Heat Pump Installation in Evergreen

On outlying properties in areas such as Upper Bear Creek, the furnace or boiler often runs on propane. Propane is generally more expensive per unit of heat than piped natural gas, so a cold-climate heat pump that carries the mild and moderate days can cut propane deliveries noticeably. Keeping the propane furnace for the coldest nights (dual fuel) gives you backup without big electric strips. Homes on Xcel natural gas in Hiwan or Bergen Park see a smaller fuel-cost difference, because piped gas is cheaper. Our dual-fuel guide shows how to set the switchover from your actual prices.

Homes with boilers and radiant floors are a different case. A standard air-source heat pump doesn't feed a hydronic system, so a ductless system for cooling and shoulder-season heat, with the boiler kept for deep winter, is the usual fit.

We mount outdoor units on raised stands or wall brackets well above typical snow depth and away from roof edges where snow slides off. Defrost meltwater needs to drain away from decks and walkways so it doesn't build into ice. Wildfire mitigation is part of owning a home here, so we keep the unit clear of stacked firewood and dense vegetation and avoid tucking it under wooden decks. On steep lots, we pick a location a technician can safely reach in February.

A utility directory lists Xcel Energy as the main electric provider, but CORE Electric Cooperative also serves part of mountain Jefferson County, so check your bill. Xcel customers can use Xcel's heat pump rebates; installers report they changed on October 1, 2026, so confirm amounts with Xcel. CORE's energy-efficiency page showed no heat pump rebate when we checked in November 2026. Evergreen is unincorporated, but Jefferson County is a DRCOG member, so Power Ahead Colorado's $1,500 applies to cold-climate air-source heat pumps in existing homes with contractor pre-approval. Colorado's air-source credit adds $1,000 this year, at least $333 of it as a discount on your bill from the installer. Federal 25C is over.

Jefferson County Building Safety issues the mechanical permit, with a separate electrical permit for the new circuit. Cabins and older mountain homes sometimes have small electrical services, so we check panel capacity before suggesting electric backup. HomeGuide's national range for a 100-to-200-amp upgrade is $1,300–$1,600, though mountain service work can run higher.