What it costs in the GTA
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Central AC replacement, existing ducts | $3,500–$7,500 |
| Hybrid heat pump (keeps your gas furnace as backup) | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump | $10,000–$22,000 |
| Ductless mini-split, single zone | $2,000–$5,000 |
Before HST and before rebates. Electrical panel upgrades are extra if your panel is full. Ranges where published GTA and Ontario sources overlap, checked November 2026. Not a quote.
Rebates, permits & rules
- Home Renovation Savings pays up to $2,000 for a heat pump in a gas-heated home, and up to $7,500 in a home heated by electricity, oil or propane, through participating contractors. Straight AC doesn't qualify.
- Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program is scheduled to end November 30, 2026. If you're counting on a rebate, confirm it's still open, and that your contractor is a participating one, before you sign.
- Refrigerant work needs a certified technician. Gas connections for hybrid systems need a TSSA-certified gas technician.
- In Ontario, a company can't sign you up for a furnace, air conditioner or water heater (buy, rent or lease) at your door unless you contacted them first. If someone shows up uninvited, you don't have to let them in.
- Signed the contract at your home? Ontario gives you 10 days to cancel most contracts signed there, for any reason.
What a complete quote includes
If any of these aren't on your quote, ask. Missing doesn't mean it's wrong, but it should be in writing.
- Brand, model, size (tons) and SEER2 rating
- For heat pumps: cold-climate rated, and heating output at -15°C or colder
- Backup heat: keeps your furnace, or adds electric strips
- Line set: new or reused
- Pad or wall bracket
- Electrical disconnect, breaker, and whether your panel has room
- Removal and disposal of the old unit
- Permit, if required
- Rebate paperwork: who files it, and what you need to sign
- Parts and labour warranty, in years
- A heat pump quote with no cold-climate rating or low-temperature output
- 'Rebate included' in the price, before you've been approved
- No mention of your electrical panel
- A rental or lease agreement presented as a purchase
- If your furnace is young and you only need cooling, a straight AC is the cheapest option.
- If your AC and furnace are both getting old, a hybrid heat pump is often the sweet spot: lower gas bills, furnace as backup on the coldest days.
- Heated with electricity, oil or propane? A cold-climate heat pump usually pays back fastest, and the rebate is biggest.
- Most central AC units last about 12–15 years.
5 questions to ask before you sign
- What's this unit's heating output at -15°C?
- Does my electrical panel have room, or is an upgrade needed?
- Is the rebate guaranteed, or do I pay full price if it's denied?
- Are you a participating Home Renovation Savings contractor?
- Are you reusing the old line set, and is that OK for this unit?
Paste your quote into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini with this prompt:
I'm a homeowner in [city], Ontario. Here is my [AC / heat pump] quote: [paste]. List what it includes and leaves out (model and rating, cold-weather output, backup heat, electrical work, permit, rebate paperwork, warranties), flag anything vague, and give me 5 questions to ask before I sign. Don't guess a fair price.
Or skip the copy-paste: our free Quote Checker already knows what a ac & heat pumps quote should include, and compares the price with real GTA ranges.
Common questions
How much does central AC cost in Toronto?
Most central AC replacements on existing ductwork run about $3,500–$7,500 before HST.
Is a heat pump worth it in Toronto?
Often, if your AC and furnace are both near the end of their life, or you heat with electricity, oil or propane. A hybrid setup keeps your furnace for the coldest days.
What heat pump rebates are there in Ontario?
Home Renovation Savings offers up to $2,000 for gas-heated homes and up to $7,500 for homes heated another way, through participating contractors. It's scheduled to end November 30, 2026.