If an efficient new gas furnace is on your to-do list for 2023, you’ll want to take advantage of available rebates – while they last.
As the federal and provincial governments continue encouraging residents to switch their home heating systems to electric heat pumps, rebates on gas furnaces are set to disappear in 2023, says Steve Duddy of Hilltop Plumbing & Heating.
“The provincial and federal governments have invested heavily in heat pump programs, and it looks some municipalities like the City of Vancouver and Langley might be following suit,” Duddy says, pointing to electric heat pump incentives including the federal Greener Homes Grant and the BC Hydro incentive.
“The government is quickly and aggressively phasing out gas-fired appliances, so if you want to have your gas furnace replaced, you need to do it quickly,” he says. “Not surprisingly, they’ll no longer be incentivizing replacing older gas furnaces with less than 100-per-cent-efficiency products.”
Duddy also emphasizes the considerable cost difference between replacing a failed gas furnace with a heat pump system – even with maximum incentives.
“A heat pump system generally costs three to four times as much as a gas furnace,” Duddy says. “You may also need to have an electrical panel upgrade to accommodate the new system, which can cost upwards of $10,000. Many people just can’t afford that.”
Fortis BC currently offers up to $1,000 in rebates for replacement of oil or propane furnaces and water heaters to natural gas, but Duddy says these incentives are short-lived.
“These rebates will be phased out after 2023,” he says. “Old-style hot water tanks start from around $2,000, and newer high-efficiency models can be as much as $7,000, so if you plan to replace yours, do it in the next year or it will cost you a lot more!”
Hilltop Plumbing & Heating has served residential and commercial clients in White Rock, Langley, and South Surrey for more than 50 years, with a full range of plumbing, heating and drain cleaning services. Their expert HVAC team encourage homeowners to replace their existing oil, propane or natural gas appliances while they can still take advantage of incentives, and offer advice for any questions or concerns they may have.
“There’s some mixed messaging out there with the push for heat pump systems,” Duddy says. “We want people to know that we’re here for them if they want to discuss their options.”
Learn more at hilltopplumbing.com or call 604-536-5545 for a free onsite quote, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.