Heat Pump + Electric Air Handler Systems
Heat Pump and Electric Air Handler Systems in Ontario
All-Electric Comfort, Top Rebate Tier
A cold-climate heat pump with an electric air handler gives all-electric central heating and cooling. EHI installs Midea EVOX G3 systems across Ontario from $5,500.
- Midea EVOX G3 with matched air handler, 2 to 5 ton
- Rated to -30°C, with electric auxiliary heat built in
- Up to $7,500 back for electric, oil, propane and wood heated homes
- From $5,500 installed, ESA-licensed 240V wiring included
Voted Best Company 2019 to 2021 · Authorized Midea, Lennox, Kepler & Rinnai dealer, plus Goodman · 20+ years
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Problems a heat pump and air handler system solves
These are the homes where an all-electric heat pump system pays back fastest.
Electric baseboards and a hydro bill that hurts
Baseboards turn one unit of electricity into one unit of heat, every time. A cold-climate heat pump turns it into two to three. Same hydro, far more heat, plus central air you never had.
Propane or oil tank, delivery bills and no gas on the street
Homes beyond the Enbridge grid, from cottage country around Wasaga Beach to Pembroke and Sudbury, pay the most to heat. Going all-electric with a heat pump cuts the fuel bill and lands in the $7,500 rebate tier.
An old electric furnace that costs a fortune to run
An electric air handler with a heat pump replaces it on the same ducts. The air handler's heat strips are the same idea as your electric furnace, but now they're the backup instead of the main event.
You want to drop fossil fuels entirely
Heat pump plus electric air handler is the all-electric route. No gas line, no combustion, no venting, no carbon monoxide. Cooling in summer comes from the same system.
Worried the panel can't handle it
Many homes with baseboards already have the panel capacity, because the baseboards are coming out. We check the panel load on the assessment visit, and our ESA-licensed electricians handle the 240V circuits or a panel upgrade if one is needed.
Sound familiar?
Describe the problem and we'll tell you what it usually is, what it costs to fix, and whether it's worth fixing.
What an electric air handler actually does
An air handler is the indoor half of a ducted heat pump system: a cabinet with a variable-speed blower, the indoor refrigerant coil, and a bank of electric heat strips. It sits where a furnace would, connects to your supply and return ducts, and moves air across the coil. In heating mode the coil is hot; in cooling mode it's cold and pulls humidity out of the house.
The electric heat strips are auxiliary heat. They come on in three situations: during a defrost cycle so the vents don't blow cool air, when the outdoor temperature drops below what the heat pump can carry alone, and as emergency heat if the outdoor unit ever faults. On a properly sized EVOX G3 system in Southern Ontario they run a small fraction of the winter. We size the strips to your heat loss and set the thermostat so they don't run when the heat pump could.
Midea EVOX G3 air handler sizes
The MAAHE and MAUHE air handlers are matched to the EVOX G3 outdoor unit in four sizes. Size comes from a heat-loss calculation, not a guess.
| Size | Capacity | Typical Ontario home | Installed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton | 24,000 BTU | Bungalow, townhouse or well-insulated home up to about 1,200 sq ft | $5,500 plus |
| 3 ton | 36,000 BTU | Two-storey up to about 2,000 sq ft | Quote |
| 4 ton | 48,000 BTU | Larger two-storey, roughly 2,000 to 2,800 sq ft | Quote |
| 5 ton | 60,000 BTU | Large or older, less-insulated homes | Quote |
Electric auxiliary heat strips are sized to your home. All EVOX G3 systems use R-454B refrigerant and carry the ENERGY STAR cold climate mark. Rebates up to $7,500 for eligible homes; confirm eligibility before installation.
240V, panel capacity and what the electrician checks
An all-electric system needs two things from your panel: a dedicated 240V circuit for the outdoor heat pump, and a second, larger 240V circuit for the air handler's heat strips. Together they're the biggest load in the house. Our ESA-licensed electricians do a load calculation on the assessment visit, count what's coming out (baseboards, an electric furnace, an old AC) against what's going in, and tell you plainly whether the existing panel carries it.
Most homes that already heat with electricity are fine. Homes coming off oil or propane with an older panel sometimes need an upgrade, and we quote that up front in the guaranteed price, not as a surprise on install day.
Running cost: heat pump and air handler versus baseboards
Baseboards and electric furnaces are 100% efficient, which sounds good until you remember a heat pump is 200% to 300% efficient on the same hydro. For every dollar of electricity, a cold-climate heat pump delivers two to three dollars' worth of heat across an Ontario heating season, even counting the hours the strips run in deep cold. The exact saving depends on your heat loss, your region and how often the strips run, so we show you the numbers for your house rather than a national average.
Two things keep the savings real: sizing from a heat-loss calculation so the heat pump carries the house down to its rated -15°C capacity, and setting the thermostat's auxiliary heat lockout correctly. Both are standard on every EHI install.
Our work · 6 photos
All-electric heat pump systems we've installed
Real jobs by our licensed crews in Ontario homes. Tap a photo to see it full size.
What's included in an EHI heat pump and air handler installation
- Heat-loss calculation, duct assessment and electrical load calculation
- Removal of baseboards, electric furnace, oil or propane furnace as agreed
- Midea EVOX G3 outdoor unit on a riser stand, new line set, nitrogen pressure test and deep vacuum
- Matched MAAHE or MAUHE air handler set and sealed to the plenum, with electric heat strips sized to your home
- Two dedicated 240V circuits, disconnects and breakers by ESA-licensed electricians, panel upgrade quoted if needed
- Condensate drain with a trap, and a secondary drain pan where the air handler sits above finished space
- Heat-pump-ready thermostat with the auxiliary heat lockout set, and a walk-through
- Permits, warranty registration, rebate pre-approval and final submission
How an all-electric heat pump installation works
- 1
Assessment and guaranteed quote
Heat loss, ducts and panel load checked in one visit. You get a guaranteed quote with the rebate and financing laid out.
- 2
Rebate pre-approval
The EVOX G3 is on NRCan's qualified list. We submit pre-approval before install day and confirm your fuel tier.
- 3
Install, commission, hand over
Usually one day, two if a panel upgrade or new ductwork is involved. Licensed refrigeration techs and ESA-licensed electricians do the work, and we register the warranty and file the final rebate documents.
What it costs, and how we keep it lower
Guaranteed pricing
Your quote is your final price. No surprise extras on the agreed scope of work.
Rebates up to $7,500
Cold-climate heat pumps may qualify through the Home Renovation Savings Program. We confirm eligibility and file the paperwork.
0% financing
Interest-free for 3, 6 or 9 months, or open loans from 2.99% on approved credit.
Up to 12 years parts and labour
Extended warranty on select systems when registered.
Want the real number for your home?
A guaranteed quote takes one visit. Rebate and financing options come with it.
Why Ontario homes and businesses choose EHI Heating And Cooling
20+ years in Ontario homes
We've installed through more January cold snaps and July heat waves than we can count. That experience shows up in the sizing, the ductwork and the little details.
Voted Best Company 2019 to 2021
HomeStars Verified. Our reviews come from real Ontario homeowners and business owners.
Authorized Midea, Lennox, Kepler and Rinnai dealer, plus Goodman
Factory-backed equipment, factory-backed warranties, and techs trained on the gear we install. We install and service Goodman too.
Guaranteed final pricing
The number on your quote is the number on your invoice. We may also beat comparable reputable quotes by up to 10%.
Rebate paperwork handled
Pre-approval, heat-loss calculation and documentation for the Home Renovation Savings Program. You just sign.
Licensed, certified crews
TSSA-certified gas technicians, licensed refrigeration techs and ESA-licensed electrical work on every job.
Ready when you are
Call us or send the form. Quotes are free, guaranteed and come with your rebate estimate.
HVAC service across Ontario
We're a service-area business. Our crews come to your home or business, from the GTA to Northern Ontario. Don't see your town? Call, we probably cover it.
Toronto and York Region
Simcoe, Muskoka and cottage country
Hamilton and Niagara
Southwestern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Serving Ontario from our Stouffville office
Find us on Google, get directions, or check our hours. Our crews travel to your home or business across the province.
EHI Heating And Cooling (Efficient Home Improvements)
- Phone
1-647-694-5845 - Email
efficienthomecomfort@gmail.com - Service area
All of Ontario. See the cities we serve
Hours
- Monday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Tuesday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Wednesday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Thursday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Friday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Saturday8:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Sunday10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Emergency service available outside these hours.
- Office
4261 Bloomington Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON L4A 3Y6
Frequently asked questions
What is an air handler in a heat pump system?
An air handler is the indoor unit of a ducted heat pump system. It holds the blower, the indoor refrigerant coil and, in an electric air handler, a set of electric heat strips for auxiliary heat. It sits where a furnace would and moves conditioned air through your ductwork.
Do I need auxiliary heat with a cold-climate heat pump?
Most all-electric homes in Ontario should have it. The electric heat strips in the air handler cover defrost cycles, the few nights below the heat pump's rated capacity, and emergency heat if the outdoor unit faults. On a correctly sized Midea EVOX G3 they run a small fraction of the winter.
How much does a heat pump and electric air handler system cost in Ontario?
Heat pump and air handler systems with EHI start at $5,500 installed. Installed pricing depends on size and installation requirements, including electrical work and any new ductwork, and every quote is guaranteed before work starts. Eligible electric, oil, propane and wood heated homes can receive up to $7,500 back through the Home Renovation Savings Program.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than electric baseboards?
Yes. A cold-climate heat pump delivers two to three units of heat per unit of electricity across an Ontario heating season, while baseboards deliver one. Even with auxiliary strips running in deep cold, most homes see a large cut in winter hydro use, and they gain central air conditioning in summer.
Will my electrical panel handle a heat pump and air handler?
Often yes, especially in homes that already heat with electricity, because the baseboards or electric furnace coming out free up capacity. Our ESA-licensed electricians run a load calculation on the assessment visit and tell you before quoting. If a panel upgrade is needed, it's included in the guaranteed price.
Can I keep propane or oil as backup instead of electric heat strips?
You can keep an existing propane or oil furnace as backup in a hybrid set-up, but most homeowners coming off delivered fuel choose electric auxiliary heat so they can remove the tank, and because all-electric homes qualify for the higher rebate tier. We show you both options with running costs.