1. Build a shortlist
Efficiency Maine’s residential vendor directory is a useful starting point. Search for heat-pump services near your ZIP code and confirm that each company serves your address. Efficiency Maine recommends estimates from at least three installers. The listed businesses are independent of Efficiency Maine; a listing is not a substitute for comparing proposals.
Find an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor ↗
Ask candidates about similar homes they have worked on, training for the proposed equipment, and references you can contact. Ask who will perform the installation and electrical work, and request evidence of applicable credentials and insurance.
2. Give each installer the same brief
Write down the rooms you want to heat or cool, existing comfort problems, and whether your goal is supplemental or whole-home heating. Share recent energy bills and any planned insulation or air-sealing work.
Ask each installer to explain how they assessed the home’s heating needs, how air will reach closed bedrooms, and how the proposed equipment performs in cold weather. Different system sizes or layouts deserve an explanation.
3. Compare the same scope
Use the quote-comparison worksheet →
A lower price can reflect less work or a different heating plan. Put the proposals side by side and ask for missing details before choosing.
Equipment & placement
Compare exact indoor and outdoor model numbers, the rooms served, proposed locations, winter capacity, and any supplemental-heat plan.
Included work
Check electrical work, permits, mounting, drainage, duct changes, removal of old equipment, and cleanup. Ask how additional work is priced and approved.
Price & incentives
Compare the total before incentives, payment stages, and exclusions. List each proposed rebate separately and confirm its requirements with the administrator.
Service & warranty
Ask who handles service calls, what the equipment and labor warranties cover, and whether registration or scheduled maintenance is required.
Read the benefits-and-costs guide → · Check official rebate resources →
4. Resolve unclear answers before committing
Pause when important details are missing: unnamed equipment, an unexplained sizing choice, a guaranteed savings claim without assumptions, or a price that depends on an unconfirmed rebate. Ask for the explanation in writing. If proposals disagree, have each installer explain the difference using your home’s needs.
Choose based on the complete plan, communication, and service arrangements as well as price. This guide does not rank or endorse individual installers.
5. Agree on the handover
Before installation, ask what you will receive at completion: an itemized invoice, model numbers, warranty information, equipment manuals, and a demonstration of controls and filter access. Keep the service contact with that paperwork.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your exact equipment. Use our maintenance guide to organize the owner-care routine.
Bring your questions with you
The printable checklist covers winter performance, placement, pricing, incentives, and support, with room for notes.