Ducted heat pump installs in El Paso County
Strata Heat Pumps installs heat pumps in El Paso County, in every ZIP code listed on this page. The online estimate gives a price range and your rebates for an address in El Paso County in about two minutes.
Ducted heat pumps in El Paso County
A ducted heat pump uses the ducts already in your home for heating and cooling. It moves heat instead of burning fuel. Census figures count 296,753 homes in El Paso County, with a median build year of 1988. That is close to Colorado's 1987 median, but the county has 67.1% detached houses, compared with 61.8% statewide. Existing central ductwork makes a ducted system a strong fit for many detached homes.
Gas heats 69.4% of county homes, above Colorado's 66.7%. A ducted heat pump can replace a central gas heating and cooling setup. Electricity heats 24.8% of county homes, close to Colorado's 25.2%. We inspect the ducts, electrical panel, and home before selecting equipment.
Housing age shapes the job. Homes built from 1980 to 1999 make up 31.1% of county housing, the largest build group. Another 23.9% were built from 1960 to 1979, while 12.4% were built before 1960. Older homes are more likely to have undersized ducts or no ducts, so we check airflow before recommending a ducted replacement.
Which El Paso County homes suit ducted systems
Colorado Springs has 207,078 homes, a 1986 median build year, and 69.8% gas heat. Its 60.8% detached-home share and 28.6% multi-unit share call for a duct check before choosing central equipment. Fountain has 10,899 homes, a 1998 median build year, and 80.4% detached homes. Its 70.7% gas-heated share makes a ducted replacement a direct path for many homes. Cimarron Hills has 7,327 homes, a 1988 median, and 69% detached homes. Security-Widefield has 13,770 homes, 93.9% detached homes, and 77.9% gas heat.
Air Force Academy has 681 homes, with 53% detached homes and 77.1% gas heat. Fort Carson has 3,646 homes and only 9.4% detached homes, so home layout and shared-building conditions matter before selecting a central system. Stratmoor has 2,517 homes, a 1976 median build year, and 60% detached homes. Gleneagle has 2,619 homes and 84.1% gas heat. Monument has 4,087 homes, a 2006 median, and 75.6% detached homes. Woodmoor has 3,322 homes and 93.8% detached homes. Palmer Lake has 1,122 homes, with 87.9% gas heat and 88.9% detached homes.
Black Forest has 5,400 homes, 96.9% detached homes, and 14.1% propane heat. Calhan has 265 homes and 61.4% propane heat. Ellicott has 403 homes and 76.4% propane heat. Peyton has 40 homes, all reported with gas heat and detached homes. Ramah has 73 homes, with 49.3% propane heat. Rock Creek Park has 45 homes, all reported as detached. Cascade-Chipita Park has 733 homes, a 1964 median, and 47.2% built before 1960. Green Mountain Falls has 525 homes, a 1952 median, and 58.1% built before 1960. Manitou Springs has 2,603 homes, a 1951 median, and 62.6% built before 1960. These older mountain communities need a careful duct review and room-by-room load calculation.
Ducted heat pump prices by home age
Our estimate tool prices a 2,000 square foot, two-story gas-heated home differently by build group because the design load changes. For a home built before 1960, the load is 3.4 tons. Ducted pricing is $17,400 to $37,800 before rebates. Dual fuel pricing is $14,000 to $30,600 before rebates. A 1,500 square foot, one-story electric-heated home without ducts is $11,800 to $19,200 for ductless equipment. This group matters in Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls, Ramah, and Cascade-Chipita Park.
For homes built from 1960 to 1979, the design load is 3.2 tons. Ducted pricing is $17,400 to $31,200, and dual fuel pricing is $14,000 to $25,200. The comparable ductless price is $11,800 to $19,200. For homes built from 1980 to 1999, the design load is 2.8 tons. Ducted pricing is $15,100 to $27,900, dual fuel pricing is $12,100 to $22,500, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. The county's 1988 median year built falls in this group.
For homes built from 2000 to 2009, the design load is 2.4 tons. Ducted pricing is $12,800 to $24,600, dual fuel pricing is $10,200 to $19,800, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. For homes built in 2010 or later, the load is 2.0 tons. Ducted pricing is $12,800 to $21,300, dual fuel pricing is $10,200 to $17,100, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. Newer homes make up 15.2% of county housing, compared with 14% across Colorado.
Ducted prices by system size
Our estimate tool gives these ducted price ranges by capacity. A 2-ton ducted system is $12,800 to $18,000. A 3-ton ducted system is $17,400 to $24,600. A 4-ton ducted system is $22,100 to $31,200. A 5-ton ducted system is $26,800 to $37,800. System capacity follows the measured load, not home size alone. Duct condition, insulation, windows, floor plan, and elevation all affect that result.
For the same capacities, dual fuel pricing is $10,200 to $14,400, $14,000 to $19,800, $17,900 to $25,200, and $21,700 to $30,600. Dual fuel retains a gas furnace for the coldest hours. It fits homes with a working gas furnace that the homeowner plans to keep.
Ductless pricing follows indoor-unit count. One indoor unit is $5,800 to $9,400, two are $8,800 to $14,300, three are $11,800 to $19,200, four are $14,800 to $24,100, and five are $17,800 to $28,900. Ductless systems suit homes without ducts, additions, and condos. A ducted system serves the full home through a central duct network.
Sizing ducted heat pumps for El Paso County
We size every ducted heat pump to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors. Our sizing uses 5,300 ft. At that elevation, an air-source unit loses 18% of heat output. At the design temperature, our equipment assumption is 2 units of heat per unit of electricity. These conditions make a load calculation more useful than choosing a replacement by the old equipment label.
The example home is 2,000 square feet, two stories, gas heated, and built from 1980 to 1999. Its calculated load is 2.8 tons, and its electrical requirement is 30 A. The ducted price is $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $14,100 to $26,900 after rebates. A winter gas bill makes the online estimate more accurate, and the estimate takes about two minutes.
The quoted 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. Most installs take one day. We use Mitsubishi, Bosch, Daikin, Carrier, and Trane equipment. Jobs with several ductless units can take two or three days, which is separate from a typical ducted replacement.
Rebates and system choices in El Paso County
Our estimate tool shows $1,000 in rebates for a 3-ton ducted heat pump in a gas-heated home. The listed program is the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). For a home with electric heat, the ducted total is $1,000, from the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). For a propane-heated home, the total is $1,000, from the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). The State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount applies to every Colorado home and any of the three system types. It comes off the invoice.
A 3-ton dual-fuel system in a gas-heated home has $1,000 in rebates, listed as the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). A 3-ton ductless system replacing electric heat has $1,000, listed as the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). A 3-ton ductless system in a gas-heated home has $1,000, listed as the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). We file every rebate for the homeowner.
The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. Xcel Energy, Power Ahead Colorado, Efficiency Works, Boulder County, Holy Cross Energy, Mountain Parks Electric, Gunnison County Electric, San Miguel Power, and Sangre de Cristo Electric rebates do not apply here. A ducted heat pump replaces central heating and cooling through existing ducts. Dual fuel keeps gas heat for the coldest hours. Ductless uses wall or ceiling indoor units where ducts are absent or unsuitable.
El Paso County towns
| Homes | Median year built | Built before 1960 | Built 2010 or later | Gas heat | Electric heat | Propane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | 207,078 | 1986 | 14% | 13.5% | 69.8% | 27.2% | 1.3% |
| Fountain | 10,899 | 1998 | 8.4% | 18.6% | 70.7% | 24% | 4.2% |
| Air Force Academy | 681 | 1967 | 33.2% | 6.6% | 77.1% | 20.1% | 1.8% |
| Black Forest | 5,400 | 1996 | 2.6% | 19.1% | 70.2% | 11.7% | 14.1% |
| Calhan | 265 | 1977 | 27.2% | 0.8% | 3.1% | 28.1% | 61.4% |
| Cascade-Chipita Park | 733 | 1964 | 47.2% | 7.8% | 77.8% | 2.5% | 7.1% |
| Cimarron Hills | 7,327 | 1988 | 1% | 16.2% | 66.6% | 29.9% | 2% |
| Ellicott | 403 | 1978 | 0% | 3.7% | 1.2% | 9.7% | 76.4% |
| Fort Carson | 3,646 | 2002 | 8.7% | 20.9% | 65% | 32.9% | 0% |
| Gleneagle | 2,619 | 1997 | 0% | 7.2% | 84.1% | 13.8% | 0% |
| Green Mountain Falls | 525 | 1952 | 58.1% | 0% | 59.6% | 36.3% | 0% |
| Manitou Springs | 2,603 | 1951 | 62.6% | 3% | 71.7% | 24.8% | 1.3% |
| Monument | 4,087 | 2006 | 3.6% | 31.7% | 79.4% | 18.9% | 0.4% |
| Palmer Lake | 1,122 | 1988 | 24.2% | 6.6% | 87.9% | 11.3% | 0.8% |
| Peyton | 40 | -666666666 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Ramah | 73 | 1938 | 56.2% | 2.7% | 0% | 32.9% | 49.3% |
| Rock Creek Park | 45 | 1965 | 24.4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 51.1% |
| Security-Widefield | 13,770 | 1982 | 15.4% | 12.5% | 77.9% | 19.1% | 1.6% |
| Stratmoor | 2,517 | 1976 | 5.8% | 6% | 71.4% | 26% | 2.6% |
| Woodmoor | 3,322 | 1992 | 0% | 7.6% | 87.6% | 9.7% | 0.9% |
- Heat pumps in Colorado Springs207,078 homes, median year built 1986.
- Heat pumps in Fountain10,899 homes, median year built 1998.
- Heat pumps in Air Force Academy681 homes, median year built 1967.
- Heat pumps in Black Forest5,400 homes, median year built 1996.
- Heat pumps in Cascade-Chipita Park733 homes, median year built 1964.
- Heat pumps in Cimarron Hills7,327 homes, median year built 1988.
- Heat pumps in Ellicott403 homes, median year built 1978.
- Heat pumps in Fort Carson3,646 homes, median year built 2002.
- Heat pumps in Gleneagle2,619 homes, median year built 1997.
- Heat pumps in Green Mountain Falls525 homes, median year built 1952.
- Heat pumps in Manitou Springs2,603 homes, median year built 1951.
- Heat pumps in Monument4,087 homes, median year built 2006.
- Heat pumps in Palmer Lake1,122 homes, median year built 1988.
- Heat pumps in Security-Widefield13,770 homes, median year built 1982.
- Heat pumps in Stratmoor2,517 homes, median year built 1976.
- Heat pumps in Woodmoor3,322 homes, median year built 1992.
More for El Paso County
- Dual-fuel heat pump in El Paso CountyPrices by home age and the El Paso rebates for this system.
- Ductless mini-split in El Paso CountyPrices by home age and the El Paso rebates for this system.
- Heat pump rebates in El Paso County$1,000 on a 3-ton gas home, program by program.
- Pool heat pumps in El Paso CountyPool and spa heat pumps: local code rules, running cost and the swim season.
Questions we hear
What homes fit a ducted heat pump in El Paso County?
Ducted systems fit homes with usable central ducts. El Paso County has 67.1% detached houses and 69.4% gas heat, so many homes start with a central heating layout. We measure the home, inspect ducts, and check the electrical panel. Older homes need special attention because 12.4% of county housing was built before 1960.
How are ducted heat pumps sized here?
We size to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors, using 5,300 ft. Air-source equipment loses 18% of output at that elevation. For the example 2,000 square foot, two-story, gas-heated home built from 1980 to 1999, the calculated load is 2.8 tons and the electrical requirement is 30 A.
What does a ducted heat pump price include?
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 system is $17,400 to $24,600 in our estimate tool. Most ducted installs take one day after we measure the home and inspect the ducts and panel.
What rebate applies to a ducted heat pump?
The State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount applies to every Colorado home and any of the three system types. For a 3-ton ducted system in a gas-heated home, the total is $1,000, with the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000). The state discount comes off the invoice, and we file every rebate for the homeowner.
How does ducted compare with dual fuel and ductless?
Ducted equipment uses the existing central ducts for heating and cooling. Dual fuel keeps a gas furnace for the coldest hours. For a 3-ton system, dual fuel is $14,000 to $19,800, while ducted is $17,400 to $24,600. Ductless suits homes without ducts, additions, and condos. Three ductless indoor units are $11,800 to $19,200. The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31.