HVAC Services in Iowa City
Iowa City’s older homes are full of charm, but they have many heating and cooling quirks. Many were originally built around old-school radiators, leaving later owners to squeeze modern forced-air systems into spaces that were never designed for them. The result is often a puzzle of piecemeal ductwork, like a single, struggling air vent stretched up to a converted attic bedroom. In stark contrast, the sweeping new subdivisions just a few miles away in Coralville and North Liberty give builders the flexibility needed to engineer flawless, highly efficient airflow right from the start.
Rabe Hardware is a family-owned business that has navigated the unique demands of both worlds since 1979. Because we service all makes and models rather than pushing a single brand, our North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified experts are ready for anything.
Call (319) 308-5853 or contact us online to book HVAC services in Iowa City today
Why Choose Rabe Hardware?
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Expert Personnel
The knowledgeable and experienced staff of Rabe Hardware are experts in solar, geothermal, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and fireplaces & stoves. We are your one-stop-shop!
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Same-day Service
We are proud to provide our customers with same-day service! Whether you want to order a furnace filter or need an emergency repair, you can depend on Rabe Hardware to take care of you.
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Full Flexibility
The experienced technicians and installers of Rabe Hardware are trained to service all major brands for both residential and commercial products and systems.
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By the Book Installations
All equipment and materials used by Rabe Hardware are installed per the manufacturers’ specifications. We stay by-the-book and never take shortcuts.
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Full Credentials
Our technicians and installers are fully licensed, insured, and professionally trained. With extensive industry experience, we at Rabe Hardware will get the tough jobs done and done right.
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Financing Assurance
Rabe Hardware offers flexible, low-interest financing options through EnerBank USA and GeoSmart to meet both your needs and your budget.
Iowa City Heating & Cooling Services
Working across Johnson County, we see a familiar set of requests, including:
- Cooling retrofits
- Ductless zone systems
- New construction installation
- Diagnostics and repair
- System replacement
An older house isn't necessarily harder to work on, and a new build isn't automatically simpler. In either case, the biggest mistake a contractor can make is trying to force a standard, one-size-fits-all HVAC system into a home that wasn't built to accommodate it.
That is why we never guess when it comes to your comfort. Guided by our 3 Point Promise of honesty, integrity, and reliability, our technicians carefully walk your floor plan and evaluate your home's structural limits before recommending any equipment.
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A Guarantee You Can Count On
Providing a high level of customer service is at the core of everything we do here at Rabe Hardware and it starts with our 3 Point Promise, a company wide commitment to three core values – Honesty, Integrity and Reliability. Each one of these values define us as individuals and have become a company model that has built our reputation. If honesty, integrity and reliability are what you’re looking for – look no further.
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Honesty
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Integrity
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Reliability
See Why Customers Choose Rabe
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"Greatest for Service, Quality, Pricing & Care"Keaton Deneve was AMAZING with the electrical work, insightful knowledge AND resolve. Super kind and personable.- Vonna H.
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"10 star Customer Service"Given their reputation, the guarantee on panels -efficiency - workmanship - timeline, and their very competitive quote they quickly became our vender.- KJ M.
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"Professional & Easy to Work With"All the instructions we straight forward and professionally delivered. I feel like we found a contractor that takes care of us the way we would a family member. 5 stars all the way.- Tom S.
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"You Won’t Be Disappointed"I wouldn’t recommend anyone else, Rabe’s is the best they have been our service company since 2019.- Susan T.
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"We Have Already Recommended"The process went very smooth, and quite frankly, exactly as he said it would. Our panels were up and running without a single hitch.- Kaye M.
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"Very Nice, Great Service & Very Patient"Today Jeff came back to service our Geo. Again fantastic! Jeff does a great job and because of him we will always use and recommend Rabe Hardware.- Ross V.
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"Pleasure Working with Rabe"They helped with the complete process from designing a system just right for my property to explaining all of the paperwork requirements and getting them filled out when needed.- Wayne F.
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"Great Company, Great Price, Great Customer Service"Couldn't have asked for a more qualified, experienced and friendly company to remove and reinstall solar panels for roof repair.- Lori
New Construction HVAC in Iowa City & Coralville
New construction provides the opportunity to engineer a climate system before the walls are closed. We calculate precise heating and cooling loads directly from architectural plans to design highly efficient forced-air systems. This early access allows our crews to optimize duct runs, return paths, and equipment locations while the framing is accessible, roughing in the ductwork before the drywall goes up.
A new home is also a comparatively inexpensive time to integrate specialized systems that would be costly and invasive to retrofit later. We install radiant in-floor heating for consistent, draft-free warmth, as well as GeoComfort and Enertech geothermal systems that exchange heat through a buried underground loop.
Cooling Retrofits for Homes Without Ductwork
Homes originally designed for radiator heat rarely have the clearance for standard ductwork. Retrofitting traditional forced-air systems often requires tearing open original plaster walls and ceilings, a common frustration in historic neighborhoods like Northside and Goosetown.
To avoid this invasive demolition, we offer three specialized alternatives:
- Ductless mini-splits: These systems require only a small exterior wall opening to connect compact indoor air handlers to an outside compressor, providing targeted, room-by-room climate control without the need for any ductwork.
- High-velocity systems: Instead of bulky metal ducts, these systems thread narrow, flexible tubing through existing wall and ceiling cavities. They deliver high-performance cooling through small, unobtrusive vents that preserve your home's original architecture and plasterwork.
- Dedicated cooling units: By installing an independent air handler designed solely for air conditioning, you gain the comfort of modern central air while allowing your existing boiler to continue handling the winter heat without interference.
We hold State of Iowa licenses in both HVAC and hydronics, so the same technicians who install your air conditioning also service the boiler and radiators that heat your house. Before recommending any of the three systems, one of our technicians walks through your house and checks the attic, ceilings, and wall cavities to determine which system will fit without cutting into your plaster.
Every old house has a workable answer; it is rarely the obvious one. Call (319) 308-5853 or contact us online to arrange HVAC service in Iowa City.