Heating and Cooling in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the biggest city we cover, and its mechanical code is unusually clear about permits and licenses. Here is what Des Moines homeowners should know before a heating or cooling job.
HVAC permits in Des Moines
The City of Des Moines' published summary of its Chapter 26 mechanical code amendments (2021) says mechanical permits are required for any installation, alteration, repair, replacement or remodel of a regulated mechanical system (Sec. 26-501), with an exemption for minor repairs or minor parts where the total cost doesn't exceed $100 (Sec. 26-502). It also says only holders of a state mechanical or plumbing contractor license may obtain mechanical permits in the city (Sec. 26-550). Because that summary is dated 2021, confirm current rules with the city's Permit & Development Center.
Our Des Moines furnace replacement guide covers this in more detail, plus sizing and efficiency.
Permit rules change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with the city. The Iowa Attorney General advises caution if a contractor avoids talking about permits or inspections.
Check an HVAC contractor's Iowa license
Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) says Iowa law requires plumbing and mechanical contractors, including HVAC and refrigeration contractors, to be licensed with the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board and registered with DIAL. Board contractor requirements include at least $500,000 in public liability insurance and a $5,000 surety bond. DIAL's contractor license page links to a public portal for verifying licenses, and you can check registration in the state contractor registration search. See our guide to choosing an HVAC company.
Winter safety in Des Moines
Des Moines is served by the NWS Des Moines office of the National Weather Service, which issues local winter storm and cold warnings. Before the cold sets in:
- Book a fall furnace check-up. The CDC recommends yearly service of heating systems by a qualified technician, and ENERGY STAR suggests heating check-ups in the fall.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms. The CDC recommends battery or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area.
- Keep vents clear after snow. Alliant Energy warns snow can block appliance exhaust vents and says to clear them gently by hand or with a broom.
- Smell gas or hear a CO alarm? Leave the home first, then call your gas utility's emergency line and 911 from a safe place.
No heat right now? Start with our safe no-heat checklist.
Utility discounts
Depending on your address, your gas or electric service may come from MidAmerican Energy, Alliant Energy, a municipal utility or a co-op. Check your bill. MidAmerican and Alliant both offer instant discounts on qualifying furnaces, central AC and heat pumps through participating contractors. Terms change, so see our rebates guide and the utility's own page.
Heating and cooling guides for Des Moines homeowners
- Hiring an HVAC proHow to Choose an HVAC Company in IowaHiring a furnace or AC contractor in Iowa? Check state registration and HVAC licensing, compare estimates, and spot red flags the Iowa AG warns about.Read guide →
- No heat and safetyFurnace Not Working? A Safe No-Heat Checklist for Iowa HomesFurnace quit on a cold Iowa night? Safe checks you can do yourself, CO and gas-smell warnings from the CDC and utilities, and when to call a pro.Read guide →
- Furnace replacementFurnace Replacement in Des Moines: Permits, Sizing and EfficiencyReplacing a furnace in Des Moines? What the city code says about permits and licenses, Manual J sizing, AFUE, ENERGY STAR and questions to ask.Read guide →
- Heat pumpsHeat Pumps in Iowa Cold Weather: What the Federal Guidance SaysCan a heat pump heat an Iowa home at 5°F? What the DOE and ENERGY STAR say about cold-climate heat pumps, dual fuel, backup heat and sizing.Read guide →
- Rebates and savingsIowa HVAC Rebates: How MidAmerican and Alliant Instant Discounts WorkHow MidAmerican and Alliant instant discounts work for furnaces, heat pumps and central AC in Iowa, who qualifies, and how to check current terms.Read guide →
Heating & cooling companies that serve Des Moines
Aspen Aire
localCentral Iowa heating and cooling company offering furnace and heat pump installation and repair, air conditioning, geothermal, indoor air quality and 24/7 emergency service.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Geothermal
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Has service-area pages for Waukee, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ames, Des Moines and Ankeny; says it has served Dallas County customers since 2006.
Iowa contractor registration found (C132331, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C132331, ASPEN AIRE INC, Ankeny, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30.
Listing source: https://aspenaireinc.com/, https://aspenaireinc.com/hvac-company-waukee-ia/, https://aspenaireinc.com/hvac-company-west-des-moines-ia/, https://aspenaireinc.com/hvac-company-urbandale-ia/, https://aspenaireinc.com/hvac-company-ames-ia/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Family-owned Ames heating and cooling company offering furnace repair, installation and maintenance, air conditioning, a maintenance plan and 24/7 emergency service.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Lists its location as Ames and says it serves Central Iowa, naming Ames, Ankeny, Boone, Des Moines, Huxley, Jewell, Ogden, Nevada, Story City and Zearing.
Registration not confirmed by us (checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: An active Plumbing/Heating & A/C registration named BEELINE HEATING AND COOLING (C149751) exists, but it lists a Waukee address while the site lists Ames, so we could not confirm it is the same business.
Listing source: https://www.beelineheatingandcooling.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
128 Southeast Shurfine Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021
Ankeny heating and cooling company offering furnace and air conditioning repair and installation, ductless systems, maintenance and 24/7 emergency service.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Boilers
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Geothermal
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it is locally owned and serves Ankeny, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, Waukee, Clive, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Bondurant and Polk City.
Iowa contractor registration found (C153317, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C153317, SAWHILL HVAC LLC DBA BRYANT IOWA HEATING & COOLING, Ankeny, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. Registered as SAWHILL HVAC LLC DBA BRYANT IOWA HEATING & COOLING.
Listing source: https://bryantiowahc.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Family-owned Des Moines heating and air conditioning company offering furnace repair, air conditioning, geothermal, in-floor radiant heat and air quality systems for homes and businesses.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Boilers
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Geothermal
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it has been family-owned and locally operated in Des Moines for more than 50 years.
Iowa contractor registration found (C130065, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C130065, CITY WIDE HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING INC, Windsor Heights, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. The registration lists Windsor Heights, in the Des Moines metro.
Listing source: https://citywideheatingandair.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Direct Heating & Air
localDes Moines-area heating and cooling company offering furnace repair and installation, air conditioning and indoor air quality services.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Its site names Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee and Altoona among the areas it serves.
Iowa contractor registration found (C145544, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C145544, DIRECT HEATING AND AIR LLC, Altoona, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. The registration lists Altoona.
Listing source: https://www.directheatingair.com/, https://www.directheatingair.com/ankeny-hvac-services/furnace-services/furnace-repair/ (checked 2026-10-22).
3260 Ute Avenue, Waukee, IA 50263
Waukee heating and air conditioning company offering repair, maintenance, replacement and installation of furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Geothermal
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it is a full-service heating and air conditioning company serving Waukee and the surrounding area.
Iowa contractor registration found (C146093, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C146093, DORRIAN HVAC LLC, Waukee, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. Registered as DORRIAN HVAC LLC.
Listing source: https://dorrianheating.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
7641 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale, IA
Family-owned, veteran-owned Des Moines-area heating and cooling company that says it has offered HVAC service since 2009, including 24/7 emergency repairs.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it serves Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Altoona and beyond.
Iowa contractor registration found (C133132, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C133132, LENZ MECHANICAL LLC, Urbandle, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. Registered as LENZ MECHANICAL LLC (Urbandale); the site's domain is lenzmechanical.com and it shows state license 50871-CL.
Listing source: https://lenzmechanical.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
1567 Ohio St, Des Moines, IA 50314
Family-owned Des Moines heating and cooling company that says it has served the metro since 2007, offering furnace and AC repair, installation and 24/7 emergency service.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Boilers
- Ductwork
- Maintenance plans
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it serves 23 Des Moines-metro communities, naming Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Waukee, Urbandale and Johnston.
Registration not confirmed by us (checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: No registration under the name Midwest Comfort. The phone number on the site matches an active Plumbing/Heating & A/C registration under a different legal name (STENGER LLC, Clive, C130267), and the site shows state license 50672-CL, but we could not confirm they are the same business.
Listing source: https://www.midwestcomfortiowa.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Thrasher Service
local3012 East 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50316
Family-owned heating, cooling and plumbing company that says it has served the Des Moines metro since 1978.
- Furnaces & heating
- Air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Boilers
- Maintenance plans
- Geothermal
- Indoor air quality
Service area (their words): Says it serves the Des Moines metro, including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, Johnston, Clive, Urbandale, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Grimes, Bondurant and Norwalk.
Iowa contractor registration found (C130256, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
DIAL Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations open data (data.iowa.gov dataset 1052, data updated 2026-10-19), searched 2026-10-22: active record C130256, THRASHER SERVICE CORPORATION, Des Moines, IA (Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors), expires 2029-06-30. Registered as THRASHER SERVICE CORPORATION.
Listing source: https://thrasherservice.com/about/ (checked 2026-10-22).
See all 35 listed companies by town →
Listings are informational, not endorsements or rankings, and no company paid to be listed. Details come from each company’s own website. Registration status comes from the State of Iowa’s active contractor registration list on the date shown; always search Iowa contractor registration yourself before hiring. Companies can request a correction or removal.
Nearby towns we cover
Sources
- Chapter 26 State Plumbing and Mechanical Code Updates, 8-9-21 short version (PDF) - City of Des Moines (checked 2026-10-22)
- Residential - Permit & Development Center - City of Des Moines (checked 2026-10-22)
- NWS Des Moines forecast office - National Weather Service (checked 2026-10-22)
- Contractor License - Iowa Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board (Iowa DIAL) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Contractor Registration - Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (checked 2026-10-22)
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (checked 2026-10-22)
- Maintenance Checklist - ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Home Discounts and Rebates - MidAmerican Energy (checked 2026-10-22)
- Instant Discounts program (Iowa) - Alliant Energy (checked 2026-10-22)
- Natural Gas Safety - Alliant Energy (checked 2026-10-22)
We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Brand or company names are not endorsements.