Building on HPSC’s 2019 Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes, RDH led the technical update and redesign of the guide to reflect current standards, emerging best practices, and the realities of retrofit work in British Columbia homes.
This new version of the guide aims to help contractors deliver high-quality, efficient, and homeowner-focused heat pump retrofits. The guide serves as both a standalone document and a companion guide to HPSC’s contractor training program, “Quality Installation of Forced Air Furnace and Air Source Heat Pump Retrofits in BC Homes.” HPSC and ICF International developed this training program with funding provided by the Ministry of Energy and Low Carbon Innovation, BC Hydro, and FortisBC.
Engagement with Industry Advisors Supports Content Development
To develop a guide aligned with contractors’ needs, RDH building scientists engaged with two advisory committees: a project oversight committee comprising representatives from HPSC, BC Hydro, FortisBC, and provincial agencies; and an industry committee comprising contractors from across the province. Our team led structured meetings, gathered input on the guide’s outline and each successive iteration, and incorporated members’ feedback on updated standards, climate‑specific considerations, and practical installation insights. Committee members contributed key external resources, tools, and best practices. RDH used our expertise in heat pump systems, research skills, and ability to synthesize complex information to consolidate information from dozens of sources into a single, comprehensive guide tailored to contractors’ needs.
The updated content reflects recent industry advances demonstrating the value of heat pump retrofits. Industry advances have shown that, with proper sizing, installation, and performance verification, a heat pump retrofit can deliver significant benefits. These benefits include improved occupant comfort, energy savings, and carbon reduction.
Content Design Provides Actionable Direction to Contractors
Our team designed the guide to be user-friendly and relevant to the contractor audience. The guide provides contractors with clear, actionable direction for performing heat pump retrofits using a planned approach organized around these five core steps:
- Pre-Changeout Procedures
- System Design (sizing and selection)
- Installation
- Commissioning
- Homeowner Education and Maintenance
The guide also incorporates highly relevant graphics and provides additional resources to support successful projects that advance industry standards. These visual elements help clarify concepts and improve accessibility. The supplementary resources identified in the guide further enable contractors to apply the guidance consistently and effectively, supporting higher-quality outcomes and knowledge transfer across future projects.
The guide is publicly available here.
