Ducted heat pump installs in Boulder County
Strata Heat Pumps installs heat pumps in Boulder County, in every ZIP code listed on this page. The online estimate gives a price range and your rebates for an address in Boulder County in about two minutes.
Ducted heat pumps in Boulder County homes
Boulder County has 142,809 homes across 726.385 square miles. Census figures show a median build year of 1986, close to Colorado's 1987. Utility gas heats 69.9% of county homes, above Colorado's 66.7%. A ducted heat pump fits a home with usable forced-air ducts. It replaces heating equipment and also provides cooling.
Detached houses make up 57.9% of county homes, while multiunit buildings make up 30.7%. Colorado has 61.8% detached houses and 26.9% multiunit buildings. That mix calls for an on-site duct review. Older homes are more likely to have small ducts or no ducts. We measure the home, inspect ducts, and check the electrical panel before installation.
Homes built from 1980 to 1999 make up 33.4% of Boulder County housing. Homes built from 1960 to 1979 account for 29%, and 12.5% were built before 1960. These older groups need a close duct assessment before choosing a ducted system. Newer homes built in 2010 or later account for 12.6%, and their design load can differ sharply from an older home of the same size.
Boulder County towns and ducted system fit
Boulder has 46,765 homes and a median build year of 1978. Its 50.8% multiunit share is much higher than the county's 30.7%, so ductless equipment suits many condos. Still, 62.5% of Boulder homes use gas heat, and ducted replacement suits homes with sound central ducts. Longmont has 42,435 homes, a 1990 median build year, 76.3% gas heat, and 60.5% detached homes. Those figures point to many central duct systems to evaluate.
Lafayette has 13,323 homes, Louisville has 8,304, Superior has 4,907, and Erie has 11,277. Their gas heat shares run from 73.4% in Lafayette to 81.3% in Erie. Erie's 86.6% detached share is the highest among these towns. Lafayette's 22.5% multiunit share, Louisville's 24.4%, and Superior's 26.4% mean each building needs its own duct and equipment review. Gunbarrel has 4,897 homes, 79.3% gas heat, and 40.4% multiunit buildings.
Allenspark, Altona, Bark Ranch, Bonanza Mountain Estates, Crisman, Eldora, Eldorado Springs, Glendale, Gold Hill, Hidden Lake, Jamestown, Lazy Acres, Lyons, Mountain Meadows, Nederland, Niwot, Paragon Estates, Pine Brook Hill, Seven Hills, St. Ann Highlands, Sugarloaf, Sunshine, Tall Timber, Valmont, and Ward have different heating patterns. Allenspark has 54.4% propane heat and 97% detached homes. Eldora has 91.3% pre-1960 homes. Gold Hill has 85.7% pre-1960 homes. Pine Brook Hill has 90.4% gas heat. These towns need load calculations and duct checks before a ducted choice.
Ducted heat pump prices by home age
Our estimate tool prices a ducted heat pump for a 2,000 sq ft, 2 story gas heated home at the county design conditions. A home built before 1960 has a design load of 3.4 tons. Its ducted price before rebates is $17,400 to $37,800, and its price after rebates is $9,900 to $30,300. For the separate one-story electric heated home without ducts, ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200.
For a home built from 1960 to 1979, the design load is 3.2 tons. The ducted range before rebates is $17,400 to $31,200, and the range after rebates is $10,100 to $23,900. The ductless price for the separate no-duct electric heat profile is $11,800 to $19,200. This build period represents 29% of county homes, so duct capacity matters before selecting the equipment.
For homes built from 1980 to 1999, the design load is 2.8 tons. Ducted pricing is $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $8,400 to $21,200 after rebates. Ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. For homes built from 2000 to 2009, the load is 2.4 tons, with ducted pricing of $12,800 to $24,600 before rebates, $6,700 to $18,500 after rebates, and $11,800 to $19,200 for ductless. A 2010 or later home has 2.0 tons, with $12,800 to $21,300, $7,300 to $15,800, and $11,800 to $19,200.
Ducted prices by system size
Size follows the home's heat load, not its floor area alone. At 1°F, we size for a 70°F indoor target at 5,300 ft. Air-source equipment loses 18% of heat output at that elevation. At the design temperature, it delivers 2 units of heat for each unit of electricity. The example home needs 2.8 tons and a 30 A breaker.
A 2 ton ducted heat pump is $12,800 to $18,000 before rebates. A 3 ton ducted heat pump is $17,400 to $24,600. A 4 ton system is $22,100 to $31,200, and a 5 ton system is $26,800 to $37,800. The estimate reflects the model profile and local sizing inputs. We confirm the final equipment size through a home measurement, duct inspection, and electrical panel check.
Ductless equipment prices show why existing ducts affect the decision. One indoor unit is $5,800 to $9,400, 2 indoor units are $8,800 to $14,300, and 3 indoor units are $11,800 to $19,200. Four indoor units are $14,800 to $24,100, while 5 indoor units are $17,800 to $28,900. Our estimate uses 500 sq ft per indoor unit and prices up to 5 indoor units before a custom quote.
Ducted heat pump rebates in Boulder County
A gas heated home with a 3 ton ducted heat pump has total rebates of $7,000. The included programs are the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). The Xcel Energy rebate applies to Xcel Energy customers whose homes now heat with a gas furnace, gas boiler, or propane. The State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount applies to every Colorado home, and Power Ahead Colorado applies in Boulder County.
For a home now heated with electricity, total rebates on a 3 ton ducted heat pump are $4,700. The programs are the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). The electric heat Xcel Energy rebate applies to Xcel Energy customers. A propane heated home has total rebates of $7,000, through the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). The state discount comes off the invoice.
Boulder County households under the program income limit can qualify for the Boulder County income-qualified rebate of 50% of the price (up to $2,000). We file every rebate for the homeowner. Efficiency Works, Holy Cross Energy, Mountain Parks Electric, Gunnison County Electric, San Miguel Power, and Sangre de Cristo Electric rebates do not apply here. The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31.
Choosing ducted, dual fuel, or ductless
A ducted heat pump uses the existing central air path, with a new outdoor unit and air handler. The example home has a ducted price of $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $8,400 to $21,200 after rebates. This choice fits a home whose ducts can deliver the required airflow. We check that detail before installation, especially in the 12.5% of county homes built before 1960.
Dual fuel keeps a gas furnace for the coldest hours. For the example home, dual fuel costs $12,100 to $22,500 before rebates and $5,400 to $15,800 after rebates. Its total gas home rebates are $7,000, through the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). The same example ducted system costs $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates. Dual fuel is the lower priced choice in these example ranges because it keeps the furnace.
Ductless equipment suits homes without ducts, additions, and condos. The ductless example has 3 indoor units, with pricing of $11,800 to $19,200 before rebates and $7,800 to $15,200 after rebates. A ductless system replacing electric heat has total rebates of $4,700, through the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). A gas heated ductless home has $7,000, through the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500).
What a ducted installation includes
A ducted heat pump price includes the outdoor unit, a variable-speed air handler with backup heat, and the line set. It also includes a standard 240V circuit and thermostat. The listed price includes the permit and removal of old equipment. These items support replacement of a central heating and cooling system in a home with ducts.
We use Mitsubishi, Bosch, Daikin, Carrier, and Trane equipment. The online estimate takes about 2 minutes. A winter gas bill makes the estimate more accurate. Our estimate tool uses the home details to provide a starting price, size, and rebate picture before the on-site assessment.
Most installations take 1 day. Jobs with several ductless units can take 2 or 3 days. A ducted installation starts with measurements of the home, ducts, and electrical panel. Those checks match the selected equipment to the 1°F design condition and the 5,300 ft sizing elevation.
Boulder County towns
| Homes | Median year built | Built before 1960 | Built 2010 or later | Gas heat | Electric heat | Propane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 46,765 | 1978 | 18.2% | 9% | 62.5% | 33.6% | 1.2% |
| Longmont | 42,435 | 1990 | 10% | 15.5% | 76.3% | 21% | 1.3% |
| Louisville | 8,304 | 1991 | 6.6% | 18% | 77.1% | 21.4% | 0.1% |
| Lafayette | 13,323 | 1993 | 7.1% | 21.5% | 73.4% | 24.4% | 0.6% |
| Superior | 4,907 | 1997 | 0.6% | 9.2% | 77.1% | 20.6% | 1.9% |
| Erie | 11,277 | 2007 | 2.3% | 39.4% | 81.3% | 16.8% | 0.3% |
| Allenspark | 813 | 1950 | 62.9% | 0.7% | 0% | 20.1% | 54.4% |
| Altona | 280 | 1978 | 5.7% | 6.4% | 55.2% | 37.5% | 0% |
| Bark Ranch | 60 | 1990 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 11.7% | 38.3% |
| Bonanza Mountain Estates | 98 | 1969 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 46.9% | 53.1% |
| Crisman | 95 | 1975 | 13.7% | 8.4% | 14.7% | 18.9% | 57.9% |
| Eldora | 517 | 1938 | 91.3% | 0% | 5.2% | 12.1% | 35.7% |
| Eldorado Springs | 170 | 1965 | 36.5% | 5.9% | 72.9% | 11.8% | 2.9% |
| Glendale | 69 | 1993 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 75% |
| Gold Hill | 175 | 1938 | 85.7% | 0% | 0% | 14.9% | 66.3% |
| Gunbarrel | 4,897 | 1979 | 1.2% | 5.5% | 79.3% | 16.9% | 1.6% |
| Hidden Lake | 54 | -666666666 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Jamestown | 132 | 1952 | 63.6% | 3.8% | 16.9% | 5.9% | 69.5% |
| Lazy Acres | 478 | 1979 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 0% | 14.9% | 74.3% |
| Lyons | 792 | 1998 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 79% | 13.3% | 5.7% |
| Mountain Meadows | 105 | 1981 | 0% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 0% | 73.3% |
| Nederland | 691 | 1976 | 24.7% | 7.1% | 58% | 22.1% | 7.2% |
| Niwot | 1,577 | 1981 | 5.9% | 1.6% | 76.9% | 15.9% | 7.3% |
| Paragon Estates | 338 | 1972 | 15.7% | 3.6% | 81.7% | 18.3% | 0% |
| Pine Brook Hill | 319 | 1976 | 0% | 3.1% | 90.4% | 0% | 0% |
| Seven Hills | 44 | -666666666 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| St. Ann Highlands | 189 | 1992 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 16.9% | 33.3% |
| Sugarloaf | 215 | 1977 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 19.9% | 26.7% |
| Sunshine | 75 | 1965 | 18.7% | 0% | 0% | 38.7% | 61.3% |
| Tall Timber | 133 | 1973 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 69.2% |
| Valmont | 43 | 1948 | 79.1% | 0% | 46.5% | 53.5% | 0% |
| Ward | 68 | 1938 | 57.4% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 52.9% |
- Heat pumps in Boulder46,765 homes, median year built 1978.
- Heat pumps in Longmont42,435 homes, median year built 1990.
- Heat pumps in Louisville8,304 homes, median year built 1991.
- Heat pumps in Lafayette13,323 homes, median year built 1993.
- Heat pumps in Superior4,907 homes, median year built 1997.
- Heat pumps in Erie11,277 homes, median year built 2007.
- Heat pumps in Allenspark813 homes, median year built 1950.
- Heat pumps in Eldora517 homes, median year built 1938.
- Heat pumps in Gunbarrel4,897 homes, median year built 1979.
- Heat pumps in Lazy Acres478 homes, median year built 1979.
- Heat pumps in Lyons792 homes, median year built 1998.
- Heat pumps in Nederland691 homes, median year built 1976.
- Heat pumps in Niwot1,577 homes, median year built 1981.
- Heat pumps in Paragon Estates338 homes, median year built 1972.
- Heat pumps in Pine Brook Hill319 homes, median year built 1976.
More for Boulder County
- Dual-fuel heat pump in Boulder CountyPrices by home age and the Boulder rebates for this system.
- Ductless mini-split in Boulder CountyPrices by home age and the Boulder rebates for this system.
- Heat pump rebates in Boulder County$7,000 on a 3-ton gas home, program by program.
- Pool heat pumps in Boulder CountyPool and spa heat pumps: local code rules, running cost and the swim season.
Questions we hear
Which Boulder County homes fit a ducted heat pump?
Homes with usable central ducts fit a ducted heat pump. Boulder County has 57.9% detached houses and 69.9% utility gas heat, so many homes start with central heating equipment. We measure the home, inspect the ducts, and check the electrical panel before installation. Older homes, including the county's 12.5% built before 1960, need especially close duct review.
How are ducted heat pumps sized in Boulder County?
We size the system at 1°F for a 70°F indoor target and 5,300 ft elevation. At that elevation, an air-source unit loses 18% of heat output. The example home has a design load of 2.8 tons and needs a 30 A breaker. Final sizing follows measurements of the home and its ducts.
What rebates apply to a gas heated home?
A 3 ton ducted heat pump in a gas heated home has total rebates of $7,000. The applicable programs are the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). Xcel Energy rebates require an Xcel Energy customer and a home now heated by a gas furnace, gas boiler, or propane. We file every rebate, and the Colorado state discount comes off the invoice.
What is included in a ducted heat pump price?
The price includes an outdoor unit, variable-speed air handler with backup heat, line set, standard 240V circuit, thermostat, permit, and removal of old equipment. A 3 ton ducted range is $17,400 to $24,600 before rebates. We also measure the home, inspect ducts, and check the electrical panel before the installation starts.
How does ducted compare with dual fuel and ductless?
For the example home, ducted pricing is $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates. Dual fuel pricing is $12,100 to $22,500, and it keeps a gas furnace for the coldest hours. Ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200 for the ductless example with 3 indoor units. Ductless suits homes without ducts, additions, and condos.