About the visit
What does it cost just to have someone look?
That depends on the company: some charge a service call or diagnostic fee, some credit it against the repair, and some charge more at night or on weekends. Get all three answers while you are still on the phone.
Will the price change once someone is here?
It can, if the diagnosis finds something other than what the symptom suggested. Get the repair price in writing, or at least spoken clearly, and only then say yes.
Do I need to be there?
Someone over eighteen who can authorize the work needs to be there. If you are a landlord or you manage the property, say so when you call.
About repairs
Is my old furnace worth repairing?
Often, if the failed part is an igniter, a flame sensor, a pressure switch or a thermostat. It is a closer call with a blower motor or a control board on a very old furnace, and the end of the road with a cracked heat exchanger. See repair or replace.
Can I keep resetting it?
Once is reasonable. A furnace that locks itself out is reporting a fault, and each reset is another attempt to light gas in the burner chamber. If it has locked out three times, leave it off and call.
It is under warranty, so the repair should be free?
Most manufacturer warranties pay for the part but not for the hours spent fitting it, and some only apply if the furnace was registered after installation. Have the model and serial number ready and check what the warranty covers before you assume.
Why does my furnace smell when it first comes on?
In the first cold week it is usually dust burning off the heat exchanger, and it fades within an hour or two. A plastic or electrical smell, or one that is new mid-season, is different. See burning smell.
About permits and licensing
Does my repair need a permit?
Usually not. Replacing a failed part is not installing equipment. Replacing the furnace is. The permits guide sets out who issues one and the state fee schedule.
Who issues the permit around here?
Inside Caldwell city limits, the city's Building Safety Division. In unincorporated Canyon County, the State of Idaho, since 1 September 2023.
Is there a rebate if I replace the furnace?
Intermountain Gas listed a $275 rebate in 2026 for a natural gas furnace of at least 95% AFUE, for homes heated only with its gas and with the signed permit on the equipment (terms). The utility says offerings can change at any time, so check the current terms. The federal energy efficient home improvement credit does not apply to work done in 2026.
Can I pull my own permit?
The state rule provides for a homeowner permit for work on your own home. Gas appliances and their venting are not a forgiving place to learn, and the inspection is not a tutorial.
What number should I ask a contractor for?
The Idaho HVAC certificate of competency number. The about page explains why that, and not a business license, is the right number.
About the area
Do you cover my town?
Caldwell, Nampa, Middleton and Parma. For an address near the edge of those, the call will tell you.
Why does altitude matter to my furnace?
Caldwell sits at about 2,374 feet, above the 2,000-foot line where gas appliances have to be set up for the elevation. The altitude guide explains what to ask.
No heat? Tell us what the furnace is doing.
Gas, electric and high-efficiency furnaces across Caldwell, Nampa, Middleton and Parma. Start with the symptom and your ZIP code.
You'll be asked for your ZIP code first, so your call reaches a technician who covers your area.