Quick answerAn electric to gas furnace conversion in Spokane starts with confirming gas is available at the street, then a load calculation, the gas line from the meter, a new high-efficiency furnace with plastic venting, and either the existing ducts or new ductwork for baseboard homes. Electric furnace swaps take a day or two; baseboard conversions take longer.
Updated September 2026
What a conversion involves
The first question is whether gas is available. If the street has a main, the utility sets a meter and we run the line from the meter to the furnace location. Homes with an electric furnace already have ducts, so the conversion is close to a straight furnace swap plus the gas line and venting.
Baseboard homes are a bigger project because they need ductwork. We look for routes through the basement, crawlspace or attic and give you an honest comparison with a ductless heat pump, which avoids ducts entirely and can also cut the electric bill sharply.
What drives conversion cost
What a conversion includes
The three parts of a conversion
Baseboard to forced-air conversion
Converting a baseboard home to a gas furnace means designing and installing a duct system, which is the largest part of the job. We map routes for a supply trunk and branches to each room and a central return, usually through a basement or crawlspace. Baseboard heaters are removed and their circuits capped, which often frees panel capacity for central air later. Where duct routes are poor, we recommend a ductless heat pump instead and explain why, with both options priced side by side.
Gas line and venting for the new furnace
Once the utility sets a gas meter, we run a properly sized gas line from the meter to the furnace, with a shutoff valve, sediment trap and pressure test, and add branches for a water heater, range or dryer if you plan to convert those too, sized now so the line does not have to be replaced later. A high-efficiency furnace vents through two plastic pipes out the side of the house, which we place above the expected snow line and away from windows, doors and the gas meter.
Avista conversion rebates
Avista has offered Washington customers conversion rebates for switching from electric baseboard or an electric furnace to a natural gas furnace, including combination rebates when the water heater is converted too. Eligibility has depended on past electric and gas usage and on the equipment efficiency, and programs change year to year. We confirm what the current program requires, install equipment that meets the listed efficiency and give you the invoice details, efficiency ratings and model numbers the rebate form asks for.
Converting Spokane homes to gas heat
Spokane homes run their heat for most of the year, which is why the fuel choice matters more here than in milder parts of the state. For households heating with electric resistance, the long season is where a gas furnace or a heat pump pays back. We start every conversion by confirming gas service at the street, because without it the conversation turns to heat pumps instead.
How a conversion project runs
- 1
Confirm gas
Check for a main at the street and request a meter.
- 2
Load calculation
Size the furnace for the house.
- 3
Plan ducts
Routes designed for baseboard homes.
- 4
Quote, permit, rebate check
Written price, permits filed, rebate rules confirmed.
- 5
Gas line
Run, pressure tested and connected.
- 6
Furnace and venting
Installed, vented, drain connected.
- 7
Start-up
Combustion tested, thermostat set, paperwork handed over.
How long a conversion takes
Swapping an electric furnace for a gas furnace takes one to two days once the gas meter is set. A baseboard conversion with a new duct system usually takes three to five days, and the baseboard stays working until the new furnace is running, so the house is not left without heat during the project.
Electric to gas conversion questions
How do I know if gas is available at my house?
The utility can confirm whether there is a gas main on your street. We check this before quoting.
Is a heat pump a better choice than gas?
Sometimes, especially for baseboard homes where ducts are hard to add. We compare both.
Can I keep some baseboard heaters?
Yes. Some homeowners keep baseboard in rooms the ducts do not reach well.
Are there rebates for converting?
Avista has offered conversion rebates with usage and efficiency requirements. Check the current program before starting.
Will I be without heat during the work?
No. The existing heat stays on until the new furnace is commissioned.
Other gas & water heating services we handle
Heat Pump Water Heater Installation
Sized, quoted and permitted.
Heat Pump Water Heater Installation detailsTankless Water Heater Installation
Sized, quoted and permitted.
Tankless Water Heater Installation in SpokaneGas Fireplace Insert Installation
Sized, quoted and permitted.
How we handle gas fireplace insert installationStop heating with the most expensive fuel.
Call about converting your Spokane, WA home from electric to gas.
