Serving the Des Moines, Omaha & Salt Lake City Metro Areas
Free In-Home Estimates · Des Moines Metro
(515) 310-1935
Get Your Free In-Home Estimate
Tell us about the system you have and we will find a time that works.
Already holding a quote from someone else? We will give you a free second opinion — call (515) 310-1935.
No obligation. We never sell your information.
Free Estimate · Free Second Opinion
Furnace or AC on Its Last Season? Get a Free In-Home Estimate — and a Free Second Opinion on Anyone Else’s Quote
Replacing a heating and cooling system is one of the larger decisions a homeowner makes, and it should not start with a number shouted over the phone. A Golden Rule comfort advisor comes to the house, measures what your home actually needs, and hands you written options with a flat price — before anything is ordered.
- Free in-home estimate — no charge, no obligation
- Free second opinion on any other contractor’s quote
- Sized to your house, not copied off the old unit’s label
- Flat written price · financing available on approved credit
Family owned · Serving Central Iowa since 1999 · 100+ trucks in the metro
4.9★
9,500+ local reviews
A+
BBB accredited
$0
In-home estimate
1999
Serving Central Iowa since
100+
Trucks in the metro
Repair it, or replace it
When one more repair stops being the cheaper answer.
Most homeowners do not call us because the system died. They call because they are tired of guessing. Here is what usually tips a system from “fix it” to “replace it.”
The system is 15 or more years old
Air conditioners generally run 12–15 years in Iowa and furnaces 15–20. Past that, parts get harder to source and every repair is money spent on equipment that is already near the end.
The repair quote is a real fraction of a new system
A compressor, a heat exchanger or a control board on an older unit can run a large share of what replacement costs. That is the moment to see both numbers side by side instead of only one.
Bills keep climbing and nothing else changed
Same house, same thermostat setting, higher bill every season. An aging or wrongly sized system works harder each year to deliver less comfort.
Rooms that never even out
An upstairs that will not cool, a back bedroom that will not heat, or a system that runs constantly without satisfying the thermostat. That is usually sizing or airflow, and a replacement is the chance to fix it properly.
It still runs on R-22
R-22 refrigerant was phased out of production. Systems that use it can still be serviced, but recharging one gets more expensive every year, which changes the math on any significant repair.
It breaks down more than once a season
Two or three service calls a year is the system telling you what is coming. We would rather show you both options now, on a day you choose, than at 11 p.m. in January when you have no choice at all.
How we decide
What we actually look at before recommending replacement.
No pressure and no scare tactics. These are the factors a Golden Rule advisor walks through with you, out loud, in your home.
Age of the equipmentWe read the data plate rather than guessing. Age sets the honest expectation for how many seasons a repair actually buys you.AC 12–15 yrs · furnace 15–20
Repair cost against replacement costYou see the repair price and the replacement price together. If repairing is the better value, we will tell you that and fix it.Both numbers, side by side
Refrigerant typeR-22 systems can still be serviced, but the cost of a recharge keeps rising as supply shrinks.R-22 changes the math
Comfort, airflow and sizingRooms that never even out are often a sizing or duct problem. Replacing the box without checking that just buys the same complaint in a newer cabinet.Measured, not assumed
A cracked heat exchangerThis is a combustion safety issue, not a comfort one. We shut the unit down and show you what we found before we talk about anything else.Replace — no debate
Want a straight answer on your system? (515) 310-1935
Already have a proposal from another company? Bring it to the appointment. We will price the same scope so you are comparing equipment and workmanship rather than sales pitches.
How it works
From your first call to a system that is running right.
Six steps, one licensed crew, and a flat price you approve before anything is ordered.
1
Book your free estimate
Call or send the form. We schedule a time that works for you — evenings and weekends included — and there is no charge for the visit.
2
We measure the house, not just the unit
Square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork and the rooms that never feel right. Sizing off the old unit’s label repeats whatever mistake was made last time.
3
Options in writing, explained in plain English
Good, better and best, with what each one changes about your comfort and your bill. You keep the paperwork whether you buy from us or not.
4
Flat price and your approval
One number for the installed system, not an hourly meter. Nothing is ordered and no work begins until you say go. Financing is available on approved credit.
5
Installation day
A Golden Rule install crew — our employees, background-checked and trained in house. Floors covered, old equipment hauled away, most homes finished in a single day.
6
Start-up, permits and paperwork
We commission the system, pull the permits the work requires, register the manufacturer warranty in your name, and leave you with a local number that still answers next year.
Why the install matters
The same equipment performs very differently depending on who installs it.
Two homes, identical systems, completely different results. The difference is almost always in the details below.
Sized to your home
An oversized system short-cycles — it cools the air without pulling humidity out, and wears itself down doing it. We size from a load calculation on your actual house.
Ductwork and airflow checked
New equipment cannot fix undersized returns or leaking ducts. We look at the distribution side before quoting, so the rooms that never evened out have a chance to.
Permitted, inspected and registered
We pull the permits the work requires and register the manufacturer warranty in your name. Unregistered warranties are one of the most common ways homeowners quietly lose coverage.
Guaranteed work, with financing
Every installation is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee, and financing is available on approved credit with monthly payment options laid out in writing alongside the price.
Still deciding between one more repair and a new system?
The estimate is free, the second opinion is free, and you will have both numbers in writing before you decide.
From our neighbors
4.9 stars across 9,500+ Google reviews.
Recent, unedited reviews from Des Moines metro homeowners on their heating and cooling work.
★★★★★
“I just had an inspection of my hvac system. He did a great job and explained everything very well. System is 19 years old and probably needs replacing. No high pressure sales tactics. Gave me a couple options to choose from.”
Brock · Google
★★★★★
“Heating and cooling crew did an excellent job! We are very satisfied with our new AC and Heating system!”
Ted Hall · Google
★★★★★
“We are always very happy with golden rule. They’ve replaced our AC unit in the past and now water heater today. They’re always kind, helpful and give us all the information up front. Bobby was so great to work with today, and got us in same day!”
Janae & Quentin Erickson · Google
Reviews are unedited and pulled from our Google Business Profile. Read all 9,500+ reviews on Google →
Common questions
Furnace and AC replacement, answered.
Is the estimate really free?
Yes. An in-home replacement estimate from Golden Rule costs nothing and carries no obligation. A comfort advisor comes out, looks at the equipment and the house, and leaves you with written options that are yours to keep — whether you buy from us or from someone else.
What is the free second opinion?
If another contractor has already told you the system needs replacing, or has handed you a proposal, bring it to the appointment. We will look at the same equipment and price the same scope, at no charge, so you can compare on equipment and workmanship rather than on who gave the better pitch. Sometimes the second opinion is that your system does not need replacing yet — we will tell you that too.
How much does a new furnace or air conditioner cost?
There is no honest number to give over the phone, because the price depends on the size of the home, the ductwork, the efficiency level you choose and what is behind the wall. What we can commit to is this: you get a flat installed price in writing with your options laid out, and nothing is ordered until you approve it. Financing is available on approved credit.
Should I replace the furnace and the AC at the same time?
Not always — but it is worth asking, because they work as a matched pair. If both are near the end of their service life, replacing them together usually costs less than two separate projects and lets us match the equipment properly. If only one is failing, we will say so and price only what you need.
How long does installation take?
Most straightforward replacements are completed in one day. Projects that involve ductwork changes, a new line set, electrical work or moving equipment can run into a second day. You will be told which one yours is before the work is scheduled, not on the morning of.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing is available on approved credit with monthly payment options, and the terms are presented in writing alongside the price so you can see the total cost rather than just the payment.
Do you pull permits and register the warranty?
Yes. We pull the permits the work requires and register the manufacturer warranty in your name at the time of installation. Unregistered warranties are one of the most common reasons homeowners find out years later that they are not covered.
What if my system fails before I am ready to replace it?
Call us. Golden Rule answers around the clock, and in many cases we can get an aging system running again to buy you the time to make the decision properly instead of under pressure. Emergency and after-hours calls carry no overtime charge.
Who actually does the installation?
Golden Rule employees — licensed, background-checked and trained in house — not subcontractors brought in for the job. We have been family owned and serving Central Iowa since 1999 and run more than 100 trucks across the metro.
What areas do you serve?
The Des Moines metro and Central Iowa — Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Grimes, Altoona, Clive, Norwalk, Indianola, Ames and the surrounding communities listed below.
Service area
Where we install heating and cooling systems.
AdelAltoonaAmesAnkenyBondurantBooneCliveColfaxDallas CenterDes MoinesGrangerGrimesIndianolaJohnstonMadridMingoMitchellvilleNevadaNewtonNorwalkPanoraPerryPleasant HillPleasantvillePolk CityStuartUrbandaleWaukeeWest Des MoinesWinterset
