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Heat Pump Installation by Aces Highlands in Portland, Maine

Heat Pump Installation in Portland & Southern Maine

Cold-Climate Rated Systems · Proper Load Calculations · Clean, Professional Install

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EFFICIENCY MAINE REBATE

$500

$500 Efficiency Maine Rebate on Heat Pump Installation!

Expires 12/31/2026

FULL INSTALLATION SERVICES

$500

$500 Off Any Full Install $10K or More

Expires 12/31/2026

Financing

Financing available

Finance up to 100% of your project with low monthly payments through our lending partners. Quick approval, no prepayment penalty.

Our Approach to Heat Pump Installation

How a Heat Pump Works

  1. Outdoor unit — fan and compressor extract heat from outside air
  2. Reversing valve — switches the system between heating and cooling
  3. Line set — carries hot, high-pressure refrigerant indoors
  4. Indoor coil — releases heat into the airstream
  5. Warm air — the blower delivers it to the room

Aces Highlands installs cold-climate heat pumps designed for Maine winters. As certified GE and Hitachi installers, we handle everything from system selection and sizing to professional installation and testing — and we work with all major brands to fit your budget.

We are certified installers for GE and Hitachi cold-climate heat pumps rated to perform in sub-zero temperatures, and we also work with other major brands to find the right fit for your home and budget. Every installation starts with a proper load calculation to ensure your system is sized correctly — not too big, not too small. Most heat pump installations also require an electrical panel upgrade — we handle that as part of the project.

Our installations include indoor and outdoor unit placement, refrigerant line routing, electrical connections, and thorough system testing. We take pride in clean line sets, secure mounting, and a tidy work area when we leave.

Whether you are adding a single-zone mini-split to a problem room or installing a multi-zone ductless mini-split system for whole-home comfort, we communicate clearly about what to expect and deliver on time. We offer financing options to make your installation more affordable.

Do Heat Pumps Really Work in Maine Winters?

Yes — when the right equipment is installed the right way. Modern cold-climate heat pumps are rated to deliver full heating output well below zero, and Maine now has more heat pumps per household than almost any state in the country. The catch is that the technology only performs when the system is sized from an actual load calculation, the outdoor unit is mounted above snow depth with proper drainage, and the refrigerant lines are run and charged correctly. That installation quality — not the brand on the box — is what separates a heat pump that carries a Maine January from one that struggles.

Many of our customers keep their existing boiler or furnace as a backup for the deepest cold snaps, which also keeps fuel-delivery minimums satisfied. Others go all-in on heat pumps for the whole home. We will walk you through both approaches honestly, including what each one does to your operating costs, before you spend a dollar.

How Much Does Heat Pump Installation Cost?

A single-zone ductless installation typically lands in the $4,000–$6,000 range, while multi-zone and whole-home systems run higher depending on zones, line-set lengths, and electrical work. We give you a firm written quote before work begins — no surprise line items on the final invoice.

Maine homeowners also have real money on the table: Efficiency Maine offers rebates on qualifying cold-climate heat pump installations, and federal tax credits may apply. We help you understand what your project qualifies for, and our financing options can spread the remainder over time. Because we are a local company rather than a franchise, our pricing reflects our actual costs — not a national brand fee baked into every job.

What Happens on Installation Day?

Most single-zone installations are complete in one day. Our crew mounts the indoor head and outdoor unit, routes and insulates the refrigerant line set in clean line-hide, makes the electrical connection (including a panel upgrade if your service needs the capacity — we are licensed electricians, so it happens in the same project), pressure-tests and evacuates the lines, and commissions the system in both heating and cooling modes. We walk you through the remote, the maintenance schedule, and the paperwork for your rebate before we leave, and we take the packaging with us.

Efficiency Maine

Efficiency Maine

Rebates & Guidance

Aces Highlands is a Registered Residential Vendor with Efficiency Maine
  • Rebate

    Whole-home heat pump rebates by income tier

    A new whole-home heat pump system can qualify for an Efficiency Maine rebate before you ever see a bill: $3,000–$9,000 for a ducted system, or $1,000–$3,000 per outdoor unit for a mini-split setup, scaled to household income.

    Source: Efficiency Maine
  • Recommendation

    Registered Vendor status is what makes the rebate work

    The rebate check only shows up if the installer is an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor and the paperwork goes in within six months of completion. Aces Highlands holds that status and files it for you.

    Source: Efficiency Maine

Program details as of Sep 26, 2026. Rebate amounts and eligibility change; confirm current terms at efficiencymaine.com.

Homeowner Guide

What Actually Happens on Heat Pump Installation Day

A heat pump installation looks simple from the outside — an outdoor unit, an indoor head, a line set between them — but the quality of a handful of unglamorous steps is what determines whether the system performs for fifteen years or struggles from day one.

The Load Calculation Comes First

Before any equipment gets ordered, a proper installation starts with a room-by-room or whole-house load calculation — accounting for insulation, window area, air sealing, and orientation, not just square footage. Skipping this and sizing off the old system's rating or a rule of thumb is the single most common cause of a heat pump that underperforms in a Maine winter.

Heat pump outdoor unit with refrigerant line set running to the house

Line Set Routing and Mounting Height

The refrigerant line set connecting outdoor and indoor units gets routed through clean penetrations, insulated along its full length, and the outdoor unit gets mounted above expected snow depth on a stand or wall bracket — not set directly on the ground, where it can flood or get buried. A rushed or exposed line set is a common source of refrigerant leaks and efficiency loss years down the road, invisible until performance quietly degrades.

Commissioning: The Step That Gets Skipped

After mounting and connecting, the system gets pressure-tested for leaks, evacuated to remove moisture and air from the line set, then charged with refrigerant to the manufacturer's specification and run through both heating and cooling modes before we call the job done. A system that's never properly evacuated will have moisture in the refrigerant circuit, which degrades performance and can damage the compressor over time — problems that don't show up on day one, only years later.

Technician team completing an installation
Heat pump outdoor condenser unit installed beside a Maine home
Outdoor heat pump condenser mounted on a wall bracket above the snow line

Local & Independent — Not a Franchise

Aces Highlands is a locally owned Portland, Maine company — not a national franchise. Our technicians are not commissioned salespeople and nobody here is required to upsell you anything. We do the work you called us for, do it right, and earn the next call. That is the whole business model.

What does Heat Pump Installation cost in Maine?

$4,000–$16,000

Single-zone systems sit at the low end; multi-zone whole-home layouts, long line sets, and any panel work push it up, and Efficiency Maine rebates on qualifying cold-climate models bring the net cost down.

Every job starts with a free, no-obligation estimate — you get the exact price before any work begins.

Why homeowners choose Aces Highlands

  • We show up when we say

    We show up on time, as promised, and complete the work with clean professionalism.

  • Pricing upfront, before work starts

    Honest diagnostics and a clear price before any work begins — no surprises on the invoice.

  • Done right the first time

    HVAC, plumbing and electrical done right the first time — backed by our workmanship guarantee and 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Locally owned in Portland, Maine · Serving Greater Portland and Southern Maine since 2019

Google reviews

What HVAC customers say

  • Adam Ayan

    10 months ago

    Elijah and Highlands Heating & AC were super helpful! Boiler failed over the weekend and Elijah was very responsive and helpful, getting us up and running right away. I would recommend him at HH&AC highly!

  • Justin Funk

    a year ago

    We highly recommend Highlands Heating & AC. They are extremely responsive, knowledgeable and do great work. Our boiler stopped working and Elijah was quick to respond after hours on a Friday. He installed a new boiler and heat pump hot water heater.

  • Tom

    14 Aug 2024

    He was very friendly. He gave me an honest explanation on why I shouldn't recharge my A/C unit and what he suggested made much more sense. He really took care of everything. He is very professional, always called me with updates. 5 stars is not enough — I give this company 10 stars.

  • John Walton

    5 months ago

    I've had three HVAC issues over the past two years. Each time I call, Elija or the office picks up the phone, and my problem is fixed in 24 hrs. Their solutions always feel correct and honest. I cannot recommend them more.

  • Susan Donegan

    3 months ago

    We have called Samuel for our electrical needs over the last few years and have always been impressed with professional and courteous attitude — installing extra outlets, installing new lights and ceiling fans, our whole house generator, charger for the electric car, even the hot tub!!! His price was fair, and never disappointed when work was completed.

  • Amanda R

    2 months ago

    I've had an excellent experience working with them for both electrical and HVAC work as I remodel my 1785 home. I highly recommend them.

Heat Pump Installation FAQs

What temperature do cold-climate heat pumps work down to?

The cold-climate systems we install are rated to produce heat at -13°F and below, and continue operating past that with reduced output. Properly sized, they handle the large majority of Maine winter hours on their own; many homeowners keep an existing boiler or furnace as backup for extreme cold.

How long does a heat pump installation take?

A single-zone ductless installation is typically done in one day. Multi-zone systems usually take two to three days depending on the number of indoor heads and any electrical upgrades required.

Are there rebates for heat pumps in Maine?

Yes. Efficiency Maine offers rebates on qualifying cold-climate heat pump installations, and federal energy tax credits may also apply. Aces Highlands helps you identify what your installation qualifies for and provides the documentation you need to claim it.

What size heat pump does my home need?

It depends on your home’s heat loss, not just square footage. We perform a load calculation that accounts for insulation, windows, air sealing, and layout before recommending equipment. Oversized systems short-cycle and dehumidify poorly; undersized systems fall behind in deep cold. Sizing is the most important decision of the whole project.

How long do heat pumps last?

A quality cold-climate heat pump that receives annual maintenance typically lasts 15 years or more in Maine. Keeping coils clean and the outdoor unit clear of snow and debris is the biggest factor in reaching the high end of that range.

Heat Pump Installation Near You

Aces Highlands provides heat pump installation across Greater Portland and Southern Maine. Find your community below.

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