Straight answers about the switch.

Yes — cold-climate heat pumps are HSPF2-rated to keep producing heat well below freezing, and Efficiency Maine requires rebate-eligible units to be sized for at least 80% of your home's peak heating load. Many Maine homes now use them as their primary heat source. Weatherizing first (insulation and air sealing) makes them work even better.

A big jump. An 80% AFUE furnace turns about 80% of its fuel into heat and loses the rest, and it drifts lower as it ages. A cold-climate heat pump moves heat rather than burning fuel, delivering roughly 300% effective efficiency — up to 30 BTU per watt on top-tier units.

BTU/watt is heat delivered per unit of electricity — higher is better, and 30 is near the top for cold-climate equipment. HSPF2 is the current seasonal heating-efficiency standard. Both numbers vary by model and outdoor temperature, which is why we quote "up to."

If your household is on MaineCare, HEAP, SNAP, or TANF — or meets Efficiency Maine's low-income threshold — and you live in a mobile or manufactured home, you can stack the low-income Efficiency Maine rebate (up to $9,000) with the HEAR mobile-home rebate (up to $8,000). That combined ~$17,000 covers a full system in many cases, which is how the up-to-3-free-Seville path works. Eligibility and funding must be confirmed with a registered installer before install.

You can still get the top-tier Keen heat pumps (up to 30 BTU/watt HSPF2) for $75 a month for 60 months at 0% interest through BRF Services or Maine Energy Services, and moderate-income and any-income households qualify for smaller Efficiency Maine rebates ($6,000 and $3,000 lifetime caps respectively).

Yes — it is a fixed $75 payment for 60 months at 0% APR through the recommended installers, not a teaser rate that jumps later. It is subject to credit approval and the installer's terms. Over five years that is a predictable payment with no fuel-price surprises.

Both are cold-climate heat pumps offered through our recommended installers. The Seville units are the equipment used for the no-out-of-pocket-cost, income-qualified path. The Keen units are the higher-efficiency option (up to 30 BTU/watt HSPF2) available on the $75/month 0% financing. An installer can help you pick based on your home and budget.

No. Because BRF Services and Maine Energy Services are Efficiency Maine Registered Vendors, they verify your eligibility and apply the rebate directly to your invoice. You pay only the net amount.

Yes — every heat pump both heats and cools. The same unit that warms you in January runs in reverse to cool and dehumidify in July, something a kerosene furnace can't do.

No — Efficiency Maine states that programs and incentives are subject to change or termination, HEAR funding is limited and phased, and the federal 25C tax credit already expired at the end of 2025. If the numbers here matter to you, acting sooner rather than later protects your access. Always confirm current terms with Efficiency Maine (866-376-2463) or a registered installer.