Air-to-Water Heat Pumps in Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
P3 Mechanical & Electrical installs and services air-to-water heat pumps for Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island homes heated by in-floor radiant loops or radiators. It is one of the larger heating jobs a house can take on — it costs more than a ducted heat pump of the same capacity, and most installations take several days on site rather than one. The assessment is free, and the figure comes from a written quote after we measure heat loss rather than from a phone estimate.
Where an air-to-water system fits
An air-to-water heat pump pulls heat out of the outdoor air and moves it into water rather than forced air. That water runs through in-floor radiant tubing, radiators, or a fan coil, and on most systems it can feed a domestic hot water tank as well.
It is not right for every house, and we say so before the quote, not after. A home that already has ductwork is usually better served by a ducted heat pump, which costs less and cools in summer. A house with no hydronic loops needs floors opened up first.
What's included
- Heat loss calculation and a check of the water temperature your loops need
- Outdoor unit siting clear of salt spray and roof runoff
- Hydronic module, buffer tank, and circulation pump tie-ins
- Domestic hot water integration where the tank allows it
- Insulated line runs between the outdoor unit and the hydronic module
- Commissioning, flow balancing, and rebate paperwork for CleanBC and BC Hydro
Pricing & what's covered
Free estimate
We price the job after an in-home visit, once someone has seen what's there.
- One-year warranty on our labour. Equipment and parts are covered separately, under the supplier's or manufacturer's own warranty.
- Licensed in BC: Refrigeration licence LBP0210874 and Boiler licence LBP0210866.
How it works
Free assessment — we measure heat loss and confirm hydronic is the right route at all.
Written quote — a fixed price for the equipment and the hydronic work, agreed before we start.
Installation — outdoor unit, buffer tank, and controls go in, then the loop is purged and balanced.
Permits and inspection — we pull the mechanical permit and book the inspection before closing the job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air-to-water heat pump cost to install?
It is one of the more expensive heating systems to put in, because it is really two jobs at once: the outdoor unit, and the hydronic module and buffer tank behind it. Reusing your existing loops moves the number a lot, and so does the water temperature those loops were sized for. We publish no figures for it — the assessment is free, and the price is quoted in writing after we measure heat loss.
Can an air-to-water heat pump heat my hot water too?
On most systems, yes — the unit feeds a storage tank alongside the heating loop, so one machine covers space heating and domestic hot water.
Will this work if my house has no in-floor heating?
Not without adding hydronic distribution first, which means opening floors or adding fan coils. If your home has ducts, a ducted heat pump is the cheaper route.
Is it worth replacing a working gas boiler with one?
It can be — you keep the quiet, even heat you already have and change only what produces it. If the boiler is nearly new, the payback stretches out.
Do I need a permit for an air-to-water heat pump in BC?
Most Vancouver Island municipalities require a mechanical permit for it, and pulling that one is the contractor's job, not yours. We book the inspection that goes with it too.
Can I get a rebate for switching off oil or a gas boiler?
Often yes. CleanBC Better Homes and BC Hydro both run rebate programs for households moving off a fossil-fuel heating system, and what you qualify for depends on your household income tier and the equipment installed rather than on one published amount. We file the paperwork as part of the job.
Where we offer this
Ready to get it fixed?
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