differences will be obvious within one conversation per contractor.