Why Maine homeowners are switching
Maine heats with more oil and propane than almost any other state, and it pays for it every winter. Meanwhile, more than 200,000 heat pumps have already been installed here — heat pumps are now more common than oil heat in new Maine homes. The technology that made that possible is the cold-climate, variable-speed (inverter) heat pump: a machine that moves heat instead of making it, and keeps doing so deep below zero.
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How a heat pump heats at 20 below
No combustion, no fuel truck. A refrigerant loop concentrates heat that already exists in outdoor air — even bitterly cold air — and releases it inside your home.
How heat pumps work →Cold-climate performance, honestly
Capacity curves, HSPF2 and COP explained in plain English, what happens during defrost, and why the −22°F rating actually matters in Aroostook County.
Performance to −22°F →What you'll actually save
Side-by-side operating costs against oil, propane, and electric baseboard at current Maine prices — with the math shown, not hand-waved.
Projected energy savings →2026 rebates & incentives
Efficiency Maine pays $1,000–$3,000 per ductless unit (up to three) and $3,000–$9,000 for ducted whole-home systems, plus a limited-time $500 bonus.
Claim your rebates →Comfort you can feel
Steady, even heat instead of blast-and-coast cycles; room-by-room zoning; summer dehumidification; and a serious cut to your home's carbon footprint.
Comfort & conservation →Installation, sized right
Load calculations, single-zone vs. multi-zone, ducted vs. ductless, outdoor unit placement above the snow line, and how to pick a Registered Vendor.
Installation guide →The one-paragraph version
A modern cold-climate heat pump is the most efficient way to heat a Maine home with a machine, because it doesn't create heat — it collects and concentrates heat that's already in outdoor air. Even at −22°F, outdoor air still contains usable thermal energy, and inverter-driven compressors with enhanced vapor injection can harvest it. Over a heating season the best units deliver roughly two to three times more heat energy than the electricity they consume, which is why they routinely beat propane and electric baseboard on cost and compete closely with oil — while also replacing your window ACs, dehumidifier, and a share of your carbon footprint. With Efficiency Maine rebates covering $1,000–$9,000 of the project in 2026, the payback math has never been better.
Heat pumps are not magic. Output declines as temperature drops, ratings come from laboratory conditions, and a poorly sized or poorly placed system will disappoint. Every page on this site includes the fine print — because a homeowner who understands the technology buys the right system and loves it.