HVAC Installation in The Dalles, OR
A new system here will heat from September through June and cool from July through August every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Wasco County will get in touch.
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A system that works nearly all year here
Your heating runs ten months a year here, September through June. Winter nights average 27°F from December through February, so a new furnace or heat pump has to hold up through a long, cold season, not just take the edge off. Summer only asks for two months of cooling, with afternoons averaging 80°F, but the same system has to handle that too.
Most homes here heat with electricity, and the power does not always stay on. Oregon saw 20% of households lose power for 24 hours or more in 2024, and this area has logged 86 winter storms and 43 damaging wind events over the past ten years. It is worth asking your contractor how the system you choose holds up when the power goes out on a cold night.
- 10 months
- September through June, your system heats
- 2 months
- July through August, it cools
- 27°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 80°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Oregon requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Construction Contractors Board licenses the contractor, not the job. That license means the state has requirements the business has to meet before it can take on work like this, and it is on file if you want to know who you are hiring. Work under $1,000 falls outside that requirement, but installing a heating and cooling system runs well past that line.
The license is what stands behind the person doing the work, but it is not the only check on it. In most cities and counties, this kind of installation needs a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done. That inspection is what catches a bad gas connection or a refrigerant line that was not done right.
Source: Oregon Legislative Assembly
- When should I replace my HVAC system?
- Replace it when repairs stop making sense or the system can't keep up anymore. If your furnace is breaking down more winters than not, or your energy bills keep climbing while the house stays cold in spots, that's your answer. Age matters too. An older furnace working harder than it should is a bad sign here, where homes need heat September through June, 10 months of the year. A contractor can tell you whether what you're seeing is normal wear or the system telling you it's done.
- Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
- If they're close in age, replacing both together often makes sense, but it depends on the condition of each unit. A furnace and AC installed at the same time tend to wear out together, so if one is failing, the other usually isn't far behind. They also share parts of the ductwork and controls, so matching them up can mean fewer problems down the road. Still, this is a house by house call. A contractor looking at both units can tell you whether the second one has real life left in it or not.
- What happens during an HVAC installation?
- A contractor removes the old equipment, sets the new furnace and air conditioner or heat pump in place, and connects it to your ductwork, gas line or electrical, and condensate drain. They'll check refrigerant lines on the AC side, wire the thermostat, and run the system through a full cycle to make sure it heats and cools the way it should. In most cities and counties this work needs a permit from the local building office, and an inspector checks the finished job before it's signed off. This area sees its share of winter storms and wind events, so it's worth asking the contractor how the new system handles a power interruption, since most equipment restarts on its own once power is back.