Are Whole Home Humidifiers Worth It? (Colorado Drought Edition)

Colorado Heat Pump Rebates Just Changed (Summer 2026 Update)

As summer ramps up and as it gets hotter and hotter outside, you may need some cooling! Heat pumps are all the rave throughout Colorado, and they provide both electrified heating and cooling, and very efficiently at that. In this episode, Co-Founders Erin and Xerxes talk through the different heat pump rebates throughout the state, with real numbers and all. We also cover Colorado RENU loans and more. Please reach out to us with any questions as well! In this episode: HEAR rebates explained — the Colorado Energy Office program offering up to $8,000 for a heat pump plus up to $2,500 for electrical wiring, and how the funds work. Zone one is fully allocated — why the Denver Metro (zone one) HEAR funds ran out as of April 28, 2026, and who's affected. Still some good news — zone two (outside Denver Metro) and the multifamily program may still have funds available, and the program officially runs through 2031. The HEAR timeline and process — homeowner qualification, contractor submission, funding approval, and installation, plus why approvals are now taking four to eight weeks. Xcel Energy rebates — steady, generous, and consistent since they tripled in January 2025, at roughly $2,250 per ton for a qualifying heat pump. Rebates stack — how heat pump water heaters, the Whole Home Efficiency pathway, the ~25% bonus, and the $600 air-seal-first bonus add up. A real-world dollar example — what a fully stacked project can look like for a standard Denver-area home, kept conservative because every home is different. The RENU loan program — the Colorado Clean Energy Fund's transparent, credit-union-backed financing (Westerra and Elevations) with no hidden dealer fees. Boulder County and local city rebates — EnergySmart's income-qualified $2,000, plus city programs like Golden, and why you should always check your city AND county. Colorado state heat pump tax credit — still in play for 2026 at $1,000 per home, the up-front discount rule, and the cold-climate "whole home" requirements. Air sealing first — why tightening your building envelope often maximizes both your rebates and your comfort before the heat pump even goes in. The contractor's responsibility — how we keep a running ledger of every program, stay in daily contact with the rebate offices, and make sure homeowners capture everything they qualify for. We're not here to overwhelm anybody — just to cut through the rebate drama and make sure you don't leave money on the table. The landscape has changed a lot since late last year, so if you have questions, reach out anytime at 303-525-HEAT. Learn all about heat pumps on our blog: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFl1clJESG5YTHUwTjlMWGZUTERtYV9pdzk2QXxBQ3Jtc0ttNjU2cmU2OTRQbno2N1BWcjFlSXNxSld2aG1jV2lHMThZaXJ0eDM2OEVzTk9yczFsTVVFSTFRZVJ3T21UcGlXbU8ycThzMTJtbFpLSWZDM0J0Z0FraTlnZ0ZFcmViQUs0QkhNLVJKTHBHNmtCMlJuWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2Fblog%2F&v=ea40pONkd1E] How Xcel Energy Heat Pump Rebates Work in CO (2025 Update): https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazQ0YmJ3clhvX1Z5Y01XRmo5d1AtTktDSjU5QXxBQ3Jtc0tuaU1KR3owS0lzRVZVRlk3YVRJTE9YWlpLempzQjNLTGRGMFBlcFdrUU9DNXRzOE45Z0N3YWFWdkQwLVJMQmVTVEdtU25WTV9vWGcyZzR5OW1PX3VFTXprSVNldHBwakV5aU1SY3RwUzZoRlJVV1gxMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2Fhow-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado%2F&v=ea40pONkd1E] Check out our heat pump design and installation services in the Denver Metro area: https://justheatpumpsllc.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbl9oZFNGSWVxRndSWmlrWGNmeUZMd1p0ZjRXUXxBQ3Jtc0ttWDdZWEJMZVBoQURUOFMxUTRYOVEzVlk4TWNJM3lSLUNWekRTaEM5Qlk4Ri0tcEFTdHlWUjBBbFdNM01EY2Q5YkJ4cnNtamozS2c0ZHRDbDNHT1B6Qng0bS03ZFc5ZmU2UWIzcVNqTUxodjd2YldSVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2F&v=ea40pONkd1E] Connect with us on the socials! Just search for @JustHeatPumps across all platforms.

Are Whole Home Humidifiers Worth It? (Colorado Drought Edition)

We're back! After a crazy busy winter and spring, we're continuing the Just Heat Pumps podcast. In this episode, Co-Founders Erin and Xerxes dig into everything you need to know about humidifiers in Colorado — from the different types and how they work, to how much water they're actually using (and wasting), and why it all hits different when you're in the middle of a drought. This one came up because customers ask us about humidifiers constantly — and with 96% of Colorado under some level of drought conditions right now, we felt like it was time to have an honest conversation about water waste, maintenance, and what actually makes sense for your home. In this episode: Humidifier types explained — bypass, fan-powered, steam-generating, and standalone room humidifiers: how each one works and what sets them apart The water waste problem — why standard bypass humidifiers can send 10,000–25,000 gallons of water down the drain every year Water-saving options — the recirculating bypass and steam generator: what they cost and how much water they actually save Heat pumps change the equation — why the furnace humidifier playbook doesn't copy-paste to heat pumps, and what can go wrong when it does Colorado's drought context — 96% of the state under drought conditions, lawn watering restrictions, and why water-conscious decisions in the mechanical room matter more than ever Steam vs. bypass: the real cost breakdown — upfront equipment cost, electrical requirements (110V vs. 240V), panel capacity, and long-term water bills Air sealing first — why tightening your building envelope is often the best and most affordable humidity solution before adding any equipment What homeowners with existing humidifiers should do — how to identify your type, check if it's functioning, close the bypass damper in summer, and lower your set point to conserve water The contractor's responsibility — how we walk customers through the humidifier decision and why we don't just recommend the cheapest or easiest option A practical decision framework — defining your actual humidity goal (comfort, protecting wood floors, a piano, a specific room) and finding the lowest-waste solution that solves the real problem We're not here to guilt anybody — just to open eyes to what's going on in the mechanical room and help you make a smarter, more responsible choice for your home and your community. Learn all about heat pumps on our blog: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGl5aHdrMm9mRjliLTNSNjRUUV9FSlpBcVBGd3xBQ3Jtc0tsUE9ScWlBeUhqY1N0UGJNSnNWUHJGZjhPMG5LWEpUMVk2alZ5X0lobHQydEUwTV93UEJIM0ZCOTVuVURTQkNQME5mXzE5cXQ1V2xhV0MwTjU0WkN5cUZCRzczLUhIRGxyVXQxSmdRY1FILWZTQkxBdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2Fblog%2F&v=vFwF_qTkor4] How Xcel Energy Heat Pump Rebates Work in CO (2025 Update): https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVBxZ3VsQl91aTlFdlY5dTdjaUE1VG5wOWpSZ3xBQ3Jtc0trMHU5ZURtMEJTblJUV0w4UmtseGNlS2htcG4ycGF2Ql9NVTVhbUQ2YmNnbEJPaGE1Zi00ZUJXTU41ZXNoaW5NejZySEQ2anlaLUhwMFp6bzg2aTItekpLSWFaVmIxaVpNTERSNVZYZlJFSTVnZGdKTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2Fhow-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado%2F&v=vFwF_qTkor4] Check out our heat pump design and installation services in the Denver Metro area: https://justheatpumpsllc.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNvSlZXVGxpOHJUQmJMeG56bHZ2UzVodnNZd3xBQ3Jtc0ttQ0xYVjhKSnJfTW5Nel9rcXB2ZF9aTjV2MGVTZjJhNzhEX19qR0tSTjNJRnd3T28zWHNZem00MC1DSUM4LVY2WjhCVUc1cGtVTEkxQjdDZHNJVThBdzNoQUdLTHkxRVZCMEJzQmpna0UwNFdFRGQ2VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fjustheatpumpsllc.com%2F&v=vFwF_qTkor4] Connect with us on the socials! Just search for @JustHeatPumps across all platforms.

17 Reasons To Hire a Professional Heat Pump Installer (vs DIY?)

In our latest Just Heat Pumps podcast and blog, we list out 17 considerations and reasons to (mostly) hire a professional heat pump installer versus DIY'ing it. If you gain knowledge from this one and you can make your DIY system go smoother, even better! Perhaps we can help you avoid some of the major surprises and pitfalls you might run into. Learn all about heat pumps on our blog: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/ [https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/] How Xcel Energy Heat Pump Rebates Work in CO (2025 Update): https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado/ [https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado/] Xcel Energy's Whole Home Efficiency Program and Bonus Rebates: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energys-whole-home-efficiency-bonus-rebates-work/ [https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energys-whole-home-efficiency-bonus-rebates-work/] Check out our heat pump design and installation services in the Denver Metro area in Colorado: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/services/ [https://justheatpumpsllc.com/services/] Connect with us on the socials! Just search for ‪@JustHeatPumps‬ across all platforms.

DIY or Hire a Pro Heat Pump Installer? Pros of Pro Installing (Part 3 of 4)

In our latest Just Heat Pumps podcast, Xerxes and I discuss the popular topic/debate of whether or not to DIY or have a professional install your heat pump. We've both DIY'd heat pumps HVAC systems on our own homes (very early on), and now operate Just Heat Pumps as a professional heat pump installer day-to-day. This is the third podcast on this topic and we speak more to the theme of (mostly) pros of hiring a professional in this short mini series. Look out for the next episode in this mini-series soon! Learn all about heat pumps on our blog: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/ How Xcel Energy Heat Pump Rebates Work in CO (2025 Update): https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado/ Xcel Energy's Whole Home Efficiency Program and Bonus Rebates: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energys-whole-home-efficiency-bonus-rebates-work/ Check out our heat pump design and installation services in the Denver Metro area in Colorado: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/services/  Connect with us on the socials! Just search for ‪@JustHeatPumps‬ across all platforms.

DIY or Hire a Pro Heat Pump Installer? Pros of DIY'ing (Part 2 of 4)

In our latest Just Heat Pumps podcast, Xerxes and I discuss the popular topic/debate of whether or not to DIY or have a professional install your heat pump. We've both DIY'd our own homes (very early on), and now operate Just Heat Pumps as a professional heat pump installer day-to-day. This is the second chat in the mini-series and we speak more to the topic of (mostly) pros of DIY'ing your own heat pump in this short mini series, and we try to include all different opinions, pros and cons, and giving some points on either side of what it really looks like as you embark on this heat pump install journey. Look out for the next few videos in the series soon! Learn all about heat pumps on our blog: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/blog/ How Xcel Energy Heat Pump Rebates Work in CO (2025 Update): https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energy-heat-pump-rebates-work-in-colorado/ Xcel Energy's Whole Home Efficiency Program and Bonus Rebates: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/how-xcel-energys-whole-home-efficiency-bonus-rebates-work/ Check out our heat pump design and installation services in the Denver Metro area in Colorado: https://justheatpumpsllc.com/services/  Connect with us on the socials! Just search for ‪@JustHeatPumps‬ across all platforms.