How to Apply for Mass Save Heat Pump Rebates: Step-by-Step Process

Let’s be honest – in 2025 heat pumps aren’t cheap. But here in Massachusetts, Mass Save makes them way more affordable with rebates that can knock up to $10,000 off your installation cost. The catch? You’ve got to navigate their application process correctly, or you could miss out on serious money.

I’ve personally walked several dozen Massachusetts homeowners through the Mass Save heat pump rebate process, and I’ve seen people make costly mistakes (like going with an installer who is not part of the Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network) that delay their rebates for months or even make them ineligible. Here’s exactly what you need to know to get your rebate approved quickly and avoid the common pitfalls.

What You Can Actually Get Back

First, let’s talk numbers. Mass Save has two types of rebates, and the difference matters:

Whole-home systems (where the heat pump becomes your only heating source): $3,000 per ton, maxed out at $10,000. So if you install a 3-ton system, you’re looking at $9,000 back. One REALLY important thing to know is that there is often a difference between the marketed tonnage and the actual tonnage. For example what is marketed as a 4 ton Bryant system is rated for 3.83 tons…that rebate goes off the 3.83 tons!

Partial-home systems (keeping your existing boiler or furnace as backup): $1,250 per ton. Still decent money, but obviously less…but you can keep your existing system as a backup if you integrated your new heat pump system with it.

The whole-home rebate rules changed at the start of 2025, and now even folks in 5+ unit buildings can qualify if they meet all the requirements including proper weatherization.

Here’s something most people don’t realize: if your household income qualifies for enhanced incentives, you might qualify for additional rebates.

Step 1: Make Sure You Actually Qualify

This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people assume they qualify without checking. Here’s what you need:

You’ve got to be a customer of one of these utilities: Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, Berkshire Gas, or Liberty Utilities. If you’re with a municipal electric company, you might still qualify if you have natural gas service from one of these companies. Also if you are currently on fuel assistance you may not be eligible for Mass Save, so please check (the good news is you may be eligible for enhanced incentives!).

Your current heating system needs to be oil, propane, natural gas, or electric baseboard. If you’re already heating with a heat pump, you’re out of luck for this rebate.

The equipment has to be ENERGY STAR Cold Climate certified and on Mass Save’s approved list. Don’t assume your contractor knows this – double-check it yourself.

One more thing: if you’re a Cape Light Compact customer, call them directly at 1-800-797-6699. They have their own process.

Step 2: Get Your House Ready (This Trips Up a Lot of People)

Here’s where things get tricky. For whole-home rebates, your house needs to be “sufficiently weatherized” before you install the heat pump. What does that mean exactly?

One of these three things:

  • Your house was built in 2000 or later
  • You had a Home Energy Assessment that said you need less than $1,000 in weatherization work
  • You already completed weatherization work recommended after 2013

If none of these apply, you’ll need to do some insulation or air sealing work first. The good news? Endless Energy is a Mass Save Home Performance Contractor, we can perform your Home Energy Assessment and handle any insulation work that gets identified. This way you’re not running around to different companies trying to coordinate everything.

Even if you’re going for a partial-home rebate, getting weatherization done can qualify you for an extra $500 bonus. Not bad for work that’ll make your house more comfortable anyway. Hear my personal story about how well the weatherization worked on my own home!

Step 3: Find the Right Contractor (This is Critical)

You absolutely have to use a contractor who’s in the Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network (HPIN). No exceptions. I’ve seen people lose out on thousands because they went with their buddy who “knows HVAC” but wasn’t in the network.

Not only is Endless Energy a contractor in Mass Save HPIN, but earlier this year we were named one of the inaugural companies that is part of the Mass Save Heat Pump Leader Network! Our team at Endless Energy can handle all aspects of your installation (we don’t use subcontractor installers!) and make sure everything meets their requirements. But even if you don’t go with us, make sure whoever you choose is actually enrolled. The Mass Save website has a contractor finder tool.

Get at least 2-3 quotes. Prices can vary quite a bit, and some contractors are better at navigating the rebate process than others. Ask them directly: “How many Mass Save rebate applications have you submitted this year?” If they can’t give you a solid number, keep looking. PS. If you want to ask Endless Energy’s team we process 15 rebates last week alone!

Step 4: Choose Equipment That Actually Qualifies

This is where things can go sideways fast. The equipment has to be on Mass Save’s qualified products list (QPL) – not just ENERGY STAR certified, but specifically approved by them. The list changes, so check it when you’re making your final decision, not six months earlier.

If you’re doing a partial-home installation, you’ll also need something called an “integrated control.” This is basically a smart control that decides when to use your heat pump versus your backup heating. It has to be from their approved list too.

For whole-home systems, your contractor needs to fill out and sign a verification form proving everything meets their requirements. This isn’t optional paperwork – no form, no rebate.

Step 5: Let Us Handle Your Rebate Paperwork

Here’s where working with the right contractor makes a huge difference. We handle all the rebate paperwork for our customers – no forms for you to fill out, no documentation to gather, no wondering if you submitted everything correctly.

Even better, for most of our customers, we can process the rebate upfront. That means you get your rebate savings immediately at installation instead of waiting 8 weeks for Mass Save to cut you a check. The only exception is some municipal utility rebates that we can’t process upfront yet.

If you’re handling the paperwork yourself, you can apply online at masssave.dsmcentral.com or print and mail the forms. You’ve got until February 28, 2026 to get everything submitted, but don’t wait – the sooner you apply, the sooner you get paid.

Make sure you have:

  • Complete rebate form
  • Invoices showing what you paid
  • Verification forms showing you properly weatherized (if required)
  • Any integrated control documentation

Missing any of this will delay your rebate, sometimes by months.

What You’re Really Going to Pay

Let me give you some real numbers. A typical whole-home heat pump installation runs $15,000-$25,000. Here’s how the math works out:

For most homeowners:

  • Installation cost: $20,000 (example)
  • Mass Save rebate: $10,000
  • Federal tax credit: up to $2,000
  • Your cost after rebates: $8,000

And remember, Mass Save offers 0% interest loans up to $25,000, so you don’t need to pay everything upfront even after rebates.

Mistakes That Cost People Money

I’ve seen these mistakes kill rebate applications or delay them for months:

Before installation:

  • Picking a contractor who’s not in the Mass Save network
  • Skipping the weatherization requirement
  • Not verifying equipment is on the qualified list

During installation:

  • Forgetting integrated controls for partial-home systems
  • Not getting the verification form signed
  • Installing equipment that doesn’t actually qualify
  • Skipping integrated controls (if applicable)

After installation:

  • Waiting too long to submit paperwork
  • Submitting incomplete documentation
  • Not following up when rebates are delayed

Why We Handle Everything for Our Customers

Look, the Mass Save process works, but it’s complicated. One small mistake can delay your rebate for months or kill it entirely. That’s why at Endless Energy we handle everything:

  • We conduct Home Energy Assessments for eligible customers
  • We install any insulation or weatherization work needed
  • We install heat pumps as a Mass Save HPIN contractor
  • We prepare and submit all rebate paperwork
  • For most customers, we process rebates upfront so you don’t wait

This isn’t just about making our lives easier – it’s about making sure you actually get the money you’re entitled to, when you need it.

Getting Started

If you’re thinking about a heat pump, don’t wait around. The 2025 rebate amounts are the best we’ve seen, and there’s no guarantee they’ll stay this high. Plus the federal tax credit for heat pump installations, valued at up to $2,000, ends in 2025.

Start with figuring out if your house needs weatherization work. If you’re not sure, we can do a no cost assessment and let you know exactly what needs to happen before you can install a heat pump.

The whole process from assessment to getting your rebate usually takes about 3-4 months if everything goes smoothly. The installation itself is typically just a day or two, but there’s prep work on both ends.

The Bottom Line

Mass Save heat pump rebates can save you serious money, but only if you do everything right. The process has gotten more complicated over the years, but the rebate amounts have gotten bigger too.

Working with contractors who know the system inside and out makes all the difference. We’ve processed hundreds of these rebates, so we know exactly what Mass Save is looking for and how to avoid the delays that frustrate a lot of homeowners.

Ready to see what rebates you qualify for? Give us a call or book a heat pump consultation directly online and we’ll walk you through your specific situation. No pressure, just straight answers about what it’ll cost and what you’ll get back.