HVAC Installation in Pullman, WA
A new system here will heat from September through May and cool from July through August every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Whitman County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Pullman asks for heat most of the year
Winter nights here average 27°F from December through February, and a new furnace or heat pump has to hold that line for nine months, September through May. Summers are short by comparison, with afternoons around 82°F in July and August, the only two months the system gets to rest.
56.9% of homes here heat with electricity, so when the power goes out, the furnace or heat pump goes out with it. Whitman County has seen 58 winter storms and 27 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and across Washington, 23% of households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. Whatever gets installed here needs to be sized for the cold nights and able to start back up on its own once the power is back.
- 9 months
- September through May, your system heats
- 2 months
- July through August, it cools
- 27°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 82°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Washington requires contractors to register with the state.
That registration puts the business on file with the state. There is no trade exam behind it and no state license. It tells you the business exists on paper. It does not tell you who checked the wiring or the refrigerant lines on this installation.
For a furnace, air conditioner or heat pump installation, the protection in Whitman County comes from the permit. Most cities and counties require one before that kind of system gets put in, and an inspector checks the finished work once it's done. That permit and inspection are what stand between you and a bad install here, not the registration.
Source: Washington State Legislature
- When should I replace my HVAC system?
- Replace it when repairs start costing more than they used to, or when it can't keep the house warm on a 27 degree winter night without running constantly. Age matters too. A furnace or heat pump here works hard nine months a year, from September through May, so it wears faster than the same unit would in a milder climate. If a contractor has been out more than once this year for the same problem, that's usually the sign to stop repairing and start planning a replacement.
- Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
- If both are old, yes, it's worth doing together. A furnace and air conditioner installed at the same time are matched to work as a system, and a contractor only has to open up the ductwork and electrical once instead of twice. That said, homes here need heat for nine months and cooling for only two, so the furnace is doing most of the work and may wear out first. A contractor can look at the age and condition of both and tell you whether replacing them together makes sense for your house.
- What happens during an HVAC installation?
- A contractor removes the old furnace or air conditioner, sets the new equipment in place, and connects it to the ductwork, gas or electric line, and thermostat wiring. They'll check the ducts for leaks or damage while they're in there, since ducts carry the air the new system heats or cools. Once it's running, they test it through a full cycle and make sure it reaches the temperature it's set to. Replacing a furnace, air conditioner or heat pump needs a permit from the local building office here, so the job ends with an inspection to confirm the work meets code.