No ducts in the house? Still a yes.
Do you need ducts for a heat pump?
No. A ductless heat pump, often called a mini split, puts the indoor coil in a wall or ceiling unit instead of in a duct. Small refrigerant lines run to an outdoor unit. If your home already has good ducts, a ducted heat pump is another option.
How a ductless mini split works
Natural Resources Canada explains that ductless units draw heat from outdoor air in cold weather. Each indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit through small refrigerant lines. Up to eight indoor units can share one outdoor unit. Source: NRCan, Ductless heating and cooling.
On a ducted system, NRCan says the indoor coil sits in a duct. On a ductless one, it sits in an indoor unit. Source: NRCan, Heating and cooling with a heat pump.
Baseboards, radiators and old oil houses
Picture the house with electric baseboards, or hot water radiators from an oil boiler. There is no air to push around, and nobody wants to open the ceilings. Ductless is the usual fit, with one indoor unit per area you want to heat.
The trade: rooms far from an indoor unit get less heat. You decide where the units go, so walk the house with your installer.
When ducted is the better call
If you have a forced air furnace and the ducts are in decent shape, a ducted heat pump can use them. It keeps your registers and your thermostat. An installer needs to check that the ducts suit the airflow.
Choosing a mini split for a cold winter
For cold climates, NRCan recommends ENERGY STAR models with a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor above 12.0 BTU/Wh. It also points to the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership list of cold climate ductless models. Source: the ductless page linked above. The winter question has its own page: Do heat pumps work in Canadian winters?
Does ducted or ductless change your rebate?
It can, because programs name what they cover. Some ask for a unit on an eligible list, and the federal list is due as of November 1, 2026. Check your province page before you book.
The federal National Heat Pump Rebate is described on canada.ca as "a grant of either $2,000 or up to $10,000 (for low- to median-income households)". Estimate, not guaranteed. Last checked 2026-10-22. Read it on the canada.ca page. The portal is expected in early 2027, and the criteria and eligible equipment list are due as of November 1, 2026. Provincial programs are separate.
Province pages: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Alberta. Steps before you install: how to apply.
More on ducts
Can I add a heat pump to a house with baseboard heat?
Yes. Baseboards have no ducts, so a ductless system is the usual route. Your installer sizes the units to the rooms.
Can I use my existing ducts?
Sometimes. A ducted heat pump can use ducts that suit the airflow. An installer has to check them first.
Can one outdoor unit serve several rooms?
NRCan says up to eight indoor units can share one outdoor unit. The right number for your home is a design question for your installer.