Air Care repairs, replaces and maintains gas furnaces, heat pumps and thermostats for homes across Meridian, from older homes near downtown to new subdivisions, & 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
Long stretches of freezing temperatures and the inversion that traps cold air in the valley push heating systems hard in Meridian, and most furnace failures land 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, in homes from the established neighborhoods near Cherry Lane to a new build in North Meridian, and we diagnose with digital manometers, multimeters and combustion analyzers.
Igniters and flame sensors
Hot surface igniters take a thermal shock every time your thermostat calls for heat, and over time they crack or burn out. If your furnace clicks but never lights, or cycles on and off without producing heat, the ignition system is a likely cause. Our technicians carry replacement igniters. We also clean and calibrate the flame sensor, a small rod that collects oxidation and makes your furnace shut down falsely.
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 Meridian 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 Meridian can run at 70 percent or lower. 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 Meridian 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 Meridian 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.
Meridian questions
How often should I change my furnace filter in Meridian?
In Meridian, due to the amount of construction dust and agricultural particulate in the air, we recommend checking your filter every 30 days during the heating season. If you use standard 1-inch filters, monthly replacement is often necessary. If you have a 4-inch media filter, it may last 3 to 6 months. A dirty filter is the #1 cause of furnace repair calls because it restricts airflow, causing the system to overheat and shut down.
What should I do if my furnace is blowing cold air?
If your furnace is blowing cold air, check your thermostat first. Ensure the fan setting is on "AUTO" rather than "ON." If it is set to "ON," the fan will run continuously even when the burners are off. If the setting is correct, check your filter; a clogged filter can trip the high-limit switch, cutting off the heat while the fan keeps running. If neither of these is the issue, you likely have a problem with the ignition system or flame sensor and should call for professional Meridian furnace service.
Is a Dual Fuel system worth it in Meridian?
For many homeowners, yes. Meridian has relatively cheap electricity and moderate fall/spring weather, making a heat pump very efficient for a large portion of the heating season. However, because we do get deep freezes, having the gas furnace backup (Dual Fuel) ensures you are never without powerful heat when you need it most. It effectively insulates you from spikes in either gas or electric prices.
What are the signs of a cracked heat exchanger?
Symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger include a yellow (instead of blue) burner flame, excessive soot buildup inside the furnace, a strange smell similar to formaldehyde, water pooling around the base of the furnace, or residents experiencing headaches and flu-like symptoms (signs of Carbon Monoxide poisoning). If you suspect this, turn off the furnace and call for emergency heating service immediately.
Does Air Care offer financing for new furnace installations?
Yes, we understand that a furnace replacement is a significant investment that often comes unexpectedly. We offer various financing options to help make the cost manageable, allowing you to pay for your new system over time while enjoying the energy savings immediately.
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