Heating & Air Conditioning in Novato, CA
Aarvaks installs and repairs heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, furnaces and air conditioning in Novato and across Marin County. Posted prices are the same here as everywhere we work, and every installation starts with a written quote.
What Novato’s Codes Mean for an HVAC Replacement
Three sets of rules apply when a heating or cooling system is replaced in Novato: the permit, California’s energy code for Climate Zone 2, and the Bay Area Air District’s furnace standard.
Permits for HVAC Work
California’s Mechanical Code, which Novato enforces, makes it unlawful to install, alter, repair, or replace a regulated mechanical system without a permit. Exemptions include portable heating and cooling units. Aarvaks handles permit coordination for Novato and every city and county we serve as part of the project scope.
Energy Code for Climate Zone 2
Novato is in California Building Climate Zone 2. Under the 2025 Energy Code, in effect since January 1, 2026, installing new heating or cooling components on a ducted system requires a duct leakage test: 10% leakage or less, 7% or less to the outside, or every accessible leak sealed. New duct sections need R-8 insulation. In Climate Zone 2, refrigerant charge must also be verified when refrigerant components are installed or altered, with airflow of at least 300 cubic feet per minute per ton.
Bay Area Air District — Zero-NOx Furnaces from 2029
The Air District’s Rule 9-4 sets a zero-NOx standard for furnaces with a 2029 compliance date. The District says the requirement applies only when current equipment burns out, so it does not require replacing a working furnace. A heat pump burns no fuel, so it meets the standard.
Heating and Cooling Novato Homes
Novato has about 21,000 housing units. 45% were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and 71% heat with utility gas, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
Replacing Gas Heat
71% of Novato homes heat with utility gas. When a gas furnace needs replacing, the choice is a new furnace or a ducted heat pump on the same ducts, which also provides cooling. Furnace installation starts at $7,500 and a single-zone heat pump at $17,000.
Homes From the 1960s and 1970s
45% of Novato’s housing was built in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27% in the 1970s. Under the state energy code, ducts are tested for leakage when new heating or cooling equipment goes in. Duct condition is assessed and documented during the estimate visit before any equipment recommendation is made.
Detached Homes and Townhomes
59% of Novato’s housing units are detached single-family homes and 12% are townhomes. Ductless mini-splits heat and cool homes without ductwork and rooms the ducts do not reach. A single-zone mini-split starts at $6,500.
Novato’s Climate and Your Heating and Cooling Load
NOAA’s nearest climate-normals station with temperature records is at San Rafael Civic Center, about 6 miles south of Novato. Average daily highs there are 81°F from July through September and average lows are 42–43°F in December and January (1991–2020 normals). The station averages 2,481 heating degree days and 486 cooling degree days a year, about five times as much heating as cooling.
Heating Drives the Load
Heating degree days peak near 475 a month in December and January and stay above 200 a month from November through April.
Warm Afternoons
The station averages 20 days a year at 90°F or above, and cooling degree days run about 100 to 120 a month from July through September.
One System for Both
A heat pump covers the long heating season and provides cooling for warm afternoons from one outdoor unit.
HVAC Services in Novato
Installation, repair, and maintenance for all residential and commercial HVAC systems throughout Novato. All brands serviced. $79 residential diagnostic fee. Permit coordination included on all installations.
Heat Pump Installation & Repair
Ducted heat pump installation for Novato homes with existing ductwork — replaces gas furnace and central AC in one system upgrade. Single-zone systems starting at $17,000. Carrier Authorized Dealer. 10-year limited parts warranty. All brands serviced for repair.
Mini-Split Installation & Repair
Ductless mini-splits for homes without ductwork. No duct modification required. Single-zone systems starting at $6,500. Carrier, Mitsubishi, and Bosch systems. Multi-zone configurations for whole-home comfort without ductwork.
Heating & Air Conditioning
Furnace installation, repair, and tune-up. Central AC installation and repair. All brands serviced. $79 residential diagnostic fee. Furnace installation starting at $7,500. AC installation starting at $10,000. 10-year limited parts warranty.
Heat Pump Incentives for Novato Homeowners
The federal heat pump tax credit has expired, and the TECH Clean California and HEEHRA single-family programs are reserved statewide. Program availability changes. We identify what applies to your project during the estimate.
MCE Heat Pump Rebate
Novato is in MCE’s service area, with PG&E delivering the power. MCE lists a rebate of up to $400 per 500 square feet for installing a heat pump heating and cooling system, for customers who own and have lived in their single-family detached home for at least 12 months. The system must be installed by an MCE participating contractor, who processes the application.
Carrier Cool Cash
Carrier Cool Cash offers up to $2,100 on qualifying Carrier heating or cooling products purchased August 1, 2026 through November 20, 2026. Equipment must be installed and the claim submitted by December 20, 2026.
Federal & State Programs
The federal Section 25C credit for qualifying heat pumps covered equipment placed in service through December 31, 2025. TECH Clean California’s single-family heat pump HVAC incentives were reserved statewide as of November 14, 2025, and HEEHRA single-family rebates were fully reserved statewide as of February 24, 2026.
All incentive claims should be verified at the time of your installation. Aarvaks does not guarantee rebate availability or tax credit eligibility for any specific installation. Current programs for every county are on our rebates page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my furnace or air conditioner in Novato?
Yes. California’s Mechanical Code, which Novato enforces, requires a permit to install, alter, repair, or replace a regulated mechanical system, with exemptions such as portable heating and cooling units. Aarvaks handles permit coordination for Novato as part of the installation scope.
What does the Bay Area furnace rule mean for my Novato home?
The Bay Area Air District’s Rule 9-4 sets a zero-NOx standard for furnaces with a 2029 compliance date. The District says it applies only when current equipment burns out, so a working furnace does not have to be replaced. A heat pump burns no fuel and meets the standard.
What does California’s energy code require when I replace HVAC equipment in Novato?
Novato is in Building Climate Zone 2. Under the 2025 Energy Code, installing new heating or cooling components on a ducted system requires a duct leakage test, with a limit of 10% total leakage or 7% to the outside, or every accessible leak sealed. New duct sections need R-8 insulation. In Climate Zone 2, refrigerant charge must also be verified when refrigerant components are installed or altered, with airflow of at least 300 cubic feet per minute per ton. Ducts registered as previously sealed, or built with asbestos materials, are exempt from the leakage test.
How much does heat pump installation cost in Novato?
Ducted heat pump installation, replacing a gas furnace and central AC with one heat pump on the existing ducts, starts at $17,000 for a single-zone system. Ductless mini-split installation starts at $6,500 for a single zone. Final cost depends on zone count, equipment selection, duct condition, and electrical scope, and we provide a written itemized quote before any work begins. Book online or call 510-848-5010.
Are there heat pump rebates for Novato homeowners in 2026?
MCE, which serves Novato, lists a heat pump heating and cooling rebate of up to $400 per 500 square feet for customers who own and have lived in their single-family detached home for at least 12 months, installed by an MCE participating contractor. Carrier Cool Cash offers up to $2,100 on qualifying Carrier products purchased through November 20, 2026. The federal Section 25C tax credit covered equipment placed in service through December 31, 2025, so it does not apply to 2026 installations. TECH Clean California’s single-family heat pump HVAC incentives were reserved statewide as of November 14, 2025, and HEEHRA single-family rebates were fully reserved statewide as of February 24, 2026. We identify what applies during the estimate.
Are your prices the same in Novato?
Yes. Our posted starting prices are the same in Novato as in every city we serve, and each job gets a written, itemized quote before work begins.
Schedule HVAC Service in Novato
Get an in-home assessment and a written, itemized quote.