Idaho HVAC Pros
Overhead view of a gray residential air conditioning condenser unit mounted on a concrete pad beside a house with asphalt shingle roofing.

AC Installation in Kellogg, ID

Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Shoshone County will get in touch.

Tell us about the job

It takes about a minute.

Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Overhead view of an outdoor AC condenser unit on a concrete pad next to a house with a dark shingle roof.

Kellogg doesn't ask much of an air conditioner

Summer afternoons here average 73°F. That's mild, and a new system in Kellogg won't work hard to keep a house comfortable.

The unit still has to meet the federal minimum of 13.4 SEER2, the same as anywhere else. What matters more here is how it's installed outside. Shoshone County has logged 13 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and some hail. The outdoor unit and its connections should be set up with that in mind.

73°F
the average summer afternoon it cools against
2 hail events
in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
13.4 SEER2
the federal minimum any new unit must meet
Isometric grayscale illustration of a cutaway house interior showing a furnace with ductwork, interior rooms with furniture, and an outdoor condenser unit connected by lines at the exterior wall.
Your air conditioner works hardest from July through August.

NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals

Aerial view of a gray outdoor air conditioning condenser unit mounted on a concrete pad next to a house with vinyl siding.

Going above the federal minimum saves little here, about $10 a year.

  • A higher-efficiency unit$30 a year
  • A new unit at the federal minimum, 13.4 SEER2$40 a year

Estimates for a typical Shoshone 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 license is issued to the contractor, not to this particular job. It means the HVAC Board has tested and recorded that person or business before they ever set foot in Shoshone County, and that record stays with them from one installation to the next.

Because Idaho licenses the contractor, that license is what stands behind the work on this job. In most cities and counties, putting in a new air conditioner also needs a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done.

Sources: Idaho Legislature · Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

What size air conditioner does my house need?
The right size depends on your square footage, how well the house is insulated, how many windows it has, and which way they face. A unit that's too big will cool the house fast but shut off before it pulls the moisture out of the air, so rooms feel clammy. One that's too small will run constantly and still struggle on hot afternoons. A contractor works this out with a load calculation, not a rule of thumb, and with summer highs around 73°F here, that calculation may point to a smaller unit than you'd expect.
Should I replace the whole system or just the outdoor unit?
If your indoor coil and outdoor unit are different ages or different efficiency levels, replacing just the outdoor unit often causes problems. The two parts are matched at the factory to work together, and pairing an old coil with a new condenser can mean poor performance or a shortened lifespan for the new equipment. A contractor can check whether your indoor coil is compatible with a new outdoor unit before you decide. If the coil is old enough or worn enough, replacing both at once is usually the sounder path.
Do HVAC contractors in Kellogg 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. For an AC installation, you'll also likely need a permit from the local building office, with an inspection once the work is done. Asking to see the license before work starts is a reasonable thing to do.
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