Book your Durango heating service in September, before the first hard freeze and before every other homeowner thinks of it. ENERGY STAR says contractors get busy once summer and winter arrive, so heating checks belong in the fall. A good tune-up, a clear carbon monoxide plan and a few smart questions will save you a cold night in January.
This guide covers what a service visit includes, which heating systems suit a mountain home, what LPEA pays toward heat pumps, and five local companies to start with. Ratings come from each company's Google listing in October 2026. They are not our vetting.
When should I book heating service in Durango?
Early. ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist recommends an annual pre-season check, with heating in the fall and cooling in the spring, because contractors fill their calendars once each season starts.
Here is a simple local calendar:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| August | Call for quotes on any replacement you have been putting off |
| September | Book the tune-up, and order propane if you heat with it |
| October | Test your carbon monoxide alarms, clean the chimney, change filters |
| November | Learn where your gas, propane and electrical shutoffs are |
| January | Call at the first odd noise, not the first cold night |
Our seasonal home maintenance guide breaks the rest of the year into monthly tasks. The winter in Durango guide explains what the season does to a house.
What does a heating tune-up include?
Per ENERGY STAR, a typical check covers several things. A technician checks thermostat settings, tightens electrical connections, lubricates moving parts and checks the controls and starting cycle. On a gas or oil system, they also check connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger.
Pay attention to that last item. ENERGY STAR says improperly working gas or oil connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or a cracked heat exchanger makes equipment run less safely and less efficiently.
You have a job too. Change or clean your filter once a month during the heating season, per ENERGY STAR. A clogged filter raises energy costs and can damage equipment.
What heating systems work in a mountain home?
It depends on your fuel and your house.
- Furnace. Forced air, usually gas or propane. Gas depends on whether a main reaches your street. See our utilities guide for who serves where.
- Boiler. Heats water that moves through radiators or in-floor tubing. Integrity Heating & Cooling mentions boilers on its site.
- Heat pump. Electric, and it can heat and cool. ENERGY STAR's cold climate designation requires a coefficient of performance of at least 1.75 at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, per its product criteria. Ask for a cold climate model.
- Wood or pellet stove. Popular, and they need a clean chimney. Ashes Away Fireplace & Chimney Professionals carries a 5.0 rating across 303 reviews.
If you are on propane, remember the tank. Ask your supplier about tank size and fill schedule before November. The propane supplier category lists regional options, many in Pagosa Springs.
Will LPEA help pay for a heat pump?
Possibly. LPEA's 2026 rebate sheet lists up to $250 per ton for an air-source heat pump with a minimum 8.5 HSPF2 rating, not to exceed 50% of material cost. It adds a $200 bonus when weatherization is done with the install. Standard rebates cap at $1,500 per member each year.
Income-qualified members can get more, up to $500 per ton and $3,000 a year. LPEA says qualifying income runs up to 150% of the area median. Rebates must be submitted within 90 days of purchase, and submitting does not guarantee approval. Check LPEA's rebate page before you sign a contract, and ask your contractor whether the model qualifies.
This is general information. Talk to LPEA about your own eligibility.
Which local companies handle heating?
These Durango-area listings carry the strongest Google ratings in the HVAC contractor and heating contractor categories, with details from each company's own site.
- Whatley Heating and Cooling (4.6 stars, 88 reviews). Its site says it does HVAC only, with more than 25 years of service, installations carrying a lifetime warranty and work across the region, from Durango to Cortez.
- Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating (5.0, 42). The site highlights new-construction plumbing and HVAC, plus residential installations. Ask whether it takes older-home service calls.
- Mend HVAC (4.8, 24). Its site says the owner is a Fort Lewis alumnus with 20 years of industry experience.
- Heating & Cooling Engineers (5.0, 9, so a small sample). A family-owned company with more than 25 years of experience, according to its site. It installs Mitsubishi cold climate heat pumps.
- Integrity Heating & Cooling (5.0, 9, also a small sample). It is based in Bayfield and travels to Durango, with furnace maintenance, boilers and ductwork listed on its site.
Ratings with few reviews can mislead, so ask for references. Companies also differ in size, and a small shop may book out in October.
Both categories list more firms than these five. Several are based in Pagosa Springs, so confirm that a company travels to your address before you count on it for a same-day call. For a replacement, collect at least two or three written quotes. Compare them line by line, because one bid may include permits, disposal and duct work that another leaves out.
What should wood stove and propane owners watch for?
Two rules cross over with fire safety. First, spark arrestors. When La Plata County enacts fire restrictions, the sheriff's rules still allow indoor fireplaces and wood stoves, but only with an approved interior and exterior chimney spark arrestor, per the county's Stage I announcement. Have your sweep check the cap before the season.
Second, placement. The Colorado State Forest Service says aboveground propane tanks belong at least 30 feet from the house, with flammable plants cleared within 10 feet of tanks and gas meters. It also wants firewood stacked at least 30 feet away. Our wildfire preparedness guide has the full checklist.
Chimney work and tank moves are separate jobs from a furnace tune-up. Ask each pro what is included, and do not assume a tune-up covers the chimney.
What should I ask a heating contractor?
Bring a short list.
1. Which license and permits apply? Colorado does not license HVAC contractors at the state level, according to licensing guides, so rules are set locally. Ask what permit your work needs. La Plata County's Building Division handles permits for properties outside city and town limits. 2. Are you insured? Ask for proof before work starts. 3. What exactly is in the quote? Equipment model, labor, permits, disposal and warranty terms should all appear in writing. 4. What happens in a cold snap? Ask about emergency hours and response times. 5. Is a carbon monoxide test part of the visit? It should be.
What about carbon monoxide?
Treat it as a must. Anything that burns fuel can produce carbon monoxide, which is odorless and invisible. Colorado has statutes on alarms in Title 38, Article 45, including rental properties. Whether you own or rent, put a working alarm near every sleeping area and test it each fall.
Moving to a new house? Check the alarms the day you arrive. Our moving guide lists other first-week tasks, and the home services guide covers plumbers and electricians for what a heating visit uncovers.