Central Heat Pump or Electric Baseboards + Wall-Mounted AC? We’ll help you decide

Two very different comfort solutions: compared benefits, costs, performance, and subsidies

At AirGreen, we help homeowners every day in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and South Shore choose their heating and air conditioning system. One of the most common dilemmas: go with a central heat pump, or keep your electric baseboards and add a wall-mounted air conditioner.

This decision deserves serious thought, as it directly impacts your winter comfort, your electricity bills, and even your eligibility for LogisVert subsidies. With our hands-on experience, we walk you through a complete and practical analysis, backed by real cases we've handled in Québec.

The baseboards + wall-mounted AC combo: a simple, but limited solution

Many homeowners keep their electric baseboard heating and install one or two wall-mounted air conditioners to improve summer comfort or to provide a bit of extra heat in the fall.

Advantages of this setup:

• Lower upfront cost, especially if you’re not altering your heating system.

• Quick installation (often completed in 1 day).

• Well-suited for small homes, apartments, or condos.

Major downsides we've seen in the field:

• Electric baseboards consume a lot of power, especially in extreme cold.

• The wall-mounted AC usually heats only one floor or zone effectively.

• No central ventilation, so indoor air quality stays the same.

• Little or no eligibility for LogisVert grants if baseboards remain the main heating source.

📍 Real case in Longueuil: A family in a cottage used baseboards and had a 12,000 BTU wall-mounted unit in the living room. In winter, bedrooms were freezing and their Hydro-Québec bill hit over $420/month. We proposed a Fujitsu 30,000 BTU R-32 central heat pump — result: whole-home comfort and a $2,170 subsidy.

The central heat pump: performance, savings, and subsidies

The central heat pump is a full heating and cooling system delivered through ducts. It completely replaces electric baseboards and provides even comfort in every room.

Key advantages:

• Energy-efficient heating, even at -20 °C with the right models (Fujitsu, Bosch, Goodman).

• Centralized cooling in summer with no visible units.

• Improved indoor air quality with built-in filtration.

• Eligible for LogisVert subsidies (up to $5,000 depending on the setup).

• Increases property value.

Considerations:

• Requires more extensive work, especially if ducts need to be added.

• Higher initial cost, but often quickly recovered.

👷 Project on the North Shore (Laval): A homeowner replaced baseboards and three wall-mounted units with a Bosch BOVA 36,000 BTU R-454B system and fully redone ductwork. Total cost: $17,900 — but after LogisVert and tax credits, net cost dropped to $12,100. Their bills dropped by 38% that first winter.

Technical and cost comparison

When to choose one over the other?

Choose baseboards + wall-mounted AC if:

• You have a small space (less than 800 sq. ft.).

• You’re working with a tight immediate budget.

• You don’t need cooling in every room.

Choose a central heat pump if:

• You want uniform year-round comfort.

• You’re looking to lower electricity bills.

• You’re eligible for LogisVert subsidies.

• You’re planning a major renovation or a near-future resale.

AirGreen’s expertise to guide you

At AirGreen, we analyze each situation individually. We factor in:

• The size and layout of your home.

• Your lifestyle and comfort preferences.

• Your budget and eligibility for incentives.

• The real-world performance of the models we recommend.

🎯 We offer central heat pumps from reliable brands (Fujitsu, Bosch, Goodman) and guarantee a fully optimized HVAC installation, including duct layout, BTU calibration, and commissioning by certified technicians.

📞 Schedule your free evaluation today to find out which system is best for your home in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, North Shore, or South Shore.