HVAC Installation in Lebanon, NH
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Lebanon asks a lot of a heating system
Winter nights here average 10°F from December through February, and homes in this part of Grafton County need heat from September through May. That is nine months of the year the system is working against real cold, not a mild chill. A new furnace or heat pump has to be sized for those nights, not for an average day.
Summers stay mild, averaging 76°F, so cooling asks far less of a new system than winter does. Fuel oil still heats 43.2% of homes here, and an install is often the point where a homeowner moves off it. Grafton County has seen 74 winter storms and 133 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and 22% of New Hampshire households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. Worth asking a contractor how the new system starts back up once power is restored.
- 9 months
- September through May, your system heats
- 10°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 76°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
New Hampshire has no state license for HVAC contractors.
There is no state licensing board behind this job and no registry to check. New Hampshire leaves HVAC contractors without a state credential, so nothing here has been tested or filed at the state level, and there is no license number to stand behind the work.
In most cities and towns in Grafton County, installing a new furnace, air conditioner or heat pump needs a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done. That inspection, not a license, is what checks the gas connections and the rest of the installation here.
Source: New Hampshire General Court
- When should I replace my HVAC system?
- Once your furnace or air conditioner is old enough that a repair costs nearly as much as replacing it, or the repairs keep coming back, it's time to replace it. Watch for a furnace that struggles to keep the house warm when it's 10 below outside, or one that's shutting off and restarting on its own. With 9 months of the year here needing heat, a system on its last legs will show it during the coldest stretch, December through February, when it's working hardest. If your furnace is old and this winter has already been rough on it, don't wait for it to fail on the coldest night.
- Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time?
- If both are original to the house and near the end of their life, yes, it usually makes sense to do them together. A furnace and air conditioner installed at the same time are matched to work together, and a contractor can open up the ductwork and wiring once rather than coming back to do it again later. That said, if your air conditioner still has years left in it and only the furnace is failing, there's no reason to replace a unit that's working fine. A contractor can look at both systems and tell you honestly which one needs attention now.
- What happens during an HVAC installation?
- A contractor removes the old furnace or air conditioner, sets the new one in place, and connects it to the ductwork, gas or electric line, and thermostat wiring. They'll check the ductwork itself for leaks or damage, since a new system pushing air through bad ducts won't heat or cool the house the way it should. Once it's running, they test it through a full cycle and check the airflow and temperature at the vents. Most cities and counties here require a permit for this work along with an inspection when it's done, and a licensed contractor will handle that as part of the job. New Hampshire doesn't license HVAC contractors at the state level, so ask directly about their experience and check references before you hire someone.