Ducted heat pump installs in Denver
Strata Heat Pumps installs heat pumps in Denver County, in every ZIP code listed on this page. The online estimate gives a price range and your rebates for an address in Denver County in about two minutes.
Ducted heat pumps in Denver County
A ducted heat pump uses the ducts already in your home for heating and cooling. It moves heat rather than burning fuel. In Denver County, Census figures show 352,593 homes, with 61.5% using utility gas and 35% using electricity for heat. A ducted replacement fits homes with usable central ducts, especially gas-heated houses ready to replace a furnace and cooling equipment.
Denver County homes have a median build year of 1974, compared with 1987 across Colorado. The county has 35.5% of homes built before 1960, while Colorado has 16.3%. Older homes are more likely to have small ducts or no ducts, so we inspect duct capacity before selecting this system. Homes with sound ductwork are strong ducted heat pump candidates.
The housing mix also calls for a close look at each property. Detached houses make up 41.2% of county homes, below Colorado's 61.8%. Multi-unit buildings account for 49.8%, compared with 26.9% statewide. A central ducted system suits a detached home, attached home, or condo when the home has its own workable duct system and equipment location.
Denver homes that suit a ducted system
Denver is the only town in Denver County, and it contains 352,593 homes. Its median build year is 1974. Gas heats 61.5% of homes, electricity heats 35%, and propane heats 1.4%. Ducted heat pumps work well in Denver homes that already distribute heat through supply and return ducts. We measure the home, inspect the ducts, and check the electrical panel before installation.
Denver has 41.2% detached houses and 49.8% multi-unit buildings. That is a much larger multi-unit share than Jefferson County's 26.1%, Adams County's 22.9%, and Arapahoe County's 32.2%. Many Denver apartments and condos need property-specific equipment and duct access review. A ducted system is the right path when a home has its own existing duct network.
Within Denver, 80207 has 79.7% detached homes and 70.5% gas heat. Its median build year is 1950, and 81.5% of homes were built before 1960. Those houses warrant careful duct inspection. In 80202, 97.4% of homes are in multi-unit buildings and 63.7% use electric heat. Ducted equipment fits there only where dedicated ducts and equipment space are already available.
Ducted heat pump prices by Denver home age
Our estimate tool prices a 2,000 sq ft, 2-story gas-heated home built before 1960 at 3.4 tons of design load. A ducted heat pump is $17,400 to $37,800 before rebates and $9,900 to $30,300 after rebates. That older-home range reflects the higher design load and the need to evaluate existing ducts. Denver County has 35.5% of homes in this build group.
For a comparable home built from 1960 to 1979, the design load is 3.2 tons. The ducted price is $17,400 to $31,200 before rebates and $10,100 to $23,900 after rebates. This period holds 21.9% of Denver County homes. For homes built from 1980 to 1999, the load is 2.8 tons, with a price of $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $8,400 to $21,200 after rebates.
Homes built from 2000 to 2009 have a 2.4 tons design load in this comparison. Their ducted price is $12,800 to $24,600 before rebates and $6,700 to $18,500 after rebates. Homes built in 2010 or later have a 2.0 tons design load, priced at $12,800 to $21,300 before rebates and $7,300 to $15,800 after rebates. These groups represent 10.9% and 17.7% of county homes.
Ducted heat pump prices by system size
System capacity follows the measured heating load, not square footage alone. Our estimate tool shows $12,800 to $18,000 for a 2-ton ducted heat pump. A 2-ton dual-fuel system is $10,200 to $14,400. The ducted option replaces the furnace with a heat pump and backup heat, while dual fuel keeps the gas furnace for the coldest hours.
A 3-ton ducted heat pump is $17,400 to $24,600, and a 4-ton ducted heat pump is $22,100 to $31,200. The comparable dual-fuel prices are $14,000 to $19,800 and $17,900 to $25,200. Ducted heat pump pricing is higher because the system includes an air handler with backup heat rather than retaining the existing furnace.
For larger measured loads, a 5-ton ducted heat pump is $26,800 to $37,800. A 5-ton dual-fuel system is $21,700 to $30,600. These are price ranges before rebates. The final capacity depends on the home's construction, duct condition, electrical panel, and heat load at Denver County design conditions. We do not select equipment by a single countywide house size.
Sizing ducted heat pumps for Denver County
We size each air-source system to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors. Our sizing uses an elevation of 5,300 ft. At that elevation, an air-source unit loses 18% of heat output. This is why a Denver County heat pump needs a load calculation and equipment selection that accounts for altitude and deep cold.
At the design temperature, the equipment produces 2 units of heat for each unit of electricity. Backup heat is part of the ducted system. The included variable-speed air handler supplies that backup heat through the home's ducts. Correct sizing makes the system match the house, rather than assuming every Denver home built in the same year needs the same capacity.
A winter gas bill makes the online estimate more accurate. It takes about two minutes to complete. Our estimate tool uses the home details to identify a starting size and price range. We then measure the home and check ducts and the electrical panel before we install. Most installations take one day.
Rebates and what the ducted price includes
For a 3-ton ducted heat pump replacing gas heat, total rebates are $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). For a home now using electric heat, total rebates 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). Xcel Energy customers qualify based on the existing heating fuel, while the state discount applies to every Colorado home.
Denver County also qualifies for the Power Ahead Colorado rebate. The State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount comes off the invoice. We file every rebate for the homeowner. The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. That credit is not available for a ducted heat pump installed after that date.
The ducted price includes the outdoor unit, variable-speed air handler with backup heat, line set, standard 240V circuit, thermostat, permit, and removal of old equipment. We install Mitsubishi, Bosch, Daikin, Carrier, and Trane equipment. This scope gives Denver homeowners a full replacement path where existing ducts can carry the new heat pump's heating and cooling.
Ducted heat pumps compared with other systems
A ducted heat pump is the best fit for a Denver home with usable central ducts and a goal of replacing its furnace. It provides heating and cooling through the existing distribution system. For the before-1960 example, ducted pricing is $17,400 to $37,800, while the comparable dual-fuel range is $14,000 to $30,600. The dual-fuel system retains the gas furnace for the coldest hours.
Dual fuel costs $6,500 to $23,100 after rebates for that before-1960 example, compared with $9,900 to $30,300 for ducted. It suits a homeowner who wants a heat pump but wants to keep a gas furnace. The decision rests on the existing furnace condition, duct condition, electrical panel, and the homeowner's preference for full electric heating or furnace backup.
Ductless equipment suits homes without ducts, additions, and condos. A 1-zone ductless system is $5,800 to $9,400, while 2 zones are $8,800 to $14,300 and 3 zones are $11,800 to $19,200. Larger layouts are $14,800 to $24,100 for 4 zones and $17,800 to $28,900 for 5 zones. Ductless is a different layout solution, not a replacement for a sound whole-home duct system.
More for Denver
- Dual-fuel heat pump in Denver CountyPrices by home age and the Denver rebates for this system.
- Ductless mini-split in Denver CountyPrices by home age and the Denver rebates for this system.
- Heat pump rebates in Denver County$7,000 on a 3-ton gas home, program by program.
- Pool heat pumps in Denver CountyPool and spa heat pumps: local code rules, running cost and the swim season.
Questions we hear
How do you size a ducted heat pump in Denver County?
We size to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors, using 5,300 ft for Denver County. An air-source unit loses 18% of output at that elevation. We measure the home, inspect ducts, and check the electrical panel. A winter gas bill makes the online estimate more accurate.
What rebates apply to a ducted heat pump in Denver County?
For a 3-ton ducted system replacing gas heat, total rebates are $7,000, made up of the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). For an electric-heated home, total rebates are $4,700, with the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). We file every rebate, and the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount comes off the invoice.
Are older Denver homes good candidates for ducted heat pumps?
They are good candidates when the existing ducts can handle the new system. Census figures show 35.5% of Denver County homes were built before 1960. For the 2,000 sq ft, 2-story gas example in that group, the design load is 3.4 tons and ducted pricing is $17,400 to $37,800 before rebates.
What does a ducted heat pump installation include?
The price includes the outdoor unit, a variable-speed air handler with backup heat, line set, standard 240V circuit, thermostat, permit, and removal of old equipment. Most installs take one day. We inspect the home, ducts, and electrical panel before installation.
How does ducted compare with dual fuel in Denver County?
Ducted heat pumps replace the furnace with a heat pump and backup heat. Dual fuel keeps the gas furnace for the coldest hours. For the before-1960 example, ducted pricing is $17,400 to $37,800, while dual fuel is $14,000 to $30,600. Both systems use the home's existing duct distribution when it is suitable.