Wall-mounted, multi-zone or central heat pump: which one to choose?

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Step 1: quick calculation in 4 answers →Estimate only: floor area, region, insulation and current heating. Final validation afterwards with the full calculator.

How do you choose between wall-mounted, multi-zone and central?

By answering five questions, in this order. Table 1 of the NRCan sizing guide does the same sorting: it starts from the existing heating system (forced air, or baseboards and hot water with no ducts) and from the intended use (heating the whole house, reducing use of the existing heating, or heating an isolated zone).

  1. Do you have air ducts (forced air)? Yes: consider a central heat pump (question 2). No: wall-mounted or multi-zone (question 3).
  2. Are your ducts large enough, in good condition and inside the insulated envelope? A heat pump usually delivers more airflow than a heating system (NRCan); undersized ducts can cause noise, and LogisVert excludes ducts in the attic (see ducts).
  3. Open plan or closed rooms? An open plan suits a wall unit; several closed rooms need several indoor units (multi-zone or several wall units).
  4. How many floors? Without forced air, Hydro-Québec suggests two units for a two-storey house, one per floor (see floors).
  5. What backup heat are you keeping, and what budget? Keeping baseboards allows a wall unit that does only part of the job; replacing all of the heating needs a system sized for the whole house.
Which type for which house (sources cited; share of heating = site assumption)
TypeYour homeWhat it heatsPublished installed range (BranchéQC, private)Share of annual heating (site assumption)To check
Wall-mounted (one zone)No ducts; open plan, condo, or add-on to baseboards you keepThe air in the space where it is installed$3,000–$6,000≈ 50%Closed rooms and upper floor stay on baseboards
Multi-zoneNo ducts; several closed rooms or several floorsTwo to eight rooms or zones, one outdoor unit$6,000–$12,000≈ 85%Capacity of each head compared with its room’s heat loss; controls
Central (ducted)Existing air ducts, inside the insulated envelopeThe whole house or a large section, through the ducts$8,500–$17,000≈ 85%Duct airflow, electrical panel, backup heat

Sources: uses per the NRCan sizing guide (step 1) and NRCan; ranges published by BranchéQC (a private platform, guide updated June 25, 2026, consulted October 20, 2026), taken from our 2026 pricespage. Central: $8,500–$13,000 for 2 to 3 tons, $13,000–$17,000 for 4 to 5 tons. Heating shares: site assumptions, with no public source (why 50% and 85%).

Can a wall-mounted heat pump heat the whole house?

Rarely on its own, except in a small open home. According to NRCan, a ductless indoor unit heats or cools “the air directly in that space” (NRCan). NRCan’s guide adds that wall units are often installed as add-ons that supply only part of the heating load, with the existing system (for example baseboards) still able to heat the whole house in the coldest weather. In an open-plan house with an open stairway, the living-room unit can also partly heat the upper floor (NRCan sizing guide).

For a condo, Hydro-Québec writes that “a ductless wall-mounted model may be appropriate” (Hydro-Québec). With a wall unit, baseboards heat the closed rooms; Hydro-Québec advises turning them down “especially in unoccupied rooms” during peak periods (Hydro-Québec). For the effect on the bill: heat pump vs baseboard heaters.

When is a multi-zone system the better choice?

When the house has no ducts and several closed rooms or several floors need heat. A multi-zone system connects one outdoor unit to several indoor units to heat or cool “two to eight separate rooms or zones”. NRCan’s guide notes that for these systems “careful sizing and controls are especially important in order to maintain high efficiency”, and that they may require a distribution box (NRCan sizing guide).

Several independent wall units (each with its own outdoor unit) are another way to heat several zones, according to the same guide. Indoor units are not all wall-mounted: floor-mounted (under a large window, in the basement), ceiling-mounted (hallways and landings upstairs) or concealed ducted. For several small closed bedrooms, the guide notes that a ducted unit may be easier to size than several heads (NRCan sizing guide, step 2).

Can my existing ducts be used for a central heat pump?

Often, but have them checked. A heat pump usually delivers more airflow at a lower temperature (normally 25 to 45 °C, versus 55 to 60 °C for a heating system). NRCan recommends comparing this airflow with your ducts’ capacity: if it exceeds it, “you may have noise problems or increased fan energy use”, and in a retrofit, “the existing duct system should be carefully examined” (NRCan).

NRCan’s guide adds that the available breaker in the electrical panel and the ducts’ maximum airflow can limit the size of the central unit. A central heat pump is almost always installed for the whole heating load of the house or of a large section, with backup heat; an existing furnace can stay as the backup (dual fuel) (NRCan sizing guide). For an oil furnace: replacing an oil furnace.

Location: if your ducts or the indoor unit are in the attic or roof space, LogisVert does not subsidize this work (exact rule).

Two-storey house without ducts: how many units?

Often two. Hydro-Québec writes that two-storey houses can need up to 65,000 BTU/h and that, “if your home has a heating system other than forced air, installing two split heat pumps, one per floor, would ensure even heat distribution” (Hydro-Québec). For a single-storey house, it says you can choose a model “with or without ducts, depending on the existing heating system”. A multi-zone system with one head per floor is the other route described by NRCan (NRCan sizing guide). For capacity: how many BTU for my house?.

Which LogisVert rules depend on the type of heat pump?

The amount does not depend on the type, but some installations are excluded. According to Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert participant’s guide (September 15, 2026), the complete system per housing unit may include:

The system must be new, ENERGY STAR certified and have an outdoor unit with a nominal cooling capacity of at least 12,000 BTU/h. Ineligible work that affects the choice of type:

The scale is the same for all three types: $50 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C (ENERGY STAR) or $120 (ENERGY STAR cold climate) (LogisVert participant’s guide). Example, site calculation: a system of 24,000 BTU/h at −8 °C gives $1,200 or $2,880, whether it is wall-mounted, multi-zone or central. Hydro-Québec advertises up to $6,700 per heat pump (LogisVert). Detailed calculation: LogisVert rebate at −8 °C.

Two special cases: the Multi-unit bonus (eligible buildings) requires a wall-mounted mini-split heat pump certified ENERGY STAR – Cold climate (LogisVert participant’s guide), and Hydro-Québec offers $22,000 for a central heat storage unit combined with a central heat pump, through a company on its authorized list (LogisVert).

How much does each type cost installed?

According to the ranges published by BranchéQC (a private platform): wall-mounted $3,000–$6,000, multi-zone $6,000–$12,000, central $8,500–$17,000 (BranchéQC). Real quotes vary widely: Protégez-Vous found a $9,841 gap between quotes for the same house in the Outaouais and recommends getting at least three in writing (Protégez-Vous). Details and net cost: heat pump prices in 2026.

What should you ask the installer before choosing the type?

  1. Which part of the house will each indoor unit heat, and what is the heat loss of each zone, in BTU/h? (estimate it yourself)
  2. For a central unit: what airflow does the heat pump need, and can my ducts carry it? Where do they run: inside the insulated envelope or in the attic?
  3. What heating capacity is proposed at −8 °C and at −15 °C, and is the model ENERGY STAR cold climate? (how to evaluate a heat pump)
  4. What backup heat will take over in deep cold, and at what temperature? Hydro-Québec notes that below the model’s minimum temperature, “a backup device – electric baseboards, heat storage unit or other – must take over” (Hydro-Québec).
  5. Does the electrical panel have the capacity needed?
  6. Does your RBQ licence cover this work? (check the RBQ licence)

How can you prepare your choice yourself?

  1. Quick calculation in 4 answers : order of magnitude of capacity, cost and rebate.
  2. How many BTU for my house? : heating all or part of the house.
  3. Calculate the heat loss by level, to distribute the indoor units.
  4. Evaluate models on their capacity in deep cold.
  5. Estimate the LogisVert rebate from the capacity at −8 °C.

Frequently asked questions

Is one wall-mounted heat pump enough for a whole house?

Rarely. A wall unit mainly heats the air in the space where it is installed (NRCan); in a house, closed rooms and often the upper floor stay heated by baseboards. The site assumes a wall unit supplies about 50% of a house’s annual heating, a site assumption, not an official figure. For a whole house without ducts, NRCan describes multi-zone systems or several wall units.

Can a heat pump be installed on an existing furnace’s ducts?

Yes, that is a central heat pump, and the furnace can stay as backup (dual fuel) according to NRCan’s guide. Have the ducts checked to make sure they can carry the heat pump’s airflow: otherwise, NRCan warns of noise problems or higher fan energy use.

My ducts are in the attic: is LogisVert possible?

The LogisVert participant’s guide excludes “the installation of indoor units, including the air distribution system, outside the home’s insulated areas, that is, outside the habitable spaces (e.g., in the attic or roof space)”. Before signing, ask the installer where the indoor unit and the ducts will run, and if in doubt, ask Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert support.

Is the LogisVert rebate higher for a central heat pump?

No. The scale is the same for a wall-mounted, multi-zone or central heat pump: $50 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C for an ENERGY STAR model or $120 for an ENERGY STAR cold-climate model. A central unit often gets more because it is more powerful, not because it is central.

Sources

See also: the quick calculation · how many BTU · the LogisVert rebate · heat pump vs baseboards · evaluate a heat pump · RBQ licence · all tools.