Furnace Installation in Medford, OR
A new furnace here will run from October through June every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Jackson County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Nine months of heat, Medford asks a lot of a furnace
Medford homes need heat from October through June. That is nine months of the year, with winter nights averaging 31°F from December through February. A furnace here does not get much of a break.
More than half of Jackson County homes heat with electricity, so when the power goes out, the heat goes with it. The region has logged 64 winter storms and 69 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and 20 percent of Oregon households lost power for a full day or more in 2024. Any new gas furnace has to meet the federal minimum of 80 percent AFUE, but what matters just as much here is a system built to run this long and hold up through what the season brings.
- 9 months
- October through June, your furnace is on duty
- 31°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 80% AFUE
- the federal minimum any new unit must meet
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Oregon requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Construction Contractors Board licenses HVAC contractors in Oregon, and that license is tested and tied to the contractor, not issued job by job. Work under $1,000 does not require a licensed contractor, but a furnace installation is well above that line.
Since this job needs a licensed contractor, the license is what stands behind the work. Most cities and counties in Oregon also require a permit for a furnace replacement, with an inspection once the work is done.
Source: Oregon Legislative Assembly
- What size furnace does my house need?
- There's no single number that fits every house. A contractor works this out from your square footage, how well the house is insulated, your windows, your ceiling height, and how the ductwork is laid out. A furnace that's too big will short cycle, heating the house fast then shutting off before it runs long enough to feel steady. Too small, and it'll run constantly on the cold nights here and still fall behind. This takes a load calculation done at the house, not a guess based on square footage alone.
- How do I know it's time to replace my furnace?
- Start by watching how the furnace behaves, not just how old it is. Rooms that won't hold an even temperature, a furnace that cycles on and off more than it used to, or a gas or electric bill that's climbed without a reason are all signs it's struggling. If it needs a repair that costs a big share of what a new furnace would run, replacing it is usually the better move. Homes here need heat from October through June, so a furnace on its way out doesn't get much of a break to show you it's failing before you need it hard.
- Is a high-efficiency furnace worth it?
- It depends on how long you'll be running it and what you're comparing it against. Every non-weatherized gas furnace sold new today has to reach at least 80 percent AFUE by law, so the real question is whether paying more up front for a furnace rated above that minimum makes sense for your house. With heat needed here from October through June, a furnace that runs above the minimum efficiency burns less gas over those months than one that just barely meets it. A contractor can lay out the efficiency ratings available and price both options for your house so you're comparing real numbers.