Tempstar is one of the ICP brands, and ICP builds its furnaces on shared platforms with shared model-number families. A Tempstar and the KeepRite, Heil, Comfortmaker or Arcoaire furnace of the same generation have the same cabinet, heat exchanger, board and service manual. If your Tempstar installer has retired, everything on our KeepRite furnace repair page applies to your furnace as well.
The tier names have changed over the years, which confuses owners reading a door badge. Tempstar's website currently lists the Ion Series as its premium tier, QuietComfort as the standard tier and Performance as the value tier. SmartComfort was the top-tier badge on the generation before, so many Tempstar furnaces in service today say SmartComfort on the door. The rating plate model number, not the badge, is what a parts counter needs.
What fails on these furnaces is mostly about water and draft. A condensing furnace makes litres of condensate a day, and it all leaves through a collector box, a trap and a drain hose inside the cabinet. When that path blocks or a rubber hose splits, the pressure switch cannot prove draft and the board refuses to light the burners. The furnace is doing its job by refusing; the repair is finding where the water or the air leak is.
We service Tempstar as an independent contractor with no dealer relationship to declare. When a Tempstar reaches the point where a repair no longer makes sense, we quote a replacement in writing next to the repair so the choice is yours. A high-efficiency furnace installed runs $4,500–$7,500, and the size of the house, the venting route and the blower type decide where in that band a quote lands.
Tempstar lines we install and service
Tempstar's current premium tier, with variable-speed blower motors; the gas furnaces carry model numbers such as F97CMN and F96CTN. On a communicating Ion system the fault also appears at the wall control, so note what the wall control says before you call.
The standard tier, including the F96VTN and F97VTN condensing furnaces. Tempstar describes this tier as offering efficiency ratings up to 96% AFUE and dual-fuel capability with a compatible heat pump.
The value tier: single-stage furnaces such as the N96VSN, N96MSN and N92MSN. Simple controls and the cheapest parts in the range. A 92% model stays legal to run and repair, although a new furnace installed today must meet the 95% AFUE federal minimum.
The previous generation, badged SmartComfort and SmartComfort Deluxe at the top of the range. They share their platform with the KeepRite furnaces of the same years, and igniters, sensors, switches and inducers for them are regular wholesaler stock under ICP part numbers.
What goes wrong on Tempstar equipment
Pressure-switch fault from a blocked condensate trap
The inducer starts, runs for a minute and the burners never light, or the furnace lights and shuts down a few minutes in. Sludge in the condensate trap holds water in the collector box and the switch opens. Clearing the drain or replacing the trap is $150–$350. Water on the floor under the furnace alongside this fault confirms the diagnosis.
Cracked or water-filled collector-box hose
The small rubber hose from the collector box to the pressure switch hardens with heat, then cracks at the fitting or fills with condensate. The switch reads a weak signal and the furnace quits at random, often on the coldest nights when run times are longest. The fix is a new hose and a cleared port. We measure the draft with a manometer before replacing the switch itself, which is $250–$500 and frequently not the failed part.
Inducer motor failure
A draft inducer on a condensing furnace lives in a wet, acidic airstream. The bearings get noisy first; later the motor hums without turning or the wheel corrodes loose on the shaft. Replacement is $400–$900. Tell us if the noise happens before the burners light, because that separates the inducer from the main blower.
Ignition lockout from a worn igniter or flame sensor
The furnace tries to light several times, then locks out and flashes a code. A hot-surface igniter weakens with every cycle and a flame sensor picks up an insulating film; either one stops the board from proving flame. Flame sensor cleaning or replacement is $150–$300 and an igniter is $200–$450. Both are stocked items, so this is rarely a two-visit repair.
Tempstar warranty: what to know
- ICP's warranty literature for Tempstar describes a No Hassle Replacement limited warranty on qualifying models: if the compressor, coil or heat exchanger fails from a defect during the covered period, the unit is replaced once with a comparable one. The length of that period depends on the model and tier, up to 10 years.
- The 10-year parts limited warranty depends on registering the equipment within 90 days of installation. Without timely registration the Tempstar literature gives a 5-year parts term.
- Heat exchanger coverage is longer than the parts term and varies by model: lifetime limited coverage to the original owner on select registered furnaces, 20 years where registration was missed. Your own warranty certificate states which applies.
- Not every Tempstar furnace carries No Hassle Replacement, and the term is not the same across Ion, QuietComfort and Performance. Check the certificate for your model number before counting on it.
- Manufacturer terms cover the part or the unit. Ask whoever installs or repairs the furnace to put any labour coverage on the quote, with its length.
Parts availability in the GTA
Tempstar parts are ICP parts, and in the GTA the easiest way to get them is as KeepRite stock. Every ICP component carries an ICP part number that is the same whichever badge is on the furnace door, so a KeepRite-boxed igniter, pressure switch, inducer or board with the matching number fits a Tempstar. Igniters, flame sensors, hoses and traps are carried on the truck. Boards and inducer assemblies for a specific model are ordered by the rating-plate model and serial number, and we confirm the ICP number before the order goes in.
KeepRite Furnace Error Codes Explained — what each one means and whether it is safe to keep running.
Common questions
Are Tempstar and KeepRite the same furnace?
For service purposes, yes. Both are ICP brands built on the same platforms, and a Tempstar and a KeepRite of the same generation share parts and procedures. The badges, tier names and some trim differ. That is why the KeepRite furnace error code guide is the right reference for a Tempstar, with the label inside your own furnace door as the final word.
What does SmartComfort mean on my Tempstar?
It is the name Tempstar used for its upper tier on the previous generation of equipment, with SmartComfort Deluxe above it. Tempstar's current top tier is the Ion Series. The badge tells you roughly which generation you own; the model number on the rating plate tells us the exact platform, input and blower type.
Can I clear a Tempstar condensate drain myself?
You can check what is outside the cabinet: that the drain hose is not kinked, that the floor drain or condensate pump is taking water, and that the intake and exhaust pipes outdoors are free of snow and ice. Leave the trap and the hoses inside the furnace alone. They sit beside the gas train and the board, and a trap put back dry or cracked causes the next fault.
Does No Hassle Replacement cover my Tempstar furnace?
Only if your model was sold with it and the failure is one the warranty names: a heat exchanger on a furnace, a compressor or coil on an outdoor unit. It is a one-time replacement, the term varies by model, and registration affects it. Find the warranty certificate or send us the model and serial number and we will tell you what it shows.
When is a Tempstar furnace not worth repairing?
When the heat exchanger has failed outside warranty, or when one repair costs more than half of a new furnace on a unit past 15 years. A trap, hose, igniter or sensor is always worth doing. For anything in between, we price both options on one visit. Start with our furnace repair service or send us the model number.