Fort Collins Heating Company Seeks Nominations for Annual Free Furnace Program
Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning opened nominations November 5 for its annual furnace giveaway program, which will provide one Northern Colorado family with a free furnace and installation before Christmas.
The family-owned HVAC company, established in 1934, accepts nominations through December 5 for residents who cannot afford a furnace replacement. Interested individuals can nominate themselves or others by visiting the company's website and completing a submission form under the "About Us" section.
The winning family will be announced during the week of December 8, with installation completed before December 25.
The program addresses a significant financial burden for Northern Colorado households. Furnace replacement costs in Fort Collins typically range between $3,500 and $8,500, including equipment and installation for standard gas furnaces. Low-income households in Larimer County often spend 10 to 30 percent of their income on energy costs, making heating system repairs or replacements financially prohibitive for many families.
Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning has operated the giveaway program for several years as part of its community involvement initiatives. The company, currently owned by third-generation operator Glenn Frank, also runs a monthly charity program that donates $1,000 to local nonprofits selected through customer voting.
Recent community assistance efforts in Northern Colorado have highlighted growing needs among vulnerable residents. A Fort Collins butcher shop surpassed $80,000 in fundraising for families affected by SNAP benefit reductions, while the Food Bank for Larimer County seeks 4,700 turkeys for Thanksgiving distributions.
Northern Colorado residents facing heating challenges have multiple assistance options beyond private giveaways. The state's Low-income Energy Assistance Program covers portions of heating costs for households earning 60 percent or less of the state median income. The City of Fort Collins operates the Healthy Homes program, which provides free indoor air quality assessments and identifies safety upgrades, while the Epic Homes initiative helps finance energy efficiency improvements through on-bill repayment plans.
According to program directories maintained by government agencies, assistance programs help hundreds of qualifying families annually reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent after equipment upgrades.
Nomination forms for the Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning furnace giveaway are available at fortcollinsheating.com through December 5.