Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups in Boulder

Winter gusts above 100 mph are part of local weather history, and they find every weak spot in a vent system. On the fall visit we check that furnace and water heater vent caps, sidewall terminations, and plastic intake and exhaust pipes are secure and unobstructed, and that the outdoor unit is still level and anchored. A loose termination can let exhaust re-enter the house, so we pair this with a carbon monoxide test indoors.

A heat pump runs both seasons, so its tune-up is less about one season and more about the whole year. We check the reversing valve, defrost control and sensors, refrigerant charge, outdoor coil, and auxiliary heat strips, and confirm the thermostat is not calling for backup heat too early. For background on cold-weather performance, see do heat pumps work in Denver winters.

With January lows averaging around 21 degrees and very low indoor humidity, many older Boulder homes have whole-house humidifiers on the furnace. In the fall we replace or clean the water panel if you have one on hand, check the solenoid and drain, and make sure the unit is not dripping onto the furnace cabinet or coil. A neglected humidifier is a common cause of rust inside furnaces.

Homeowners who have recently switched to a heat pump, or rebuilt after a fire, often have equipment less than two years old. Manufacturer coverage on many brands depends on registration within 60 days of installation; Trane, for example, drops to a shorter base warranty if the equipment is not registered in that window. During the first tune-up we write down model and serial numbers, check that the installation matches the manufacturer's clearance and drainage requirements, and give you a record you can file with the registration. If something was installed incorrectly, it is better to find it while the installer can still fix it.

Pricing is written upfront before any work, and if we find a part that needs replacing, you get the cost before we do it.

Plan the heating tune-up for September, ahead of the early-October freeze typical of the Denver area, and the cooling or heat pump check for April or May, before smoke season and the first hot spell. Our Colorado tune-up checklist explains each item.