Sol Country earns referral fees when you connect with installers through this page. This does not affect our recommendations. Read our affiliate disclosures →
Heat Pumps & HVAC

Heat and cool your home
for less. Forever.

Heat pumps are 3× more efficient than gas furnaces. Combined with solar, they can heat and cool your home for near-zero operating cost.

· More efficient than gasUp to $8,000 · HEAR rebates30% · Federal tax credit
Sol Country Pick
Cold-climate air source heat pump
MITSUBISHI · BOSCH · FUJITSU

Best combination of cold-weather performance, rebate eligibility, and installer availability in Colorado.

~$4,000–8,000 installedUp to 400% efficiency-13°F operation30% ITC eligible
How it works

One system.
Heating and cooling.

A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it — making it 2–4× more efficient than a gas furnace or electric resistance heater. In summer it runs in reverse, acting as an air conditioner. One system replaces both your furnace and your AC.

STEP 01
Heat pump extracts heat

Even at -13°F, outdoor air contains heat energy. The heat pump extracts it and moves it inside — no combustion required.

STEP 02
Refrigerant amplifies it

A refrigerant cycle amplifies the extracted heat, delivering 2–4 units of heat energy for every 1 unit of electricity consumed.

STEP 03
Your home stays comfortable

Warm air circulates through your existing ducts or via wall-mounted mini-split heads — depending on your system type.

STEP 04
Solar makes it free

Pair with rooftop or balcony solar and your heat pump runs on clean electricity you generate yourself — near-zero operating cost year-round.

System types

Three types of heat pumps.
Which fits your home?

MOST COMMON
Air source — ducted

Replaces your existing furnace and uses your current ductwork. Best for homes that already have central HVAC. Most cost-effective whole-home solution.

COST · $4,000–10,000 INSTALLED
BEST FOR · HOMES WITH EXISTING DUCTS
EFFICIENCY · 200–400% (vs 80% gas furnace)
RENTERS + NO DUCTS
Air source — mini-split

Wall-mounted indoor units connected to an outdoor compressor. No ductwork needed. Can heat and cool individual rooms or zones. Popular in apartments and older homes.

COST · $3,000–8,000 PER ZONE
BEST FOR · NO DUCTWORK / ZONED CONTROL
EFFICIENCY · 200–350%
HIGHEST EFFICIENCY
Ground source (geothermal)

Uses stable underground temperatures for superior efficiency — but requires significant excavation. Best for new construction or major renovations with available land.

COST · $15,000–30,000 INSTALLED
BEST FOR · NEW CONSTRUCTION / HIGH EFFICIENCY
EFFICIENCY · 300–500%

Sol Country recommends air source heat pumps for most Colorado homeowners — cold-climate models operate efficiently down to -13°F, covering virtually all Colorado winter conditions.

Colorado cold weather

Colorado winters are cold.
Your heat pump needs to match.

Standard heat pumps lose efficiency below 25°F. Cold-climate heat pumps — also called hyper heat or H2i models — maintain full heating capacity down to -13°F. In Colorado, always specify a cold-climate rated model.

COLD-CLIMATE RATED BRANDS
  • Mitsubishi Hyper Heat (H2i)
  • Bosch IDS Premium
  • Fujitsu Halcyon XLTH
  • Daikin Fit
  • LG Art Cool / LGRED°
WHAT TO VERIFY WITH INSTALLER
  • Rated heating capacity at -13°F
  • HSPF2 rating (look for 8.5+)
  • ENERGY STAR certified
  • HEAR rebate eligibility confirmed
  • Compatible with your electrical panel
What you qualify for

Stack every incentive.
Heat pumps qualify for all of them.

FEDERAL — HEAR REBATES
Up to $8,000

IRA High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act. Income-qualified households can receive up to $8,000 for a heat pump, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, and $4,000 for a panel upgrade — all as upfront rebates, not tax credits.

FEDERAL — TAX CREDIT
25C Energy Efficient Home Credit

30% of installed cost, up to $2,000 per year for heat pumps. Stackable with HEAR rebates for income-qualifying households.

XCEL ENERGY — COLORADO
Xcel rebate program

Xcel Energy offers rebates of $300–1,200 for qualifying heat pump installations in Colorado. Stackable with federal programs. Check xcelenergy.com for current availability.

Federal HEAR rebate · Up to $8,000 upfront
Federal 25C tax credit · Up to $2,000/yr
Xcel Energy rebate · $300–1,200
Sales tax exemption · Colorado exempt
Est. net cost after incentives · $1,500–6,000
Licensed installers

Sol Country connects you with
verified Colorado HVAC installers.

Heat pump installation requires a licensed HVAC contractor. Sol Country connects you with verified installers who specialize in cold-climate heat pumps and handle all permit, rebate filing, and utility coordination.

LICENSED + INSURED

Every installer holds an active Colorado HVAC contractor license with liability insurance.

REBATE FILING

Your installer files HEAR rebate applications and Xcel Energy rebates on your behalf — you receive the savings without the paperwork.

COLD-CLIMATE SPECIALISTS

Sol Country only connects you with installers who regularly install cold-climate rated models and understand Colorado's specific requirements.

Is this right for you?

Good fit vs.
consider waiting.

GOOD FIT
  • Your furnace or AC is 10+ years old
  • You want to eliminate gas bills
  • You have or are adding solar panels
  • You qualify for HEAR income rebates
  • You're doing a renovation or new build
CONSIDER WAITING
  • Your current system is under 5 years old
  • Your home has poor insulation (fix that first)
  • You're planning to move within 3 years
  • Your electrical panel needs major upgrade

Heat and cool your home
with the sun.

Sol Country checks your address, utility territory, and income level to find every heat pump incentive available to you.

Free · No commitment · Licensed installers only