Maine homeowner guide

Questions to ask a heat pump installer

Bring this checklist to compare proposals, understand winter performance, and clarify the full cost.

By Maine Heat Pumps · Reviewed October 20, 2026

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Installer: ____________________ Date: ______________
Proposed equipment / quote: ____________________________________

Your home and winter performance

Will you provide a room-by-room heat-load calculation and explain the outdoor design temperature used?
What are the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers, and their heating output and efficiency at that temperature?
How will closed bedrooms, remote rooms, and spaces with plumbing stay warm?
Will the system meet the full heating load? If not, what supplemental heat and control settings are needed?
Should insulation, air sealing, or duct improvements happen before equipment is sized?

Installation and everyday use

Where will units go, and how will you address sound, vibration, airflow, snow, roof runoff, and defrost drainage?
What electrical work, permits, and other project costs are included, and who handles them?
Will you demonstrate controls, filter access, and normal defrost behavior, and provide the exact manufacturer manuals?
Which care tasks can I perform, which require professional service, and what schedule does the manufacturer specify?

Price, rebates, and support

Will you provide an itemized installed price before incentives and an annual operating-cost estimate with its assumptions?
Have you confirmed current rebate eligibility for my home, exact equipment, and your vendor status with the administrator?
Who handles incentive paperwork, deadlines, and payment, and what do I owe if an incentive is denied?
What are the equipment and labor warranties, registration requirements, exclusions, and service costs?
Who provides local service, and what happens if the system stops heating during a cold snap?

Notes & follow-up

Ask for important answers in writing. Follow the manufacturer’s manual for your exact equipment; this checklist is general education and does not establish design suitability or rebate eligibility.

Background: ENERGY STAR: air-source heat pumps ↗; Efficiency Maine: homeowner FAQs ↗. Review our rebates guide before assuming an incentive.