Short answer
This guide is for whole-home heat-pump projects: replacing or displacing an existing heating system across a building, not adding comfort to one room. The questions that matter are whether a room-by-room heat-loss calculation was actually performed and shown to you, what capacity the proposed equipment delivers at the local design temperature instead of at rating conditions, what heats the building on the coldest nights stated explicitly, and whether the electrical service and panel work are priced as their own line, not assumed. Also confirm whether existing ductwork was measured before being reused. Efficiency Vermont, Burlington Electric and Green Mountain Power run different incentive programmes, so the proposal should name the one it assumes.
Related service pages
When this is the wrong comparison
A whole-building heat-pump project usually replaces or displaces an existing system. Adding one or two ductless heads to specific rooms is a smaller and different project, and the companies that excel at it are not always the ones running heat-loss calculations for whole-home conversions. Use the other guide for that.
What a written estimate should show
Put these 6 points to every business and write the answers next to each estimate.
- Whether a room-by-room heat-loss calculation was performed and shown to you
- Capacity at the local design temperature, not at rating conditions
- What heats the building on the coldest nights, stated explicitly
- Electrical service and panel work, priced as its own line
- Whether existing ductwork was measured before being reused
- Startup measurements recorded, warranty registered, maintenance defined
Reading the estimate line by line
The table sets a strong answer beside a weak one for the lines that most often decide the total.
| Estimate line | A strong estimate says | A weak estimate says |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Room-by-room heat-loss calculation attached | Capacity chosen by square footage |
| Cold weather | Output stated at the local design temperature | Rated capacity at a mild test temperature |
| Backup | Says what heats the house on the coldest night | Silent on backup heat |
| Electrical | Panel capacity checked, new circuit priced | "Electrical extra" |
| Incentives | Names the programme and who files | Total that assumes a rebate you may not get |
Vermont licences and permits for this work
A heat-pump project touches three regulated trades. Anyone who installs or services fuel-fired backup equipment holds a Certificate of Fitness from the Division of Fire Safety. New circuits and panel work need a licensed electrician under the Electricians' Licensing Board. Refrigerant handling needs EPA Section 608 certification.
Incentives add a fourth check. Efficiency Vermont delivers its instant discounts through participating contractors and distributors, and the state's Vermont Energy Saver guide lists the Efficiency Excellence Network as the contractors trained to work with its programmes. Ask whether the installer is in that network before you rely on a discount.
What changes the job around Burlington
Around Burlington the money depends on the electric utility, not only the equipment. For a ducted heat pump, Efficiency Vermont offers a $1,200–$2,200 instant discount. Burlington Electric Department customers can add its own rebate on top: $1,350–$5,450 (high performance) for a centrally ducted high-performance system. Green Mountain Power customers get $2,000 per condenser if the household is at or below 80% of area median income.
The estimate should say which programme it assumes and who applies for it. A price that quietly assumes a rebate you do not qualify for will be wrong by thousands of dollars on the day the invoice arrives.
Warning signs in a written estimate
- No heat-loss calculation, only a rule of thumb
- Nameplate capacity quoted instead of output at design temperature
- Existing ducts reused without being measured
- A savings claim with no fuel prices behind it
- A rebate counted in the price before eligibility is confirmed
Questions to ask before you sign
- Can I see the heat-loss calculation for each room?
- What is the output at the outdoor design temperature for Burlington?
- What heats the house if the power fails or the temperature drops below the unit's limit?
- Does my panel have room, and who pulls the electrical permit?
- Which incentive programme are you assuming, and are you in the Efficiency Excellence Network?
Sources used for this comparison
Use the official company pages below to verify the services, coverage, credentials, offers and availability described in “Heat-pump installation estimates in Burlington, Vermont”. Inclusion does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Common questions
Do heat-pump rebates depend on my electric utility?
Yes. Efficiency Vermont's discount applies statewide, Burlington Electric Department adds its own rebate for its customers, and Green Mountain Power's rebate is income-qualified. The proposal should name the one it assumes.