Heating and cooling for Burnaby homes
Burnaby asks for more paperwork with a heat pump than most cities do. Here's what it requires, and what that means for your install.
Burnaby’s heat pump permits
Burnaby is one of the few BC cities that issues its own gas and electrical permits instead of leaving them to Technical Safety BC. It also asks for more with a heat pump than most.
The City’s heat pump retrofit guide requires a design package with the permit application. It includes a heat loss calculation to CSA F280 (the Canadian standard for working out how much heat a house needs), an electrical load calculation, a plan showing where the outdoor unit goes, and the temperature at which the heat pump alone can no longer keep up. The design has to come from a TECA-certified designer (TECA is BC’s heating and cooling trade association) or an engineer.
So in Burnaby, a heat pump job comes with a heat loss calculation even where another city wouldn’t ask for one. We’ll explain at the estimate what that involves for your house.
Placement and noise
The same guide sets where the outdoor unit can go. It sits on the ground beside the house, outside the required front and side yard depths for your zoning, out of any path to a door, with condensation draining away from walkways. Wall and roof mounts need a building permit with an engineer’s drawings.
Burnaby’s noise bylaw caps continuous noise at 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 dBA overnight. The City recommends a unit rated at no more than 60 dBA, set away from neighbours’ windows and doors, with acoustic treatment if fences and walls aren’t enough.
Burnaby Mountain and the design temperature
The design temperature is the cold a heating system is sized to keep up with. Burnaby’s climatic data guide puts it at -7°C across the city under the current BC Building Code, including the SFU area at 330 metres. It’s the same number as Vancouver, so living up the hill doesn’t by itself mean a bigger system.
What we install and service in Burnaby
Rebates for homes in this area
Which programs apply depends on your home, how it's heated now and who supplies your electricity. We check what fits at your free estimate.
What our customers say
Rated 5 out of 5
I recently had a new heat pump installed by Jolly, and the entire experience was truly exceptional from start to finish. Every person I interacted with gave me confidence that I’d made the right choice.
From the very beginning, Thomas, the sales rep, stood out.
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While other companies left me feeling either overcharged or unsure about their expertise, my conversations with Thomas were clear, respectful, and genuinely helpful. He made me feel valued as a customer, and that made a huge difference in my decision.
Jason, who coordinated the project, kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Scheduling, communication, permits, calculations, and follow-through were all seamless.
Wilson, the project manager, went above and beyond. He provided a thorough walkthrough of the entire system, showed me how to use all of the features, and made sure every detail met my expectations before wrapping up. His professionalism and patience were outstanding.
The quality of the work speaks for itself, everything was done to the highest standard. I couldn’t be happier with the final product, and I’m grateful to the whole Jolly team for making the process so easy and stress-free.
Highly recommended
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently hired Jolly Heating & Cooling to install a new heat pump system, replacing our gas furnace. After collecting quotes from four different companies, we confidently chose Jolly Heating & Cooling based on their exceptional transparency and professionalism.
Our initial experience with Thomas set the standard: he was honest, professional, and delivered completely transparent pricing, which we truly appreciated.
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The outstanding service continued throughout the entire process; Jason was professional and efficient, quickly answering all our follow-up questions.
What truly impressed us and provided immense peace of mind was the final stage: Wilson, the project manager, personally attended the post-installation walk-through. He ensured we understood exactly how to operate the new system. This level of dedication is rare.
I will enthusiastically and without reservation recommend Jolly Heating and Cooling to anyone in need of quality HVAC installation and service!
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently had our A/C installed by Jolly Heating and Cooling, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Since our house is over 30 years old, the installation was definitely a challenge, but their team handled everything perfectly and professionally.
They not only completed the installation smoothly, but also took the time to explain and answer any questions we had along the way.
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Whenever an issue came up, they responded quickly and solved it without delay.
Special thanks to Jason, Thomas, and Wilson for their hard work and dedication — you truly made the whole process stress-free for us.
Now we’re so happy to be able to enjoy a cool and comfortable summer with our new A/C! Highly recommend Jolly Heating and Cooling to anyone looking for a reliable and professional team!
Questions from Burnaby homeowners
Who issues heating permits in Burnaby?
The City of Burnaby issues its own gas and electrical permits, rather than Technical Safety BC. We pull them as part of the job.
Does Burnaby need a heat loss calculation for a heat pump?
Yes. The City's heat pump guide asks for a design package with the permit application, including a heat loss calculation to the CSA F280 standard.
How loud can a heat pump be in Burnaby?
Burnaby's noise bylaw limits continuous noise to 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 dBA overnight. The City recommends a unit rated at 60 dBA or less, placed away from neighbours' windows.
Book a free estimate in Burnaby
We come to your home, look at what you have, and give you a written quote with options. No pressure to decide on the spot.