How the Spokane area climate and resources affect your HVAC needs and decisions
Local climate exerts one of the most significant influences on the type of indoor climate control you need. On the heating and cooling list of the USA listing 5 zones, Spokane and surrounding areas sit in cooling zone 1 and on the borders of heating zones 1 and 2. These require approximately 584 cooling hours and about 3784 per year for heating. As a relative comparison, the average home or building here needs about 6.5 times more heating than A-C. Differences in elevation, proximity to lakes or other geographical influences often make a difference. Be sure to rely on actual measurements and service from Northwest Heating and Cooling.
Spokane is located where the flat arid farming areas meet the Selkirk Mountains and forests of the foothills of the Rockies. The climate of Spokane and Eastern Washington State brings four distinct seasons typical of its continental classification. Winters tend to be cold with more precipitation. Summers tend to be warm, sunny and drier. The hottest months, June, July and August, have average highs reaching the low 80s Fahrenheit. The coldest months of December and January dip to an average low around 20°F. This type of climate has numerous days throughout the year in which you may not need to run your air conditioner or furnace. However, more than heating and cooling contribute to comfort. On these temperate days, a whole house air filter or fresh air ventilation could make a major improvement in your indoor comfort and well-being. Throughout the year humidity averages 78% before noon and 52% after noon.
Pollen, allergies and air filters
In Spokane air filters are a necessity to some homeowners. Certain Eastern Washington plants can strongly influence what type of air filter you and your A/C system need. Some local examples include the birch, alder and cedar (juniper) trees, ragweed, and other types of allergy producing pollen and mold. The daily pollen count and allergy forecast for the Spokane and the surrounding area can be found at Weatherbug.
Local utility and conservation providers
For the Spokane area and also Washington state, the DSIRE website lists current energy efficiency rebates and incentives. Northwest Heating and Cooling can coordinate all available energy conservation and rebate programs, from federal tax credits to local rebates and incentives, saving you research time.
The availability of certain fuels such as natural gas can determine which HVAC equipment will give you the best combination of comfort and lower utility bills. Since natural gas is available in some Spokane area neighborhoods, those consumers often choose gas central furnaces rather than heat pumps. If natural gas prices climb faster than electricity rates, this trend might change. In situations where a dual fuel heat pump makes the best choice, some of the factors that affect air source heat pumps include the average daily temperature, fluctuations in temperature, and humidity. Other topographical conditions, such as solid rock outcrops located close to the surface, can limit the use of ground source heat pumps.
