Heat Pump Installation in Henderson

Adams County moved to the 2024 International Codes effective July 1, 2026, and subcontractors working on county permits must be registered with the county. For an unincorporated Henderson home, that means a heat pump installed now is permitted and inspected under the newer code set. We file through the E-Permit Center, include the equipment documentation and load calculation, and schedule the inspection. Annexed addresses follow their city's process instead.

Older farmhouses and acreage homes often have additions built at different times, mixed heating systems and sometimes a detached shop. A single ducted heat pump may not reach every part of the house. A common plan is a ducted cold-climate unit for the main house plus a ductless head for an addition or a heated outbuilding. Long distances between the house and the electric service can also affect circuit sizing, so we check the panel and the run.

Homes in the newer subdivisions generally have modern ducts, a condenser pad and 200-amp service. Swapping the AC for a heat pump and pairing it with the existing furnace is usually straightforward. If the furnace is near the end of its life too, we can quote both a dual-fuel pair and an all-electric air handler so you can compare.

Henderson sits at about 5,033 feet on open ground along the South Platte, where blowing snow builds drifts against buildings. We set outdoor units on raised stands, away from the windward side where drifts form and out from under roof edges. Defrost meltwater needs a path to drain so it doesn't refreeze around the unit. Adams County's design temperature is 5°F, and we size to it with a Manual J and an altitude correction. NREL's lab work in Golden put the altitude penalty at roughly 5–7%. Our winter performance guide goes further.

Households on Xcel electric service can use Xcel's heat pump rebates. Installers report Xcel cut them on October 1, 2026, and say Xcel gas customers, including gas-only customers, can also qualify, which may help United Power households; confirm with Xcel. United Power runs its own member program, and we couldn't verify its 2026 heat pump amounts, so call the co-op. Adams County, Commerce City, Brighton and Thornton are all DRCOG members, so Power Ahead Colorado's $1,500 applies to existing homes with contractor pre-approval. The state's 2026 credit is $1,000, with a minimum $333 passed through on the invoice, and the federal 25C credit no longer applies. On running costs, gas is usually cheaper per unit of heat than heat pump heat at current prices. If you're on United Power, ask about time-of-day rates before setting a dual-fuel switchover; our dual-fuel guide shows how.