Oil Furnace to Heat Pump Conversion in Colborne: A 1960s Home Gets an Efficient Upgrade
Many homeowners still using oil heat face rising fuel costs, higher insurance premiums, and aging equipment. That was the situation for a 1960s detached bungalow in Colborne, Ontario. The home ran a lowboy oil furnace for decades. With affordability incentives now available, the owner decided it was time for a cleaner, more predictable solution.
To manage costs, the homeowner purchased a Senville central ducted 2-ton heat pump and called HVAC Zack to handle the mechanical adjustments, installation, and commissioning.
The on-site reality
This was not a like-for-like swap. The new upflow air handler needed careful transitions to meet the existing ductwork and protect airflow. Zack set the air handler on a GeneralAire Perfect Platform to establish proper height and support, then planned supply and return connections for stable static pressure and clean service access.
The oil tank had already been removed, which simplified extraction. The home had never had an outdoor AC, so new electrical work was required: a 240 V, 30 A supply for the outdoor unit and a 60 A feed for the indoor emergency heat kit, coordinated with a licensed electrician.
Six hours, end to end
In about six hours, Zack removed the old furnace, set the outdoor condenser on a new pad and stand, placed the air handler, added a 10 kW backup heater, ran the line set, brazed and pressure-tested, pulled a deep vacuum, and commissioned the system. Startup included airflow and static checks, temperature rise verification on auxiliary heat, and a simple settings report for the homeowner.
Results the owner can see
Using live energy data, the homeowner saw the new heat pump heating the home for about $2.00/day, even during a cold snap that reached –13 °C. Comfort was steady and the worry over oil deliveries and insurance premiums was gone.
Why more oil-heated homes are switching
Older homes across small towns like Colborne still rely on oil. A central ducted heat pump provides efficient heating, full summer cooling, cleaner operation, and access to incentives. See current options and financing here:
Heat pumps overview: https://hvaczack.ca/heat-pumps/
Rebates and incentives: https://hvaczack.ca/heat-pump-rebates/
Financing options: https://hvaczack.ca/financing/
If you are comparing a focused repair on an older oil system to a conversion, we can outline both paths with clear pricing, timing, and expected operating costs.
What HVAC Zack handled on this project
Equipment placement, transitions, and support platform
Electrical coordination notes for outdoor and auxiliary heat circuits
Refrigerant work: brazing, nitrogen pressure test, evacuation, and leak verification
Commissioning with measured airflow and temperature checks
Thinking about an oil to heat pump conversion?
Every home is different. We review your equipment choice, duct layout, electrical needs, and available incentives, then deliver a tidy install with documented settings.
Start here: https://hvaczack.ca/heat-pumps/