Washburn, the McLean County seat, sits on the Missouri River about 35 miles north of Bismarck. It is a small city of roughly 1,500 residents in about 680 occupied homes, and the Census median build year is 1973.
Heating is not optional here
North Dakota winters are long and severe, and a furnace failure is a safety issue, not an inconvenience. Natural gas warms 78% of Washburn households; electricity covers 16%, and propane barely registers. Most owners are replacing a gas furnace with another one.
1970s homes, practical upgrades
Around 1973-vintage construction often means the old unit shares a masonry flue with the water heater. Stepping up to a condensing model requires plastic intake and exhaust piping plus a drain, and the intake and exhaust terminals must be protected from drifting snow and frost.
Sizing for real cold
Ask your installer for a heat-load calculation instead of matching the old furnace's size. Older homes that have had insulation or window upgrades may now need less capacity, while additions may need more.
House types
Detached houses make up 77% of local housing. Owners of the small share of manufactured homes should buy only furnaces rated for them.
Furnace Direct and the Bismarck hub
We ship equipment to McLean County homeowners at factory-direct cost and line up licensed installers out of the Bismarck area. Legal name: Furnace Direct, a DBA of Hamlin Mechanical LLC.
Choosing a contractor
In a smaller town, ask whether the contractor can stock common parts and how service visits work from their base.
Season
August and September, well before snow flies.
Ordering
Read the model plate inside the furnace door, then Call for Pricing at (888) 762-1334.
Population and heating data: Census Reporter (ACS).
Get your system replaced.
Tell us a little about your home and what you're replacing. A specialist will call you to work out exactly what you need, go over the price, and get it replaced. No obligation.