Which heat pump for a cottage?
Updated October 24, 2026
At the cottage, a heat pump heats while you are there and keeps the place above freezing while you are away, for a fraction of the cost of baseboards. The calculation assumes a cottage with a loft built between 1970 and 1990, with no basement.
Heating at -23 °C26,400BTU/h
Cooling at 30 °C14,000BTU/h
Recommended system
Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zonesfrom $4,725 · DIY
Covers 100% of the heating load at -23 °C
See on kanartic.caLoad by floor area and city
| Area | Toronto (-18 °C) | Montreal (-23 °C) | Edmonton (-32 °C) | Cooling Montreal | System (Montreal) | DIY price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 sq ft | 16,700 | 18,800 | 22,500 | 10,600 | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | $4,675 |
| 800 sq ft | 20,000 | 22,500 | 27,000 | 11,600 | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | $4,675 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 23,500 | 26,400 | 31,700 | 14,000 | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | $4,725 |
| 1,200 sq ft | 26,800 | 30,100 | 36,200 | 15,200 | Z-PRO 36,000 · 3 zones | $5,475 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 31,200 | 35,200 | 42,200 | 17,900 | Z-PRO 36,000 · 3 zones | $5,475 |
Good to know
- The included Wi-Fi lets you raise the temperature before you arrive.
- While you are away, a low setpoint (8–10 °C) protects the plumbing and costs little.
- Set the outdoor unit on a bracket, well above drifting snow.
- A cathedral ceiling increases roof losses: check its insulation.