HVAC SERVICES IN BOULDER NORTHERN COLORADO

By the team at Homegrown Heating and Air Conditioning.

Every Service We Cover in Boulder

We work on the whole system, not one appliance:

• Heat pump installation and repair, including cold-climate and dual-fuel systems
• AC repair and AC installation
• Furnace repair, and furnace installation and replacement
• Ductless mini-splits
• Heating maintenance and tune-ups
• Indoor air quality and filtration upgrades
• Ductwork repair and sealing
• Smart thermostat installation
• Emergency HVAC repair, same day, seven days a week

Most Boulder projects start with an equipment decision, so these pages carry the detail: heat pump installation and repair, ductless mini-split systems and furnace installation.

How the Boulder Energy Code Shapes HVAC Services in Boulder

Boulder’s code, not the equipment catalog, often sets the first boundary on a Boulder HVAC job. The 2024 City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code took effect December 1, 2024, and it treats existing homes according to how much of the house a project touches. The City explains the levels in its 2024 energy code FAQ.

In practical terms:

• A straight equipment swap on its own mechanical permit can still be like for like. A failed furnace can be replaced with a new furnace.
• A whole-house remodel (Level 3) requires the furnace location to be made electric-ready, with wiring in place for a future electric appliance.
• A Level 3 remodel that substantially changes both the heating system and the building shell requires any new heating equipment to be all-electric. An existing gas furnace can stay only as backup.
• New homes and additions must be all-electric.

That is why we ask about the rest of the project before we quote. A homeowner planning a remodel next year may be better served by a heat pump now than by a furnace that the next permit will not allow to be the main heat. If the job is only a failed furnace, we say so and price the furnace.

Utilities and Rebates in Boulder

Xcel Energy provides both electricity and natural gas inside Boulder city limits.

• Xcel Energy heat pump rebates: effective October 1, 2026, a home heated with Xcel natural gas can earn $600 per cooling ton for a qualifying ducted air-source heat pump, or $1,500 per heating ton for a cold-climate model. Homes heated with existing electric equipment get the standard $300 or $750. Installations must be invoiced by December 31, 2026.
• Boulder County EnergySmart: since January 1, 2026, EnergySmart rebates are income-qualified only, paying 50 percent of project cost up to $2,000 a year. Free advising remains open to every Boulder County homeowner.
• Colorado Heat Pump Tax Credit: a qualifying 2026 air-source install carries a state credit applied as a discount on the invoice.

Permits and Licensing in Boulder

The City of Boulder issues its own permits and performs its own inspections. Furnaces and other mechanical equipment require a permit, and only portable units and part replacements are exempt.

Boulder also licenses mechanical contractors directly:

• No mechanical permit is issued to a contractor without a City of Boulder mechanical contractor license.
• Residential work requires a Class C license backed by an ICC mechanical certification.
• The City does not accept reciprocal licenses from other cities.

Ask any contractor for their City of Boulder license before signing. We at Homegrown Heating and Air Conditioning hold City of Boulder license LIC-01003602, are fully insured, and confirm the permit path for your address before we schedule permitted work. For addresses in unincorporated Boulder County we hold Boulder County license CON-25-0042, and in nearby Broomfield, City and County of Broomfield license OL-27-16990.

Sizing Equipment for a Boulder Winter

The City’s adopted design criteria set a winter design temperature of 2 degrees. A heat pump that is the main heat source has to carry the house at that temperature, which is why we run a room-by-room load calculation instead of matching the old equipment’s size.

Inspectors also want to see Category IV plastic venting on condensing appliances, so we leave vent pipe visible and labeled where the City can verify it.

What a Boulder Service Visit Includes

• A measured diagnostic with written readings
• A scope conversation that covers any planned remodel
• An upfront price before any work starts
• A combustion and safety check after any gas appliance work
• Rebate paperwork handled with you, not left for you

Two Jobs That Show the Approach

A full system replacement is where rebates and paperwork either go smoothly or fall apart. One homeowner had a complete heat pump, furnace and AC system installed.

Lyn Kloss wrote: “I had a complete system with heat pump, furnace and a.c. installed. I felt completely taken care of, from estimate to final start-up. They took care of all the system analysis and paperwork for rebates.”

In Boulder, the system analysis includes the code questions above, so handling it up front matters even more.

Mini-splits are common in older Boulder homes without ducts. Kyle Lambrecht wrote that we “were willing to work on a system they didn’t install, were able to diagnose the problem, and repair the system efficiently.” We work on equipment we did not install and say so plainly when it is worth fixing. Read more customer reviews.

Request HVAC Service in Boulder

Tell us what the system is doing and whether a remodel is in the plan. Contact Homegrown Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule HVAC services in Boulder.