HVAC Guide: Founders Village

What the housing stock looks like

Homes.com describes Founders Village as mostly contemporary split-level homes with three to five bedrooms, plus two-stories, ranches and townhomes. The median year built is 1997, most homes went up in the late 1990s or early 2000s, the average single-family home is about 2,038 square feet, and the median lot is roughly 5,700 square feet. The guide counts about 2,413 homes in the area.

That profile is smaller and older than Castle Rock's newer master plans, and it matters for HVAC: equipment is older, ductwork was sized for the furnaces of the 1990s, and many homes have had partial upgrades over the years, such as a new furnace paired with an old air conditioner, or the reverse.

Original equipment is past its expected life

A furnace installed in 1997 would be 29 years old today, well beyond a typical 15 to 20 year life. If your Founders Village home still has original equipment, the issue is not whether to replace it but when. A planned furnace replacement is easier and usually costs less than an emergency swap on a cold night, and it allows time for a proper load calculation.

Air conditioners from the 1990s typically used R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer manufactured for servicing in the United States, so recharging a leaking R-22 system is costly and getting harder. If your condenser label says R-22, plan to replace the outdoor unit and the indoor coil together. That is also a natural point to weigh a heat pump against another cooling-only unit.

Making a split-level heat and cool evenly

Split-levels put three or four short floors on one furnace. Warm air rises to the upper bedroom level while the lowest level, partly below grade, stays cool. Typical fixes include adjusting the dampers seasonally (more air upstairs in summer, more downstairs in winter), adding returns to upper bedrooms, running the blower on a low continuous setting to mix air between levels, or installing a variable-speed furnace that moves air gently for longer.

For a lower-level family room that never warms up, or an upper bedroom that overheats, a single ductless mini-split head is often simpler than reworking ductwork in finished walls. A technician should measure airflow first so you are not paying to fix the wrong problem.

Heat pumps and costs in Castle Rock

Black Hills Energy supplies gas in Castle Rock, and CORE Electric Cooperative provides electricity to most of town. When a Founders Village home needs a new AC, pairing a cold-climate heat pump with the gas furnace gives you cooling plus efficient heating for most of the winter. Our heat pump vs. furnace guide covers the trade-offs, and the rebate guide lists current incentives; Colorado's 2026 credit gives $1,000 toward air-source equipment, while federal 25C is gone. See our heat pump installation page for how we size and quote.

HOA questions and permits

Founders Village does not appear to have a single neighborhood-wide HOA with published equipment rules; Homes.com notes at least one listing marked as having no HOA, while community amenities such as the Ridge House pool and clubhouse operate separately. Check your own deed and any sub-association covenants before moving or adding outdoor equipment.

The neighborhood is inside town limits, so the town's Building Division handles permits. If your system is failing now, start with our furnace repair and AC repair pages.

Founders Village HVAC Questions

Should I replace my 1990s furnace before it fails?

If it is original to a 1997 home, it is about 29 years old. Planning the replacement lets you get a load calculation and compare options instead of taking whatever is available during a cold snap.

My old AC uses R-22. Can it be recharged?

R-22 is no longer manufactured for servicing, so recharges are expensive and supply is limited. Replacing the outdoor unit and coil, or switching to a heat pump, is usually the better long-term choice.

Why is the lowest level of my split-level always cold?

That level is partly below grade and warm air rises away from it. Damper adjustment, continuous low fan, added returns or a ductless head can help.

Do I need HOA approval in Founders Village?

It depends on your address; some homes have no HOA. Check your deed and any sub-association rules. Town permits are always required for installations. Call (720) 466-7983 with questions.