Colorado’s furnace rules are changing what homeowners can buy— and what a replacement may cost.
If your furnace is getting older and you’ve been wondering whether you can get one more winter out of it, there’s an important change happening in Colorado that you should know about.
New Colorado emissions requirements are changing the types of natural-gas furnaces that can be sold in the state.
The new standard significantly reduces allowable NOx emissions from new furnaces. Manufacturers have responded with new Ultra-Low NOx (ULN) furnace technology designed to meet Colorado’s requirements.
That’s good news for emissions. But there is another side homeowners should understand: ULN furnaces can be significantly more expensive.
Depending on the equipment and application, the cost of ULN furnace equipment can be substantially higher than the traditional furnaces homeowners have been installing for years — in some cases approaching twice the equipment cost.
ULN furnaces can be significantly more expensive.
Depending on the equipment and application, the cost of ULN furnace equipment can be substantiallyhigher than the traditional furnaces homeowners have been installing for years — in some casesapproaching twice the equipment cost.
Traditional Furnaces Are Still Available — While Supplies Last
When Colorado’s new requirements took effect January 1, 2026, traditional furnaces already in local Colorado inventory were exempted from the new sales restriction. That means Controlling Systems still has access to traditional furnace options today — while qualifying inventory remains. But that inventory is limited. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
That creates an unusual situation for homeowners with aging equipment. If your furnace is 15, 20 or more years old, you might normally wait until it stops working before considering replacement.
This year, waiting could change your options — and potentially the cost of your replacement.
Once remaining traditional furnace inventory is depleted, homeowners replacing a furnace may need to choose newer ULN equipment or another Colorado-compliant heating option.
Don’t Wait for the Coldest Day of the Year to Find Out
A furnace that is working today doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace it. But if you already know your furnace is approaching the end of its life, this is a good year to have the conversation before there’s an emergency.
A planned replacement gives you time to:
- Understand the condition of your existing furnace
- Compare traditional and ULN furnace options
- Understand the costs before making a decision
- Consider high-efficiency and dual-fuel alternatives
- Explore available heat pump rebates and incentives
- Choose what’s right for your home instead of choosing what’s available during an emergency
You may decide to keep your furnace.
And that’s okay.
Our job isn’t to tell every homeowner they need a new system. It’s to make sure you understand youroptions while you still have them.
There May Be Another Option Worth Considering
Colorado’s changing furnace requirements are happening at the same time that significant incentives are available for high-efficiency cold-climate heat pumps. For some homeowners, replacing an aging air conditioner with a heat pump and pairing it with a furnace ina dual-fuel system may make more financial sense than simply replacing the furnace.
Depending on the home and equipment selected, qualifying homeowners may have access to incentives through:
Xcel Energy: Cold-climate heat pump rebates that can provide up to $10,000+ in savings.
Power Ahead Colorado: An additional $1,500 for qualifying cold-climate heat pump systems.
Colorado Heat Pump Tax Credit Controlling Systems passes the full $1,000 qualifying contractor tax credit on to our customers as a discount. Every program has different requirements, which is why our team reviews the available options and helps customers navigate the paperwork and qualification process.
Have an Older Furnace? Let’s Look at It Before Winter.
If you’ve been putting off replacing an aging furnace, don’t wait until it quits on a freezing Colorado night to start looking at your options.
We’ll take a look at your existing equipment, talk about its condition and show you the choices available for your home. If keeping your current furnace makes sense, we’ll tell you. If replacing it while traditional equipment is still available makes sense, we’ll show you that option. And if rebates make a high-efficiency heat pump or dual-fuel system a better investment, we’ll show you that too.
No pressure. Just the information you need to make the right decision for your home. That’s what we mean by Cherry-on-Top Service. Controlling Systems
Cherry-on-Top Service Since 1976
/Schedule a Furnace Evaluation
Traditional furnace availability is limited and varies by model, size and application. Qualifying traditional equipment consists of inventory exempt from Colorado’s new sales restrictions. Equipment availability and regulatory requirements are subject to change. Heat pump rebates and incentives have separate eligibility requirements and are subject to program availability.