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Get a Free QuoteCompare equipment sizing, written warranties, trade credentials, and rebate eligibility. This guide gives you a 10-point checklist to vet any NH heat pump contractor before you sign.
Quick Answer: Network Membership Is Not Required
For the Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil residential equipment rebate, NHSaves network membership is not required. Qualifying self-installed equipment can also be eligible, subject to program and legal requirements. The standard rate is $250/ton; the enhanced total is $2,000/ton for eligible electric-resistance replacements installed March 23–December 31, 2026, with pre-verification before installation. NHEC uses a separate application.
NHSaves programs are delivered by participating New Hampshire utilities. Installer network participation and customer rebate eligibility are separate questions. The Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil residential equipment application does not require a network installer and includes a self-install option.
Before relying on a rebate in your budget, check these requirements with your utility:
The customer submits the signed application and required documents. Ask whether the installer offers help; handling all paperwork is not a requirement imposed on installers by this rebate form.
Match the indoor/outdoor model combination and AHRI reference to the current qualified product list. A brand name, refrigerant type, or installer affiliation alone does not establish eligibility.
For eligible Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil projects installed March 23-December 31, 2026, the enhanced total is $2,000/ton, including the $250 standard rebate. It applies to primary working, permanent electric resistance heat and requires pre-verification before installation.
For Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil, rebate tonnage is AHRI cooling BTU/h divided by 12,000, capped at 5 tons per account. Funds must be available, payment cannot exceed installation cost, and an inspection may be required. NHEC has separate terms.
Dates and deadlines: The official 2026 application and incentive table use December 31, 2026 as the final installation date; forms must be postmarked by January 30, 2027. The website's general eligibility bullet currently says December 30, so confirm a year-end installation directly with your utility. Program terms and funding can change.
Use this checklist to compare proposals and identify questions before signing. It is a decision aid, not a guarantee of installer performance or rebate approval.
Check your utility, exact equipment, installation date, and application requirements. NHSaves network membership is not required by the Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil residential application. If an installer advertises network participation, ask them to substantiate it; membership does not guarantee a rebate.
Identify the people responsible for each trade, including subcontractors. Verify applicable NH electrical licensing through OPLC and appropriate EPA Section 608 certification for regulated refrigerant work. Confirm local permit and inspection requirements.
Ask for documented heating and cooling loads, such as a room-by-room Manual J calculation, and the equipment selection assumptions. Confirm whether sizing documentation is included in the proposal price or separately charged.
Ask about cold-climate certification and rated heating capacity at your local winter design temperature. Verify the exact model combination against current utility eligibility requirements; a certification label alone is not a rebate approval.
Record the indoor and outdoor model numbers, AHRI reference, and refrigerant. Check the current NHSaves qualified product list and utility rules before purchase. Discuss refrigerant-specific installation and service requirements with the technician.
Get the exact manufacturer warranty and separate installer workmanship terms in writing. Compare coverage duration, exclusions, registration deadlines, maintenance conditions, and responsibility for labor or refrigerant costs.
Ask about experience with your specific home type: antique New England colonial, cape, ranch, modular, or manufactured home. Each has different installation challenges. Request photos of similar completed projects.
Request at least 3 references from New Hampshire installations completed in the past 12 months. Contact them and ask about communication, cleanliness, system performance through winter, and whether the rebate was processed smoothly.
Request current insurance certificates and confirm general liability limits and applicable workers compensation coverage for the people doing the work. Discuss any coverage questions with your insurer before signing.
The residential application directs the customer to submit the signed form and supporting documents. Installer assistance is optional, not a rebate requirement. Agree in writing who gathers model numbers, paid invoices, and any required pre-verification, and who submits by the deadline.
Any one of these should give you serious pause. Two or more and you should find a different installer.
Do not rely on a blanket promise based on brand or refrigerant alone. Request the exact model combination and AHRI reference, then check current utility requirements before purchase.
Ask for a documented heating and cooling load calculation, such as Manual J, and an explanation of equipment selection at local design conditions. A square-footage estimate alone does not explain the design. Resolve missing sizing documentation before signing.
Network membership does not guarantee approval, and non-membership does not automatically disqualify a project. Verify equipment, utility, installation date, documentation, and any required pre-verification; funding and program terms apply.
Do not rely only on verbal assurances. Request the manufacturer warranty and separate workmanship coverage in writing so you can compare exclusions and responsibilities before signing.
Ask for a written quote expiration date and time to compare scope, equipment, and terms. Do not let sales pressure replace verification of eligibility, credentials, and the contract.
If proposed capacities differ, ask each installer to explain design temperatures, heating and cooling loads, low-temperature output, modulation range, and any backup-heat assumptions. Capacity alone does not establish price or performance; compare the documented design and equipment data.
Print this list and bring it to every installer consultation. A good installer will welcome these questions.
If you advertise NHSaves network participation, can you verify it? How will we check my project eligibility separately?
Will you perform a Manual J load calculation for my home, and is it included in the quote?
What specific equipment make and model are you proposing, and what refrigerant does it use?
Is this equipment ENERGY STAR Cold Climate certified?
What is the rated heating capacity at 5°F and at -15°F?
What warranties are included (compressor, parts, and your labor/workmanship)?
What rebate application assistance do you offer, and who will submit the customer form and any required pre-verification?
How many heat pump installations have you completed in New Hampshire in the past year?
Can you provide 3 references from NH installations?
What is the full project timeline from signing to completion?
Which permits and inspections does my municipality require, and who is responsible for arranging them?
What does the installation include for cleanup and disposal of old equipment?
These are the main project stages, not guaranteed durations. Your municipality, equipment availability, project scope, and utility review determine the schedule.
Discuss the existing heating system and your goals. Request documented sizing assumptions, a written scope, and an agreed date for the proposal. Confirm any assessment or load-calculation charges in advance.
Compare 2-3 proposals covering the same scope. Review equipment specifications, warranty terms, total cost, payment schedule, and conditional rebate estimates before authorizing work.
For an enhanced electric-resistance replacement rebate, complete required pre-verification before installation using NHSaves GetVerified. Follow utility instructions and agree who will supply the information. Network membership is not a prerequisite to this customer-facing process.
Confirm required permits and inspections with your local building department. Agree who will obtain them and include fees and scheduling assumptions in the proposal; municipal review can affect the completion date.
Installation duration depends on the number of zones, electrical work, ductwork, site access, and equipment availability. Agree on property protection, cleanup, and how scope changes affect the schedule.
Your municipality schedules an electrical inspection. The installer should commission the system, verify refrigerant charge, test all modes, and walk you through operation. NHSaves may also conduct a post-installation quality inspection.
The Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil form directs the customer to submit the signed application and supporting documents, postmarked by January 30, 2027. It asks customers to allow 6-8 weeks for payment after processing and approval, not after installation. Missing information can cause delays. Installer assistance is optional.
Verify credentials for the work actually performed, including work by subcontractors. Local permits, state electrical licensing, and federal refrigerant certification are separate requirements.
NH Electricians Board (OPLC)
Verify the applicable NH electrical license for paid electrical work, subject to statutory exceptions. Identify the electrician responsible for circuits, disconnects, and any panel changes.
Your municipal building department
Ask which electrical, building, or mechanical permits and inspections apply to the proposed work. Requirements and scheduling vary by municipality; rebate eligibility does not waive them.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Verify the appropriate certification for the technician performing regulated refrigerant work. EPA specifically includes connecting or disconnecting pre-charged mini-split lines; a DIY label is not an exemption.
Insurance carrier
Insurance is separate from trade licensing. Request current certificates and confirm coverage, limits, and exclusions with the relevant insurer rather than assuming every incident is covered.
How to verify licenses: Search the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) records for the responsible licensed tradesperson. Ask separately for EPA certification documentation; EPA certification is not an NH trade license. Resolve missing or expired applicable credentials before authorizing the relevant work.
New Hampshire has a growing number of heat pump installers. Here is context to help you evaluate your options.
Ask regional companies about local service coverage, the actual installation team, scheduling, and after-installation support. Compare written proposals; company size alone does not establish price, wait time, or workmanship.
Many traditional HVAC contractors (oil, gas, propane) are adding heat pump services. Ask about training and experience with the proposed heat pump model, cold-weather sizing, commissioning, and service. Do not treat optional network participation as a substitute for applicable credentials or eligibility checks.
Some solar installers now offer heat pump services, which can be convenient for homeowners who want both. Ask who will perform each trade, whether employees or subcontractors, and who is responsible for permits, commissioning, warranty work, and ongoing service.
Our recommendation: Get at least 3 quotes from qualified installers. Compare not just price, but equipment specs, warranty terms, Manual J methodology, and how they communicate throughout the process. Compare equivalent scopes rather than price alone.
Serving Southern NH from Our MA Base
NuWatt Energy serves southern New Hampshire homeowners from our Massachusetts base. Contact us to discuss your project and request a written proposal identifying equipment, sizing documentation, the responsible tradespeople and applicable credentials, warranty terms, and any rebate-application assistance.
Equipment
Ask for Exact Model Numbers
Sizing
Request Design Assumptions
Coverage
Review Written Warranty Terms
We wrote this guide to help you make an informed decision, whether you choose us or another qualified installer. The most important thing is that you end up with a properly sized, properly installed system and understand the conditions of any rebates you plan to apply for.
Common questions New Hampshire homeowners ask about choosing a heat pump installer.
No. For the 2026 residential equipment rebate application serving Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil electric customers, NHSaves network membership is not required. Self-installed qualifying equipment can also qualify when all program requirements are met. The application explicitly allows SELF in the contractor field. NHEC members should use their separate utility application and confirm its terms.
Ask who will perform the electrical and refrigerant work, including any subcontractors. Verify the applicable NH electrical license for paid electrical work and appropriate EPA Section 608 certification for regulated refrigerant work. Confirm required permits and inspections with your municipality. Credentials depend on the work performed; a rebate does not waive these requirements.
Refrigerant affects installation procedures, servicing, and equipment selection, but refrigerant type alone does not establish rebate eligibility. Check the exact indoor/outdoor model combination and AHRI reference against the current NHSaves qualified product list and your utility requirements before purchase. Ask how the installer will meet the manufacturer's refrigerant-specific installation instructions.
A Manual J calculation estimates heating and cooling loads using home characteristics and local design conditions. Ask for documented sizing and an explanation of how the proposed equipment meets those loads, including cold-weather capacity and any backup heat. Confirm whether the calculation is included in the quote or separately charged; it is not universally free.
Request a project-specific schedule. Installation time and the overall completion date depend on system design, equipment availability, electrical or ductwork changes, municipality permit and inspection schedules, and any required NHSaves pre-verification. A proposed completion date is an estimate, not a guaranteed program timeline.
Compare the written warranty for the exact equipment model with the installer's separate workmanship coverage. Check coverage periods, labor and refrigerant exclusions, registration deadlines, maintenance requirements, and installation conditions. Coverage varies by manufacturer, model, and installer; NHSaves does not guarantee equipment performance or warranties.
Net cost depends on your itemized project quote and approved incentives. For eligible Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil residential electric customers, the standard rebate is $250/ton. For qualifying replacement of primary working, permanent electric resistance heat, the enhanced total is $2,000/ton for installations March 23-December 31, 2026, with pre-verification before installation. That total includes the $250 standard rebate, not an additional $2,000. The earlier January 1-March 22, 2026 enhanced total was $1,250/ton. Rebate tonnage uses AHRI cooling capacity divided by 12,000, limited to 5 tons per account, subject to available funds and program terms. NHEC has a separate application; confirm its rules directly.
Self-installation does not automatically disqualify qualifying equipment under the Eversource, Liberty, and Unitil residential rebate application. However, rebate eligibility does not waive electrical, refrigerant, permitting, inspection, or manufacturer requirements. NH has a limited electrical-work exception for homeowners working on their own single-family residence; confirm applicability and local requirements before starting. EPA states that connecting or disconnecting pre-charged mini-split lines requires Section 608 certification. Manufacturer warranty conditions vary; confirm the exact product terms before purchase.
Utility-specific incentives and application steps. Verify current rates and eligibility with NHSaves before purchase.
Ductless, ducted, and hybrid costs. Net cost after NHSaves rebates.
Performance data at -15°F. Do they work in NH winters?
Refrigerant considerations; verify the exact model against current utility equipment requirements.
Interactive cost calculator for NH oil-heated homes.
Planning estimates, not a final system design or rebate approval.
Last fact-checked: September 22, 2026. NHSaves program rules and funding are subject to change. Confirm current utility, equipment, installation-date, and documentation requirements before purchase; this guide is not a rebate approval or legal advice.
Discuss your southern New Hampshire heat pump project with NuWatt Energy. Ask for equipment options, sizing documentation, written warranty terms, and a clear explanation of any proposed rebate assumptions.
Or call us: (877) 772-6357 — Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm