A heat pump does two jobs. In summer it cools your home like a central air conditioner, and for most of the heating season it warms the house by moving heat in from outdoors instead of burning fuel. For many Barrie homeowners, that means lower energy use and one modern system in place of an aging furnace-and-AC pair.
Getting the benefit depends on choosing the right setup and installing it for our winters. Aire One Barrie has more than 30 years of heating and cooling experience in Simcoe County. Our TSSA-certified technicians handle the gas side of dual-fuel systems, and our refrigerant work is done by certified technicians, as Ontario requires.
Thinking about a heat pump? Call 705-733-1003 or book a free in-home assessment.
Dual-fuel (heat pump plus gas furnace). The heat pump heats and cools for most of the year, and the furnace takes over automatically on the coldest days. It’s the most common choice in Barrie homes that already have natural gas, and it pairs well with a furnace that still has years left in it.
All-electric cold-climate heat pump. A ducted heat pump designed for low temperatures, with electric backup heat built in. It suits well-insulated homes and owners moving away from gas, propane or oil entirely.
Ductless mini-split. Wall-mounted indoor units with no ductwork needed. It’s a practical fit for additions, finished basements, garages and older homes heated with baseboards or a boiler. See our ductless split systems.
We start with a room-by-room heat-loss calculation rather than matching the size of your old equipment. Next we look at the ductwork, because heat pumps move more air at gentler temperatures and undersized ducts can make them noisy. We also check your electrical panel’s capacity, especially for all-electric systems with backup heat, and see whether your existing furnace’s blower can work with the new outdoor unit. Our blog post on what to know before installing a heat pump covers these questions in more detail.
Where the outdoor unit sits matters as much as which model you buy. Lake-effect snow off Kempenfelt Bay and squalls blowing in from Georgian Bay can bury a unit set at ground level. We mount heat pumps on raised stands or wall brackets above the typical snow line, out of the drip line from the roof, and away from bedroom windows. We also plan where defrost meltwater will drain, so it doesn’t freeze across a walkway or driveway.
Barrie’s housing varies too. Newer homes in the south end, around the Hewitt’s and Salem areas, are often well sealed and good candidates for a heat pump as the main heating source. Older homes in neighbourhoods like Sunnidale and Grove East more often need duct improvements or a dual-fuel setup to stay comfortable through January. Wondering how they cope with deep cold? Read can heat pumps handle cold winters.
Some winter behaviour looks alarming but is perfectly normal. A few times an hour in cold, damp weather, the outdoor unit runs a defrost cycle. You may hear a whoosh, see steam rising from the unit and notice a light layer of frost that comes and goes. The indoor air may also feel slightly cooler for a few minutes.
Call for heat pump repair if the outdoor coil is encased in solid ice that doesn’t clear, the outdoor fan has stopped, backup heat seems to run constantly, the system won’t switch between heating and cooling, or an indoor unit is flashing an error code. We repair central and ductless heat pumps, and a yearly maintenance plan catches most of these problems early.
The price depends on the type of system, its capacity and any ductwork or electrical work needed, so we quote after seeing your home, usually with more than one option. Government and utility rebates for heat pumps change through the year, so check our current offers and rebates or ask during your assessment. For the bigger picture, read why heat pumps top the list of eco-friendly upgrades.
Aire One Barrie works from 176 Burton Ave and brings more than 30 years of heating and cooling experience to homes across Simcoe County. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we install equipment to the manufacturer’s standards. The same team handles furnace installation, furnace repair and air conditioner repair, so one call covers the whole system.
Usually, yes. Many homes can use their existing ducts, sometimes with a few changes to improve airflow. If your ducts are too small or you have none, a ductless system is often the better option.
Not always. Dual-fuel systems rarely need one. All-electric systems with backup heat can need more capacity than some older homes have, so we check your panel before quoting.
Modern outdoor units are generally quieter than older central air conditioners. Placing the unit away from bedroom windows and patios also makes a noticeable difference.
Around 15 years is typical with regular maintenance. Because a heat pump runs year-round, a check in spring and fall helps it reach that lifespan.
Furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, water heater and indoor air quality service for Barrie and Simcoe County since 1990.