IRBIS is the HVAC company Palo Alto homeowners trust for residential heating, cooling, and heat pump services — with specific expertise in the city's unique housing stock, from historic Eichlers to modern infill builds. Carrier-certified, same-day service available.
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IRBIS covers all Palo Alto heating and air conditioning needs — cooling, heating, heat pumps, and water heaters. Our Carrier-certified HVAC contractor is available same day, seven days a week, ready to repair, maintain, or install any system in your home.
Palo Alto's peak cooling season runs June through September, with July highs averaging 82°F and heat waves spiking above 100°F during Diablo wind events. IRBIS handles AC repair, AC maintenance, installation, and replacement.
Palo Alto winters are mild but real — December lows reach 44°F, with temperatures below 35°F on fewer than 5 nights per year. Furnace prep in October or November pays off. Repair, maintenance, and furnace installation are available.
Palo Alto's Mediterranean climate makes heat pumps ideal year-round — especially for Eichler homes, where adding ductwork simply isn't an option. One system, both heating and cooling.
IRBIS installs, maintains, and repairs water heaters — including heat pump water heaters eligible for Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) rebates.
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Alert
July averages 82°F in Palo Alto, with heat waves exceeding 100°F during Diablo wind events. January lows reach 44°F — freezing temperatures occur on fewer than 5 nights per year. Bay Area winters bring low indoor humidity, which accelerates dust buildup in HVAC systems and can irritate airways. With 261 sunny days annually and a moderate temperature range, heat pumps operate at maximum energy efficiency nearly year-round here — eliminating the cold-climate retrofits required elsewhere in California. Palo Alto's housing stock adds another layer: a significant portion of homes were built before 1980, many with flat roofs, radiant heating, and no ductwork. Standard forced-air systems are not always suitable. The local tech workforce also drives high demand for smart thermostats, energy monitoring, and premium Carrier systems.
Palo Alto temperatures rarely drop below 35°F, so standard heat pumps perform at full energy efficiency without cold-climate modifications. The shorter heating season also means lower annual operating costs compared to most of Northern California.
Bay Area winters bring low indoor humidity that accelerates dust buildup inside HVAC systems and can irritate airways. IRBIS addresses this during every tune-up: filter maintenance schedules, whole-home air purification options, and humidity balancing.
Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE): Rebates for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.
Tech Clean CA: Equipment credits.
IRS Federal Tax Credit: Up to 30% under the Inflation Reduction Act (verify current status).
Palo Alto Utilities: Municipal green energy incentives — unique vs Sunnyvale's SJCE coverage.
IRBIS works with every residential property type — from mid-century Eichlers in Fairmeadow and Green Gables to Stanford-adjacent faculty homes and newer infill construction.
Central AC and heat pump HVAC services for single-family homes — with particular familiarity with older housing stock in Old Palo Alto, Professorville, and Crescent Park.
Palo Alto has one of the largest concentrations of Eichler homes in the Bay Area — particularly in Fairmeadow and Green Gables. These homes were built without forced-air ductwork; radiant floor heating was standard. A central AC install is not possible without major renovation. IRBIS installs ductless mini split systems that work within Eichler architecture — no dropped ceilings, no wall demolition, no compromise to the open-plan aesthetic. The job is typically completed in one day.
Whole-home electrification package's sustainability-focused homeowners and new infill builds — heat pump, heat pump water heater, and EV charger as one complete system.
Carrier Presidential Award Winner
Not every HVAC company earns this — IRBIS does. Carrier is the benchmark for premium HVAC, and this award confirms our installation and service standards meet their highest criteria.
10-Year Parts & Labor Warranty
Competitors offer 12 months on repairs and 3 years on installations. IRBIS gives you 10 years, in writing.
Same-Day Service, 7 Days a Week
Call before noon, and we will arrive today.
4.9 Google | 4.8 Yelp
1,451 Google reviews and 615 Yelp reviews from real Sunnyvale customers.
Licensed & Insured — CSLB #1048009
Every technician is a licensed HVAC professional, not a subcontractor.
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Our HVAC solutions cover every major brand — Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Goodman, and more. Whatever system is currently installed in your home, our HVAC professionals service it.
IRBIS technicians know Palo Alto and its typical HVAC configurations — especially the ductless needs of Eichler clusters in Fairmeadow and Green Gables. We cover ZIP codes 94301, 94302, 94303, 94304, 94305, and 94306, serving Downtown Palo Alto, Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, Midtown, Barron Park, College Terrace, Ventura, Professorville, South Palo Alto, and the Stanford Research Park area.
Join for only $24.95 / month:
Seasonal Maintenance
Full HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical Maintenance
Free Inspections
Regular fee $115
VIP Priority Scheduling
Get an appointment within 48h or faster
Special discounts
20% off for repairs, 5% off for replacements
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Step 1
Our trained and licensed specialists will diagnose your furnace, meticulously evaluating all components. This thorough assessment ensures the root cause of any issue is identified, preventing recurring problems and ensuring the system operates at peak efficiency.
Step 2
Based on the assessment, we will recommend tailored solutions to address your furnace’s issues. This approach empowers homeowners to make informed decisions about repairs, considering factors such as budget, urgency, and long-term system performance.
Step 3
Once you select a repair option, IRBIS technicians will carry out the necessary repairs using high-quality parts and tools. Their expertise and well-equipped vans allow them to handle most repairs promptly, ensuring your HVAC system is back to optimal efficiency with minimal downtime.
Step 4
We provide ongoing support and expert advice to help ensure the continued efficiency of your HVAC system.
October 8, 2026
Residents of the City of Santa Clara, California, can get up to $10,000 back when they replace an old gas furnace with an electric heat pump. The rebate is offered by Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the city's municipal electric utility.
October 1, 2026
Search for a cold weather plumbing checklist, and you will get the same list every time: insulate your pipes, disconnect the garden hose, let the faucets drip overnight. It is good advice, and it is written for Chicago.
September 28, 2026
Your furnace has been sitting idle since spring. On some October evening, the Bay Area drops into the 40s, you push the thermostat up for the first time in months, and the system pulls air through whatever furnace filter was left in the slot back in May. That first heat cycle is when a neglected filter does the most damage: months of collected dust, pollen, pet hair, and summer wildfire smoke particles sitting directly in front of your blower.
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Questions & Answers
The air filters that work best for Bay Area wildfire smoke are MERV-13 or higher filters or HEPA-grade whole-home air purifiers. These filters are effective for removing wildfire particulates and VOCs from the air. IRBIS. Services whole-home filtration systems that are compatible with your existing HVAC setup.
IRBIS offers same-day HVAC service across all Palo Alto ZIP codes seven days a week. If you call in the morning, a technician can typically arrive that afternoon to fix your AC emergency.
Yes, your HVAC system can be integrated with Google Home or Nest. IRBIS configures every system for compatibility with Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Nest, and Ecobee. You can control the temperature, set energy-saving schedules and monitor usage from your phone.
Standard HVAC installations take one day to complete. Ductless mini split installs in Eichler homes are also typically completed in a day. However, larger whole-home electrification projects, such as heat pump, water heater and EV charger installations, may take two days to complete.
Yes, IRBIS handles the building permits and inspections. IRBIS manages the permit process with the City of Palo Alto on your behalf. You do not need to file anything for the permits. IRBIS handles permits for HVAC services and coordinates inspections.
Palo Altos Reach Code, which was adopted in 2023, restricts gas installations in new construction and major remodels. However, existing gas systems can still be. Replaced with gas. IRBIS installs both gas and heat pump systems. The homeowner chooses the system that's best for their situation. Gas is not banned outright in Palo Alto.
Yes, you can install AC in an Eichler home without a duct system. Many Eichler homes in Fairmeadow and Green Gables do not have ductwork. This is because forced-air systems require gutting walls and ceilings. IRBIS installs ductless mini-splits that do not require any changes to your home. The ductless mini-splits preserve the open-plan layout of your Eichler home. Typically, the installation of ductless mini-splits is completed in one day.
To get the $5,000+ in rebates for a heat pump upgrade, Palo Alto residents can use programs. These programs are Peninsula Clean Energy rebates, Tech Clean CA equipment credits, IRS Federal Tax Credits, and Palo Alto Utilities energy incentives. The total amount of rebates for a heat pump upgrade depends on the system and your eligibility for the rebates. IRBIS's HVAC experts will assess your home and handle every application for the rebates. You do not have to file anything for the rebates.
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