AC Installation in Boise City, ID
A new air conditioner in Boise City will run from June through August every year. Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Ada County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Three months of real heat
Boise City only asks for cooling three months a year, June through August, but summer afternoons average 88°F. A new system has to keep up on the days that run hotter than that.
The outdoor unit sits outside through whatever the weather brings, including wind and hail. Ada County has recorded 41 damaging wind events and 7 hail events over the past ten years, with the largest hailstone at 1.5 inches. Any new central air conditioner installed since 2023 has to meet a federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2.
- 3 months
- June through August, your air conditioner is on duty
- 88°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 7 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 13.4 SEER2
- the federal minimum any new unit must meet
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A higher-efficiency unit would save about $30 a year to run in Ada County compared with a new unit at the federal minimum.
Estimates for a typical Ada County home, from EIA household energy data, Idaho fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Idaho requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Idaho HVAC Board tests contractors and keeps a record of who holds a license before they can take on work like this. That license belongs to the contractor, not to any single job, so it stands behind everything they install, not just this air conditioner.
For this job, that license is what backs the work. Most cities and counties also require a permit from the local building office for an air conditioner installation, with an inspection once the work is done. That inspection checks the installation itself, separate from the contractor's license.
Sources: Idaho Legislature · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
- What size air conditioner does my house need?
- The right size comes from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb based on square footage. A contractor measures your windows, insulation, ceiling height, and how much shade your house gets, then runs those numbers to find the tonnage your house actually needs. An oversized unit cools the air fast but shuts off before it pulls the moisture out, so the house feels damp. An undersized one runs nonstop on your 88 degree summer afternoons and still can't keep up. Ask whoever quotes the job to show you the load calculation, not just a number they picked.
- Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?
- If your furnace or air handler is old, replacing just the outdoor unit usually costs you more in the long run. The outdoor condenser and the indoor coil are matched to work together at a specific efficiency. Pair a new condenser with an old coil and the system won't reach the rating either piece was built for, and some manufacturers won't warranty the mismatch. A contractor can look at the age and condition of your indoor unit and tell you whether it's worth keeping.
- Do HVAC contractors in Boise City need a state license to work on my home?
- Yes. Idaho requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license, issued by the state's HVAC Board, and installing an air conditioner falls under that license. Most cities and counties also require a permit for this work and an inspection once it's done, separate from the contractor's license. Ask to see the license number and check that a permit is being pulled before work starts.