HVAC Service Areas — West Denver Metro & Foothills

Yes — every Right Way technician is EPA 608 certified for refrigerant handling (federal requirement), and Shane carries 15+ years of in-the-field Colorado HVAC experience. We invest in continuing education because Colorado HVAC keeps changing — new refrigerants, new rebate programs, new cold-climate heat pump technology.

Certifications we hold

• EPA 608 Universal — Federal requirement for anyone working on refrigerant systems. Always ask any HVAC tech for proof of this before they touch your AC or heat pump.
• NATE Certification — North American Technician Excellence (industry-standard testing for HVAC technicians)
• Colorado Master Mechanical License — State licensure for HVAC contractor work
• Manufacturer certifications — including factory training for the major brands we install (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Mitsubishi)
• OSHA 10 — Occupational safety training

Why certifications matter

Continuing education

HVAC technology has shifted fast in the last 5 years. Cold-climate heat pumps now perform at temperatures that were considered impossible 10 years ago. R-22 (Freon) is banned and being phased out. R-454B is the new low-GWP refrigerant replacing R-410A. We invest in training to stay current on:

• Cold-climate heat pump design and commissioning
• New refrigerant handling (R-454B, R-32)
• Variable-speed and modulating equipment
• Smart thermostat integration and load-shaping rebates
• Colorado Energy Office and Xcel rebate program updates

Ask any HVAC contractor for their certifications and proof of insurance before hiring. We’re happy to provide ours. Get in touch →

Yes — modern cold-climate heat pumps (often called “ccHP” or units certified to the NEEP Cold Climate ASHP Specification) continue producing useful heat well below 0°F. They lose some capacity as temperatures drop, but they don’t “stop working” at any point relevant to Colorado.

How modern cold-climate heat pumps perform

• 47°F outdoor — rated capacity, ~300-400% efficient (COP 3-4)
• 17°F outdoor — ~85% of rated capacity, ~250% efficient (COP 2.5)
• 5°F outdoor — ~75% of rated capacity, ~200% efficient (COP 2.0)
• -13°F outdoor — ~60% of rated capacity, ~150% efficient (COP 1.5)

For perspective: a gas furnace runs at 80-98% efficient regardless of temperature. A heat pump at -13°F still runs at 150% efficient. The breakeven point on operating cost depends on local electric vs. gas rates, but in Xcel territory, most heat pumps are cheaper to operate than gas heating down to roughly -5°F.

The backup-strategy question

Mountain installs (Evergreen, Conifer, Bailey)

At elevation above 7,000 feet, design temperatures drop into the -10°F to -20°F range. Heat pumps still work, but the dual-fuel configuration becomes almost mandatory for comfort during sustained cold snaps. We size mountain installs accordingly — typically with a 50/50 capacity split between the heat pump and the backup.

Learn more about cold-climate heat pumps →

Yes — most major HVAC work in Wheat Ridge, Denver, Arvada, Lakewood, and other Front Range jurisdictions requires a permit and an inspection. Furnace replacement, AC installation, heat pump installation, gas line work, and ductwork modifications all typically require permits.

Work that typically requires a permit

• Furnace replacement or new installation
• AC condenser or coil replacement
• Heat pump installation (new or replacement)
• Mini-split installation (new or replacement)
• Gas line modifications
• Significant ductwork changes
• Boiler replacement

Work that usually doesn’t need a permit

• Filter changes
• Annual tune-ups and maintenance
• Minor repairs (capacitor, igniter, flame sensor, fan motor)
• Thermostat replacement

What we do

We pull the appropriate mechanical permit for every major install — Wheat Ridge, Denver, Arvada, Lakewood, Jefferson County, and surrounding jurisdictions. Permit fees are included in our quotes (typically $100-$300 depending on jurisdiction and scope). We schedule the inspection and pass it the first time — that’s how a properly installed system works.

If you’re getting quotes and one contractor says “no permit needed” on a furnace or AC install — that’s a red flag. Get a different quote.

Yes — Right Way Mechanical provides true 24/7 emergency HVAC service across the Denver metro and foothills. A live person answers the phone, not a voicemail or an answering service. Treat no-heat calls in winter and no-cool calls during heat waves as priority dispatch — because in Colorado, a furnace failure at 10°F isn’t just uncomfortable, it can freeze pipes within hours.

What you get when you call

• Live person on the line — Shane or his team. Not a regional call center.
• Honest ETA — usually within 4 hours for Front Range core; longer for mountain dispatch
• EPA 608 certified technician with a fully stocked truck
• Flat-rate diagnostic fee ($149 after-hours) — no surprise emergency surcharges
• Most repairs first-visit — common emergency parts on the truck

What counts as an emergency

• No heat in winter
• No cool air during a heat wave
• Gas smell (leave home, call Xcel, then call us)
• Carbon monoxide alarm activation
• Water leak from HVAC equipment
• Loud bangs, burning smells, or repeated tripped breakers

Service areas with priority dispatch

Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Denver, Lakewood, Westminster, Golden, Applewood, Edgewater, Bear Valley, Sheridan. Mountain emergency dispatch available to Evergreen, Conifer, Bergen Park, Genesee, Pine, Aspen Park, and Bailey — typically 60-90 minutes longer depending on weather.

Learn more about emergency service → or call (303) 406-2717.

Yes — we work with several financing providers for HVAC installations. Most homeowners qualify for 0% promotional financing for 12-24 months, or fixed-rate longer-term financing (5-10 years) on larger projects like heat pump or whole-home installations.

Typical financing options available

• 0% promotional financing — 12, 18, or 24 months. Pay it off within the term, no interest.
• Fixed-rate installments — 5-10 year terms at competitive rates for larger projects
• Reduced-rate financing — special promos sometimes available on heat pump installs
• Combined with rebates — Xcel and Colorado state rebates can be applied to financed amounts

What you need to qualify

• Standard credit application (soft pull, doesn’t affect score)
• Decision typically same-day, often within minutes
• Most installations under $15,000 are approved without issue for homeowners with average or better credit

We don’t push financing — we offer it because it makes good projects accessible. Cash is always welcome too, and we’ve never charged a “cash discount” or “credit card surcharge.” Our pricing is our pricing.

Ask about financing at quote time and we’ll walk you through current options. Request a quote →

Yes, meaningfully. Combustion efficiency drops about 4% per 1,000 feet of elevation, and air density also drops — both factors that require altitude-adjusted sizing for proper HVAC performance in Colorado. Furnaces, AC units, and heat pumps all behave differently at altitude than at sea level.

The math in plain terms

• Denver (5,280 ft): ~21% efficiency derate vs. sea level on gas furnaces
• Wheat Ridge (5,440 ft): ~22% derate
• Evergreen (7,220 ft): ~29% derate
• Bailey (7,740 ft): ~31% derate

A furnace rated at 100,000 BTU at sea level only delivers about 79,000 BTU of useful output in Denver, and just 69,000 BTU in Evergreen. Air conditioners are similarly affected — thinner air carries less heat, so AC capacity also derates with altitude.

What we do differently

• Every Manual J load calculation includes altitude-adjusted combustion and air density
• For mountain installs (above 7,000 ft) we typically upsize by 10-15% to ensure capacity on the coldest nights
• We specify equipment with confirmed high-altitude orifice kits (required by code for some furnaces above 5,000 ft)
• We commission with combustion analysis at altitude — paper specs aren’t enough

Altitude is the most-overlooked factor in Colorado HVAC sizing. Don’t let a “we always go 80,000 BTU” quote land in your inbox without asking how altitude was factored in. Request a properly-sized quote →