Installs in Highlands Ranch
Strata Heat Pumps installs heat pumps in Highlands Ranch, in every ZIP code listed on this page. The online estimate gives a price range and your rebates for a Highlands Ranch address in about two minutes.
Heat pumps for Highlands Ranch homes
Highlands Ranch has 39,066 homes across 24.268 square miles, and 38,076 are occupied. Census figures show a median build year of 1997, compared with 2001 in Douglas County and 1987 across Colorado. The town has 7.6 median rooms, compared with 5.7 statewide. These are larger, newer homes that need a room-by-room look at heating load and airflow.
Detached houses make up 75.6% of Highlands Ranch homes, close to Douglas County's 74.1% and above Colorado's 61.8%. Owner occupancy is 79.2%, compared with 77.8% in the county and 66.3% statewide. A ducted heat pump or dual-fuel system fits many of these established, owner-occupied houses because they commonly have a central furnace and duct system.
The housing mix differs from nearby towns. Highlands Ranch has 17.5% homes in multi-unit buildings, below Littleton's 39% and Lone Tree's 45.9%, but above Acres Green and Columbine Valley, both at 0%. Detached homes dominate Highlands Ranch, while ductless systems deserve closer attention in its attached homes, condos, and additions.
Highlands Ranch has 61.9% of homes built from 1980 to 1999. Another 25.6% were built from 2000 to 2009. That construction mix calls for a system choice based on the actual ducts, electrical panel, and heat load, rather than a single approach for every home.
How Highlands Ranch homes heat today
Utility gas heats 74.8% of Highlands Ranch homes. That is slightly above Douglas County's 73.9% and Colorado's 66.7%. Gas furnace replacements are the central heat pump opportunity here, especially for households choosing between a full ducted replacement and a dual-fuel system that retains the furnace for the coldest hours.
Electricity heats 22.8% of local homes, close to the county's 22.3% and below Colorado's 25.2%. Propane heats 1.1%, while solar heats 1%. Heat pumps move heat instead of burning fuel, and every system also cools. Existing electric-heated homes without ducts are strong candidates for ductless equipment.
Nearby patterns vary. Acres Green has 89.8% gas heat, while Lone Tree has 64.5%. Littleton has 27.7% electric heat, compared with 22.8% in Highlands Ranch. These differences matter because existing heating fuel affects the available Xcel Energy rebate, while duct layout and design load determine the equipment choice.
Gas heat reaches 78.3% in ZIP code 80126, compared with 71.3% in 80129 and 71% in 80130. An estimate should start with the current heating equipment, then account for how the house distributes heat today.
Matching systems to the local housing stock
A ducted heat pump suits the 75.6% detached-house share in Highlands Ranch when a home has usable central ducts. We measure the home, then check the ducts and electrical panel before installation. The town's 61.9% share built from 1980 to 1999 makes this a major housing group to evaluate carefully, rather than sizing from floor area alone.
Dual fuel pairs a heat pump with the existing gas furnace. It fits gas-heated homes where owners want the furnace available for the coldest hours. Since 74.8% of Highlands Ranch homes use gas, dual fuel is a direct option for much of the town's housing stock. It also avoids treating every gas furnace replacement as the same project.
Ductless equipment fits homes without ducts, additions, and condos. Highlands Ranch has 6.9% attached houses and 17.5% homes in multi-unit buildings. In ZIP code 80129, multi-unit buildings reach 29.8%, compared with 11.3% in 80130. Those homes call for a close look at indoor-unit locations, electrical capacity, and the rooms each unit will heat and cool.
Littleton has 49.4% detached homes and 39% homes in multi-unit buildings. Highlands Ranch has a much higher detached-home share at 75.6%. That contrast supports more ducted and dual-fuel evaluations in Highlands Ranch, while keeping ductless options available for condos and additions.
Sizing for Highlands Ranch conditions
Our estimate tool sizes air-source equipment to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors at 5,300 ft. At that elevation, an air-source unit loses 18% of heat output. At the design temperature, the equipment delivers 2 units of heat for each unit of electricity. These conditions are why nameplate size alone cannot select the right system.
For the example home, a 2,000 square foot, two-story, gas-heated house built from 1980 to 1999, the design load is 2.8 tons. The example needs a 30 A breaker. Highlands Ranch has 61.9% of homes in that construction period, so this example reflects the town's largest build group.
Build year changes the load. A 2,000 square foot, two-story gas home built before 1960 sizes at 3.4 tons, while a home built from 2000 to 2009 sizes at 2.4 tons. Homes built in 2010 or later size at 2.0 tons. Only 0.5% of Highlands Ranch homes predate 1960, while 25.6% were built from 2000 to 2009 and 10.5% in 2010 or later.
Douglas County's median build year is 2001, later than Highlands Ranch's 1997. The county also has 24.3% of homes built in 2010 or later, compared with 10.5% in town. A home should be sized for its own construction group and measured heat loss, not from the county median.
Example prices and rebates in Highlands Ranch
For the example home, our estimate tool puts a ducted heat pump at $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $8,400 to $21,200 after rebates. A dual-fuel system is $12,100 to $22,500 before rebates and $5,400 to $15,800 after rebates. These ranges apply to the stated 2,000 square foot, two-story gas home built from 1980 to 1999.
A gas-heated home using a 3-ton ducted heat pump has total rebates of $7,000. Those rebates 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 State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount is $1,000 and comes off the invoice. We file every rebate for the homeowner.
An electric-heated home with a 3-ton ducted heat pump has total rebates of $4,700, made up of the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). For gas furnaces, gas boilers, or propane, the Xcel Energy rebate is $1,500 per ton of heating. For existing electric heat, it is $750 per ton of heating. Power Ahead Colorado applies in Douglas County and is $1,500.
The gas-heated total is $7,000, while the electric-heated total is $4,700 for the stated 3-ton ducted system. This difference follows the Xcel Energy rebate for the home's current heating fuel. The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31.
ZIP code differences in Highlands Ranch
ZIP code 80126 has 16,304 homes, the largest local total. Its median build year is 1996, gas heat reaches 78.3%, and detached houses make up 80.6%. Multi-unit buildings account for 14.2%. Ducted and dual-fuel conversations will be common in this ZIP because the housing is more detached and more gas-heated than the town as a whole.
ZIP code 80129 has 12,674 homes and a median build year of 1998. Electricity heats 27.4% of its homes, above 80126's 19.1% and 80130's 26%. Its 29.8% multi-unit share is the highest of the local ZIP codes, and 17.5% of homes were built in 2010 or later. Ductless and newer-home sizing deserve extra attention here.
ZIP code 80130 has 9,468 homes and a median build year of 1997. It has 79.8% detached houses and 11.3% multi-unit buildings. Gas heat is 71%, while propane is 1.3%, matching 80126. Most installations take one day. Projects with several ductless units can take two or three days.
ZIP code 80126 has 11.8% of homes built in 2010 or later, while 80130 has 2.1%. Each ZIP has a different mix of heating fuel, detached houses, and newer construction. We measure the home and select equipment from brands including Mitsubishi, Bosch, Daikin, Carrier, and Trane.
Highlands Ranch in numbers
| Homes | Median year built | Built before 1960 | Built 2010 or later | Gas heat | Electric heat | Propane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands Ranch | 39,066 | 1997 | 0.5% | 10.5% | 74.8% | 22.8% | 1.1% |
| Douglas County | 140,542 | 2001 | 1.4% | 24.3% | 73.9% | 22.3% | 2.6% |
| Colorado | 2,545,124 | 1987 | 16.3% | 14% | 66.7% | 25.2% | 4.9% |
| ZIP | Main town | Homes | Median year built | Heat with gas | Electric utility | Install area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80126 | Highlands Ranch | 16,304 | 1996 | 78.3% | Xcel Energy | Yes |
| 80129 | Highlands Ranch | 12,674 | 1998 | 71.3% | Xcel Energy | Yes |
| 80130 | Highlands Ranch | 9,468 | 1997 | 71% | Xcel Energy | Yes |
Systems and rebates in Douglas County
- Ducted heat pump in Douglas CountyPrices by home age and the Douglas rebates for this system.
- Dual-fuel heat pump in Douglas CountyPrices by home age and the Douglas rebates for this system.
- Ductless mini-split in Douglas CountyPrices by home age and the Douglas rebates for this system.
- Heat pump rebates in Douglas County$7,000 on a 3-ton gas home, program by program.
- Pool heat pumps in Douglas CountyPool and spa heat pumps: local code rules, running cost and the swim season.
Other towns we install in
Questions we hear
Which heat pump system fits a typical Highlands Ranch house?
A ducted heat pump fits many of the town's 75.6% detached homes when ducts are in good condition. Dual fuel fits the 74.8% of homes that heat with utility gas and want to retain a gas furnace for the coldest hours. Ductless equipment fits additions, condos, and homes without ducts, including the town's 17.5% share in multi-unit buildings.
How is a Highlands Ranch heat pump sized?
We size to 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors at 5,300 ft. Air-source equipment loses 18% of output at that elevation. The 2,000 square foot, two-story, gas-heated example home built from 1980 to 1999 has a design load of 2.8 tons and needs a 30 A breaker. We also measure the home and check ducts and the electrical panel.
What rebates apply to a gas-heated home in Highlands Ranch?
For a 3-ton ducted heat pump in a gas-heated home, total rebates are $7,000. The 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 qualifying customers with a gas furnace, gas boiler, or propane heat. The state discount applies to every Colorado home and comes off the invoice. We file every rebate for the homeowner.
What do the example systems cost?
For the stated 2,000 square foot, two-story, gas-heated home built from 1980 to 1999, a ducted heat pump costs $15,100 to $27,900 before rebates and $8,400 to $21,200 after rebates. A dual-fuel system costs $12,100 to $22,500 before rebates and $5,400 to $15,800 after rebates. Our estimate tool provides these ranges and accounts for the home's stated construction group.
How many indoor units does a ductless example need?
The ductless example is a 1,500 square foot home with 3 indoor units. Our estimate tool uses 500 sq ft of floor area per ductless indoor unit and prices up to 5 indoor units before a custom quote. The example range is $11,800 to $19,200 before rebates and $7,800 to $15,200 after rebates.