Dual-fuel heat pump systems in Delta and the Lower Mainland

A dual-fuel system is a new central ducted heat pump paired with a new high-efficiency gas furnace. The heat pump does the heating for most of the year and provides cooling in summer. The furnace is there for the coldest days, or as backup if you want to keep gas in the picture.

This is a common conversation in Delta, including Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta, and in neighbouring Lower Mainland cities, because so many houses already have a gas furnace and ducts. It is not the right answer for every home. We will look at the existing furnace, the ducts, the electrical and gas service, and how you actually use the house before we recommend it.

Blueshore Mechanical is based at 7311 Vantage Way, Unit 106, Delta. We are a locally owned mechanical contractor, founded in June 2019, Technical Safety BC licensed (Gas LGA0210872; Boiler, Pressure Vessel & Refrigeration LBP0212234 and LIC-00214020), staffed with Red Seal certified plumbers, insured and bonded.

Estimates are free. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with same-day service and 24/7 emergency heating response when a system fails.

Call (604) 728-2583 or request a free estimate.

For all-electric heat pumps, start with Heat pumps or Heat pump installation in Delta. If you mainly need a new furnace, see Furnace replacement in Delta.

How a dual-fuel system works

The outdoor heat pump and the new furnace share the same duct system and are run by a connected thermostat. In milder weather the heat pump is the primary heat source. When the outdoor temperature drops past the set changeover point, the furnace takes over.

For FortisBC rebate-eligible systems in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, that changeover must be set at 5°C or lower for the life of the equipment. Southern Interior and northern B.C. regions use a 2°C or lower set-point. The heat pump still has to be sized so it can meet the home’s heat demand at or below that outdoor set-point — a rule-of-thumb equipment size is not enough.

The furnace in a rebate-eligible system must be a new, compatible unit that operates at 95% efficiency or higher. We install and service all major brands, including Mitsubishi, Daikin, Carrier and Lennox, and we will only propose a matched heat pump and furnace that actually fit the house and, if a rebate is part of your plan, the program’s qualified list.

A dual-fuel system is not the same as adding a ductless head and leaving the old furnace as-is, and it is not a like-for-like furnace swap. If your house has no useful ducts, a boiler, or electric baseboards, a different heat pump design is usually the better conversation. See Heat pumps.

Why this comes up in Delta and nearby cities

Many homes in North Delta, and in parts of Surrey, Richmond, and Burnaby, already heat with a forced-air gas furnace. In those houses the practical question is often: replace the furnace only, go to an all-electric ducted heat pump, or keep gas as backup and add a heat pump.

Ladner and Tsawwassen add their own constraints: crawlspace or attic ducts that may or may not be worth using, tighter side yards, and coastal exposure for the outdoor unit. We talk through pad or wall-bracket placement on site, along with venting and gas piping for the new furnace.

The standard any-income CleanBC rebate for switching a typical Lower Mainland gas home fully off gas ended on 11 April 2025, except in the northern region. That is one reason dual-fuel is now a frequent comparison for FortisBC gas customers here — not because it is always cheaper or always rebate-eligible, but because it is one of the remaining program paths when the existing furnace is older. Full context is on Heat pump rebates in B.C..

We also work in Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, and Vancouver. City permit rules differ, and we will tell you what your address needs. See Heat pump installation in Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, and Vancouver.

FortisBC dual-fuel rebate facts (last checked November 10, 2026)

These figures and rules were last checked on November 10, 2026 against FortisBC’s official pages. Programs change. Confirm details on the official site before you budget a rebate.

Eligible residential FortisBC natural gas (or, in limited cases, piped-propane) customers can receive up to $4,000 for a qualifying dual-fuel system under the standard Dual fuel heating system rebate, or up to $8,000 if they meet the income-qualified offer. A smaller two-upgrade bonus — $300 on the standard offer, $350 if income-qualified — may apply if you also complete another eligible Home Renovation Rebate upgrade.

In outline, the system must be:

  • A new central ducted air-source heat pump integrated with a new compatible 95% or higher gas furnace, operated by a connected thermostat
  • Replacing an existing gas furnace that is the home’s primary space heating system and is at least 15 years old (replacing an existing dual-fuel system, warranty replacements, and insurance claims are not eligible)
  • Listed on FortisBC’s Qualified Dual Fuel Systems List, with an AHRI reference that includes the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and furnace model
  • Sized with a program-approved heat-load calculation, commissioned on site, and documented through FortisBC’s required commissioning process (including DSMAlly at the time of installation)
  • Installed in a year-round primary residence at least 12 months old that is a single-family home, duplex, triplex, row home, townhouse, or mobile home on a permanent foundation (new construction, additions, and garage upgrades are not eligible)

The rebate cannot be combined with other FortisBC, provincial, or federal-funded rebate programs. Applications must be submitted within six months of the paid invoice date. The rebate applies to installations completed on or after October 15, 2026.

The income-qualified offer has extra rules, including household income limits, a requirement that the homeowner own only one property in B.C., a home no larger than 3,500 square feet and at least 10 years old, and an assessed property value below $1.2 million. Check the official income-qualified page for the current table and documents.

Installer rule: the system must be installed by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor who is a member in good standing of the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) and is listed on the HPCN for that rebate at the time of installation.

An important note about Blueshore and HPCN

Blueshore Mechanical is not currently a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN). We are working towards registration. Until we are accepted, a dual-fuel system we install should not be treated as eligible for the FortisBC dual-fuel rebate, or for BC Hydro and related heat pump rebates that also require an HPCN installer.

We will say this in the estimate conversation and will not write a quote that assumes otherwise. We can still visit, explain how a dual-fuel system would work in your house, and be honest about timing and current eligibility. Official contractor directories: Find a Contractor and Better Homes. FortisBC Trade Ally membership is separate from HPCN and does not replace it.

How we quote and install a dual-fuel system

  1. You call or send a request. Tell us the city or neighbourhood, the age of the furnace if you know it, and whether a rebate is part of your budget. Call (604) 728-2583 or request a free estimate.
  2. We come to the house. We look at the existing furnace and ducts, electrical and gas service, venting, and a realistic spot for the outdoor unit. We will not size the system by rule of thumb.
  3. You receive a written scope and price. It should say what equipment we are proposing, what is included, what would change the price, and whether any rebate program could apply — including the HPCN limit above. Every install includes a 1-year labour warranty on our workmanship, starting the day the job is complete. Parts are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty (often 10 years or more when registered), and we register your equipment for you.
  4. We schedule and do the work. Required permits are part of a proper job. In Delta, electrical and gas permits are issued by Technical Safety BC; the City of Delta may also require a building or plumbing permit if the work alters the building. Neighbouring cities have their own rules, which we will include in the scope. We protect floors and access routes, install to code, and keep you informed if we find something behind a wall or in a crawlspace that changes the plan.
  5. We start, check, and explain the system. Commissioning is not optional. You should understand the thermostat and changeover setting, filter care, and who to call if something does not feel right.

What affects the cost

There is no honest single price for “a dual-fuel system in the Lower Mainland,” because the houses are not the same. We will not invent a range to make the page look helpful. The estimate is free, and the written quote is for your home. Cost usually moves with:

  • The capacity a heat-load calculation says you need, and whether the heat pump and furnace are a matched, list-eligible pair
  • Whether existing ducts can carry the air, need sealing or repairs, or cannot be used
  • Electrical service — some homes need a new circuit or panel work; some do not
  • Gas piping, venting, and removal of the old furnace
  • Line-set length, condensate, the outdoor pad or bracket, and access
  • Permits

If a rebate is part of your budget, read the HPCN note above before you subtract a program number from the quote.

Why homeowners call us

  • Locally owned and operated in Delta since June 2019
  • Red Seal certified plumbers; insured and bonded
  • Technical Safety BC licensed contractor (Gas LGA0210872)
  • Technical Safety BC licensed: Gas LGA0210872; Boiler, Pressure Vessel & Refrigeration LBP0212234 and LIC-00214020
  • Free estimates and upfront pricing
  • Same-day service and 24/7 emergency response
  • 5.0-star rated on Google

We also take on commercial and multi-family mechanical work, including BC Housing and projects such as the Parkview Court boiler-system retrofit, as well as new construction with systems such as Daikin VRV. The FortisBC dual-fuel rebate described above is a residential offer and does not automatically apply to a commercial or multi-family building.

Related pages

Common questions

What is a dual-fuel heat pump system?

A new central ducted heat pump paired with a new high-efficiency (95% or higher) gas furnace, run by a connected thermostat. The heat pump heats in milder weather and cools in summer; the furnace covers colder days.

Can I get the FortisBC dual-fuel rebate if I hire Blueshore today?

No. That rebate requires an HPCN-registered, Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor listed for the rebate at install time, and Blueshore is not yet an HPCN member. We are working towards registration. Ask us about current eligibility before you budget the rebate.

Does my furnace have to be 15 years old?

For the FortisBC dual-fuel rebate, yes: the existing primary gas furnace must be at least 15 years old. You can still choose a dual-fuel system without the rebate if that is the right mechanical fit.

What is the changeover temperature in the Lower Mainland?

For rebate-eligible systems, the thermostat or equipment control must be set at 5°C or lower in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. We will explain the setting when we commission the system.

Is this the same as replacing my furnace?

No. A furnace replacement on its own does not add cooling or a heat pump. Dual-fuel is a combined system. If you only want a new furnace, start with Furnace replacement in Delta.

Who looks after the permits?

Required permits are part of a proper installation. In Delta, gas and electrical permits are issued by Technical Safety BC. We will tell you what the job needs and include it in the scope.

Areas we serve: heat pump installation in Delta, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and Vancouver. Considering a backup furnace? See dual-fuel heat pump systems.

Book a free estimate

Call (604) 728-2583 or request a free estimate. You can also contact us or email info@blueshoremechanical.com.

Blueshore Mechanical

7311 Vantage Way, Unit 106, Delta, BC V4G 1M3 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · Saturday and Sunday closed · 24/7 emergency service