Air Care repairs, replaces and maintains gas furnaces, heat pumps and thermostats for homes across Boise, from Victorian-era homes in the North End to new builds in the Barber Valley, & more. We are a licensed Idaho HVAC contractor, and emergency service is available 24/7. Call (208) 939-2566 to schedule service.
Rheem equipment installed and servicedNo heat? Call now, or schedule a fall tune-up before the first freeze.
Signs your furnace needs repair
Inversion fog can settle over Boise for weeks, and a furnace running 12 to 16 hours a day fails most often on the coldest nights of the year. Call (208) 939-2566 when you notice:
- Cold air from the vents while your furnace runs
- An inducer fan that runs while the burners never light
- A click at startup, then silence
- Groaning, squealing or a cabinet that shakes when the blower starts
- Burners that keep shutting off before your home warms up
- A yellow burner flame instead of a blue one
How we diagnose and repair a furnace
We repair every major make and model of heating equipment, from the older 80 percent gas furnaces in the Bench neighborhoods to modulating systems in new construction, and we diagnose with digital manometers, multimeters and combustion analyzers.
Igniters and flame sensors
Hot surface igniters heat to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds, and over time they crack or burn out. If the inducer fan runs but the burners never light, or you hear a click followed by silence, the ignition system is the usual cause. Our technicians carry replacement igniters and control boards. We also clean and align the flame sensor, a small rod that collects oxidation and makes your furnace think the burners never lit.
Blower motors and capacitors
A failing blower motor groans, squeals, shakes the cabinet or will not start, and without airflow the heat exchanger overheats until the high-limit switch shuts your furnace down. We measure the motor's amperage draw against the manufacturer's rating, test the run capacitor that starts it, and can often replace a seized motor on the spot.
Limit switches and safety controls
The high-limit switch shuts off the burners when the air inside your furnace gets too hot, usually because of a clogged filter, closed vents or restricted ductwork. A switch that trips again and again wears out. We test every safety control for continuity and voltage, and when a limit switch is tripping we find the cause before we replace it, so the new switch lasts.
Heat exchangers and carbon monoxide
Years of heating and cooling can crack the seams of a heat exchanger, and a crack can let carbon monoxide into the air you breathe. We inspect the heat exchanger with a camera for cracks, rust and soot, and run a combustion analysis that measures CO in the flue gas and the supply air. If we find a cracked heat exchanger or a CO leak, we shut the furnace down and tag it so it is not run until it is repaired or replaced.
Repair or replace
A gas furnace in the Boise climate typically lasts 15 to 20 years. If yours is near that age, needs an expensive repair to the blower or control board, or keeps pushing your gas bill up, we show you the repair-versus-replace math. When a repair costs half the price of a new system or more and the unit is out of warranty, replacement is usually the better choice. So is a furnace that needs a different repair every winter.
Efficiency is rated in AFUE, the share of the gas you buy that becomes heat in your home. Older furnaces in Boise often run at 60 to 70 percent. New standard-efficiency furnaces start at 80 percent, and high-efficiency condensing furnaces reach up to 98 percent. Single-stage furnaces run on or off; two-stage furnaces run on low through most of the winter and switch to high in a cold snap; modulating furnaces adjust their output in steps as small as 1 percent and hold your temperature within a fraction of a degree. We help you calculate the long-term savings of a high-efficiency model.
How we install
We size every new furnace to your home's square footage, attic and wall insulation, window quality and the direction your home faces. An oversized furnace short cycles and leaves hot and cold spots; an undersized one runs all night and never reaches the set temperature.
Your new furnace goes in level and supported to cut vibration and noise. For a high-efficiency condensing furnace we run dedicated PVC intake and exhaust pipes and make sure the acidic condensate drains properly. We check the gas connection for leaks, install a sediment trap (drip leg) ahead of the gas valve, verify electrical polarity and grounding, and fit sheet metal transitions to your supply and return plenums sealed with mastic. We handle the permit and the final safety check.
Fall tune-ups
A precision tune-up every fall is how you avoid a no-heat night in January. We test for carbon monoxide, inspect the flue for corrosion and blockages such as bird nests, clean the burners and the flame sensor, measure the temperature rise against the manufacturer's range, check the gas pressure at the manifold, and check the blower capacitor and amp draw. If a part is drifting out of spec, you hear about it before it fails.
Heat pumps and dual fuel
A heat pump moves heat from the outdoor air into your home and keeps working below freezing. For many Boise homes we pair one with a gas furnace as a dual-fuel system: the heat pump carries the milder days of fall and early winter, and the furnace takes over when the temperature drops into the teens.
Thermostats and air quality
We install, wire and program Google Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats, including a C-wire for constant power, and we fix blank screens, loose connections and thermostats that read the wrong temperature. For a home with a hot upstairs and a cold downstairs, we install zoning: motorized dampers in your ductwork, each zone on its own thermostat.
Heating your home through a Boise winter dries out the air inside. Our whole-home humidifiers connect to your furnace and hold indoor humidity in the 35 to 45 percent range, and our air filtration systems catch the dust and pollen that stay indoors through a long winter.
Boise questions
Who should I call for furnace repair or replacement in Boise?
Air Care does. We are an Idaho-licensed HVAC contractor (HVC-C-1644) based in Eagle, and we repair, replace and maintain gas furnaces and heat pumps across Boise. Emergency service is available 24/7. Call (208) 939-2566.
How long does a gas furnace typically last in the Boise area?
In Boise, where furnaces see heavy usage during our long winters, the average life expectancy of a gas furnace is between 15 and 20 years. Regular maintenance is the single biggest factor in reaching the 20-year mark. If your furnace is over 15 years old and requires a major repair (like a blower motor or control board), it is often more cost-effective to invest in a new, high-efficiency system rather than patching the old one.
Do heat pumps work effectively during Boise winters?
Yes, modern cold-climate heat pumps are highly effective in Boise. Technology has improved significantly, allowing heat pumps to pull heat from the air even when temperatures drop well below freezing. However, because we do experience deep inversion freezes where temps can hit single digits, many homeowners opt for a "Dual Fuel" system. This pairs an electric heat pump with a gas furnace backup, giving you the efficiency of electric heat for mild days and the raw power of gas for the coldest nights.
How often should I change my furnace filter in Boise?
During the winter heating season, you should check your filter every 30 days. Because of the inversion layer that traps pollution and the general dust in the Treasure Valley, filters can clog faster here than in other regions. If you have pets or a large family, you likely need to replace 1-inch filters monthly. For deeper 4-inch media filters, replacement every 3 to 6 months is standard. A dirty filter is the #1 cause of furnace overheating and failure.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
If your furnace is blowing cold air, first check your thermostat to ensure the fan is set to "AUTO" rather than "ON." If it is set to "ON," the fan runs continuously even when the burners are off. If the setting is correct, the issue could be a dirty flame sensor, a tripped high-limit switch due to a dirty filter, or a problem with the pilot light or ignition system. If changing the filter doesn't fix it, you need a professional diagnostic to prevent safety issues.
What is the "50% Rule" for furnace repair?
The 50% rule is a guideline we use to help homeowners decide between repair and replacement. If the cost to repair your current furnace is 50% (or more) of the cost of a brand-new system, you should replace it. For example, if a repair costs $2,000 and a new unit is $4,000, investing in the new unit makes more financial sense because you get a new warranty, higher efficiency, and zero accumulated wear and tear.
Does the "freeze-thaw" cycle affect my heating system?
Yes. Idaho's freeze-thaw cycle can wreak havoc on high-efficiency furnaces that produce condensate (water) as a byproduct. If the condensate drain lines are not properly insulated or routed, they can freeze when the temperature drops at night, causing the furnace to shut down to prevent water damage. It can also cause expansion and contraction in your venting pipes, potentially loosening seals. Regular maintenance ensures these components are winter-ready.
Nearby
Furnace service in Garden City, Meridian, Kuna, Star & more across the Treasure Valley.
Service hub: Furnace repair and replacement
