What Maine pays for a heat pump in 2026
Each card names the official page we read. Efficiency Maine's claim form and installation checklist are separate documents that we did not open, so read them before you sign a contract.
Whole-home heat pump rebate (ductless and other systems)
Any income, moderate income or low income. The lifetime limit per home is $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000. The heat pumps must be your primary heating system and be sized to carry the house.
Ducted whole-home heat pump rebate
For a ducted system sized for at least 100% of the home's peak heating load. In an existing home, all forced hot air furnaces must be removed as part of the upgrade.
$500 additional heat pump bonus
Efficiency Maine advertises this on its homepage. We could not read the conditions, so ask your installer which rebates it applies to. Single-wide mobile home rebates are not eligible for it.
Mobile home heat pumps
Efficiency Maine says single-wide mobile homes may qualify for up to $13,900, and its homepage describes it for low-income homeowners converting to a new ducted system. We did not read the rules.
Efficiency Maine Home Energy Loan
A 1-year loan at 0% (with a $500 fee), a 5-year loan at 5.99% and a 10-year loan at 7.99%. An income-based 10-year loan at 5.99% goes up to $7,500. Rates can change.
Federal tax credits (25C and 25D)
The federal home improvement and clean energy credits ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so there is no federal credit for a 2026 install.
An example using only the posted amounts: a home with two ductless outdoor units and any income would earn $1,000 for each, or $2,000, and could still claim a third later, up to the $3,000 lifetime limit. A moderate-income household with the same two units would earn $4,000, and a low-income household $6,000.
The rules that decide most Maine cases
Three rules matter more than the dollar amounts. First, the heat pumps must be your primary heating system for the whole heating season. Second, they must be sized for the house: Efficiency Maine requires the heat pumps plus any supplemental heat to cover at least 100% of the home's peak heating load, and the heat pumps alone to cover at least 80%. Third, the home must not have had a natural gas utility account before the upgrade. Check it before you spend money, because homes that had gas service are not covered.
Dual fuel setups that pair a heat pump with a furnace are not eligible. In an existing home, you may keep a furnace or boiler for emergency backup only, by turning the thermostats off or down, switching it off and covering the switch, or wiring it to a generator. A ducted system is stricter: every forced hot air furnace must be removed.
Ductless, multi-zone or ducted?
Efficiency Maine treats these differently. A single-zone heat pump on its approved list earns the per-unit rebate. A multi-zone heat pump does not earn its own rebate, but its heating capacity counts toward the sizing requirement. A ducted heat pump is paid per home at the full amount: $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 by income. If you have working ducts, ask for a ducted quote and a ductless quote and compare the price after the rebate.
Proving your income
Low income means the homeowner, or someone in the household, is on MaineCare, HEAP, SNAP or TANF. Moderate income means an adjusted gross income of up to $70,000 for a single filer or $100,000 for joint filers. Either way, Efficiency Maine must verify it before your rebate is paid, and the loan program asks for the same verification for its income-based loan. Do this before you sign with an installer, because it changes your rebate by thousands of dollars. Low and moderate income rebates also require that the home is your principal residence.
Choose a registered vendor, and file on time
The installer must be an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor. Anyone else cannot earn you the rebate. After the work is done you submit the rebate claim form, which must be emailed or postmarked within 6 months of project completion. Efficiency Maine asks you to allow about six weeks to process it and can inspect the installation. Its terms also say programs and incentives are subject to change or termination, so confirm the current amounts when you get your quotes.
No federal tax credit in 2026
The federal home improvement credit that once helped pay for heat pumps (25C) ended for work placed in service after December 31, 2025, and so did the clean energy credit (25D). For a 2026 install in Maine, the state program is the main help. If your system is failing this winter, the rebates are open now and the $500 bonus is available through December 31, 2026. Efficiency Maine's terms say programs and incentives can change, so keep your quote and proof of installation date.
How to claim an Efficiency Maine heat pump rebate
- Check the building rules: one or two housing units, your principal residence if you want the low or moderate income rebate, and no natural gas utility account before the upgrade.
- If you may qualify as low or moderate income, get verified by Efficiency Maine first.
- Find an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor and ask each quote to show the heat pump model, its sizing against your home's heating load and the rebate you expect.
- Have the vendor install the system. Keep your furnace or boiler for emergency backup only, or remove it if you chose a ducted system.
- Submit the rebate claim form within 6 months of finishing. Expect about six weeks for processing.
- If you want a loan, apply to Efficiency Maine's Green Bank before you start work.
More for United States homes
- United States home rebates: every program in one place
- Massachusetts heat pump rebates: Mass Save, next door
- Vermont heat pump rebates: Efficiency Vermont and utilities
- Rebate calculators: calculators for BC, Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia and US states
- Find a top-rated installer near you: by region, service and city
Common questions
How much is the Maine heat pump rebate in 2026?
Efficiency Maine pays $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 per rebate-eligible outdoor unit for any-income, moderate-income and low-income households, with lifetime limits of $3,000, $6,000 and $9,000 per home. A ducted system pays $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 per home.
What is the Maine $500 heat pump bonus?
Efficiency Maine advertises a $500 additional heat pump bonus through December 31, 2026. We could not read its conditions, so ask your installer which rebates it applies to. Single-wide mobile home rebates are not eligible for it.
Can I get the Maine rebate if I have natural gas?
The rules say the home must not have had a natural gas utility account before the upgrade. Check this first, because it rules out many homes with gas service.
Do I need a registered installer in Maine?
Yes. The heat pump must be installed by an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor, and you must submit the rebate claim form within 6 months of project completion.
How do I prove I am low or moderate income?
Low income means you or a household member is on MaineCare, HEAP, SNAP or TANF. Moderate income means adjusted gross income up to $70,000 for a single filer or $100,000 for joint filers. Efficiency Maine verifies it before paying.
Is there a federal tax credit for heat pumps in 2026?
No. The federal home improvement credit (25C) and clean energy credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Can I finance a heat pump in Maine?
Yes. Efficiency Maine offers home energy loans with a 1-year 0% option ($500 fee), a 5-year option at 5.99% and a 10-year option at 7.99%, plus an income-based 10-year loan at 5.99%. Rates can change, so check the loan page.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 10, 2026: Efficiency Maine: residential heat pump rebates, Efficiency Maine: ducted heat pump rebates, Efficiency Maine: whole-home heat pump rebates, Efficiency Maine: home energy loans.