If you’ve booked a heat pump install and you’re wondering how the next few weeks unfold, here’s the short version: a free quote and site visit, a Home Energy Assessment to size the system, one to two days on site for the install, commissioning to confirm it runs right, a walkthrough, and rebate paperwork filed on your behalf.

The whole process is built around two things: getting the system sized and installed correctly the first time, and keeping disruption to your home as small as possible. This guide walks through each step.

Step 1: Free quote and site visit

It starts with a look at your home, at no charge and no obligation. We check the practical realities a phone quote can’t: where the outdoor unit can sit, where the indoor equipment will go, and what your current heating setup looks like. We ask about comfort problems - rooms that never warm up, a home with no cooling, rising bills - because those shape the recommendation.

This is also where we answer your questions on system size, ducted versus ductless, rebates, and a realistic price range. You can read more about matching equipment to your home in our guide on choosing the right heat pump for your Fraser Valley home.

Step 2: The Home Energy Assessment

Every job includes a Home Energy Assessment before any equipment is ordered, at no charge. This is the step that separates a system that works from one that fights your home for fifteen years:

• Load calculation. We measure how much heating and cooling your home actually needs - square footage, insulation, windows, orientation, and local climate. That number determines system size.

• Panel check. Heat pumps run on electricity, so we confirm your panel can support the new equipment. Older homes on 100A service sometimes need an upgrade, and it’s better to know now than mid-install.

• Sizing. Bigger isn’t better. An oversized unit short-cycles and never dehumidifies properly; an undersized one falls behind on the coldest nights. The load calc gets this right.

• Configuration recommendation. Ducted, ductless, or multi-zone - we recommend what fits your home and comfort goals, not whatever is easiest to install.

Being HPSC-registered matters here. That registration is required for many BC rebates, and it means the work is documented to the standard those programs expect.

Step 3: Install day

Most heat pump installs take one to two days on site. A ductless swap can be a single day; a ducted system or a job with electrical work runs closer to two.

Here’s what gets installed:

• The indoor equipment. For a ducted system, an air handler tied into your ductwork. For a ductless system, one or more wall-mounted heads in the rooms you want conditioned.

• The outdoor unit. The compressor sits outside on a pad or bracket, connected by refrigerant lines. We place it where it runs efficiently and stays out of the way.

• A smart thermostat. This gives you precise control and, in a dual-fuel setup, decides when the heat pump runs versus the backup furnace.

A clean install is the standard we hold ourselves to. Drop cloths go down, boots stay covered, and we clean up at the end of each day - your home shouldn’t look like a job site when we leave. We tell you upfront which parts of the day will need power or heat shut off.

Step 4: Commissioning

Installing the equipment is only half the job. Commissioning is where we make the system perform - the step cheaper installers rush or skip.

• Refrigerant charge. We set the refrigerant to the manufacturer’s exact spec. An over- or undercharged system loses efficiency and lifespan, so this gets measured, not guessed.

• Airflow balance. We balance airflow so every room gets its share and no zone is starved.

• Controls test. We run the system through heating and cooling, confirm the thermostat talks to the equipment, and verify the safety controls respond correctly.

By the time we’re done, the system isn’t just installed - it’s tuned and proven. That’s what done right the first time means in practice.

Step 5: Walkthrough

Before we leave, we walk you through the system. We cover the owner’s manual, show you where the filter lives and how often to change it, and explain the thermostat. We also set seasonal expectations - how the system behaves in a cold snap, and why the indoor air feels different from a furnace’s hot blast. A heat pump runs longer at lower speeds, and knowing that upfront means you won’t second-guess a system working exactly as designed.

Step 6: Rebate paperwork

BC’s rebate programs stack up to $11,000 across CleanBC, Canada Greener Homes, and the utility programs from BC Hydro and FortisBC. The paperwork can be fiddly, and it has to be filed correctly to a deadline.

We file it on your behalf. Because we’re HPSC-registered and install ENERGY STAR certified equipment, your job already meets the program requirements, and we handle the documentation so the rebates actually land. You see what you qualify for during the quote, and the follow-through happens without you chasing forms.

Start to finish

From the first call, most homeowners are a couple of weeks from a system that’s installed, commissioned, and earning rebates - with only one to two days of work in the home. Clear communication runs through all of it: you know the timeline and what to expect at every step. If you’re weighing an upgrade, the free quote is the place to start.

FAQ

How long does a heat pump installation take?

Most installs take one to two days on site. A simple ductless swap is often a single day, while a ducted system or a job that needs electrical work runs closer to two. We give you a specific timeline after the Home Energy Assessment.

Will I be without heat or power during the install?

There are short windows where we shut off power or heat to work safely, and we tell you when. On a one-day install you’re rarely affected overnight, and on a two-day job the system is typically running by the end of the first day or restored before we leave for the night.

Why does the Home Energy Assessment matter so much?

Sizing is the single biggest factor in whether a heat pump performs well. The assessment runs a load calculation on your actual home rather than a rule of thumb, so the system is neither oversized nor undersized. It also catches panel issues before they become mid-install surprises.

Do I have to deal with the rebate paperwork myself?

No. We file it on your behalf. Because we’re HPSC-registered and install ENERGY STAR certified equipment, your job meets the program requirements, and we handle the documentation so the rebates come through without you chasing forms.

How disruptive is the installation to my home?

We keep it clean and contained. Drop cloths go down, we protect floors and surfaces, and we clean up at the end of each day. Most homeowners are surprised how little the house is affected, especially on a single-day ductless install.

What happens after the system is installed?

We commission it - setting the refrigerant charge, balancing airflow, and testing the controls - then walk you through operating it. Before we leave, you’ll know how to run the thermostat, where the filter is, and what normal operation feels like.

Cohesive Mechanical is the Fraser Valley’s trusted HVAC and plumbing experts - based in Chilliwack, serving Abbotsford, Langley, and the Lower Mainland since 2017. Done right the first time. Clean installs. Clear communication.

Ready to start? Book a free quote and we’ll run the Home Energy Assessment and walk you through the whole process. Learn more about our heat pump installations.

Related: Choosing the Right Heat Pump for Your Fraser Valley Home in 2026