First Call Jewel Inc.

About First Call Jewel Inc. · Idaho Falls

First Call Jewel, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned home-services company headquartered at 1255 Chaffin Lane in Idaho Falls, Idaho, serving Southeastern Idaho since 1947. The firm specializes in residential and commercial HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water treatment, and indoor air-quality service — not new construction — with licensed, bonded, background-checked, drug-tested technicians available 24/7/365. It was founded as Jewel Electric by Al and Jewel Bidstrup shortly after WWII, passed to their sons Lyn and Chris, expanded into HVAC and plumbing over the decades, and rebranded to "First Call Jewel" in 2007 under current owner/CEO Bob Bidstrup.

First Call Jewel traces its origins to 1947, when Al and Jewel Bidstrup opened an electrical contracting firm called Jewel Electric out of a backyard shop on 9th Street in Idaho Falls. The business quickly outgrew the space, moving to the corner of Whittier and Holmes, and after Al's death in 1976 it passed to his sons Lyn and Chris, who relocated the firm to Northgate Mile in 1977 and broadened its focus into electrical parts, heating, and air conditioning, renaming it Jewel Inc. The company added full plumbing service in 1998 and, under the leadership of current owner Bob Bidstrup, transitioned in 2007 into the modern First Call Jewel brand — dropping retail inventory to focus squarely on plumbing, HVAC, air quality, and electrical service. As of 2023 the firm operates from its newest and largest facility on Chaffin Lane with a fleet of dozens of vehicles. Although categorized as "Construction & Handyman" in the directory, the company explicitly states it specializes in repair and upgrade service rather than new construction. Technicians arrive in marked vans in clean uniforms, and the firm charges an upfront diagnostic fee with pricing quoted before any work begins. It serves major cities including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Blackfoot, and Rexburg as well as dozens of smaller communities across Eastern Idaho.

In business

79 (founded 1947; BBB lists business started 1/1/1947)

Owner

Founded by Al and Jewel Bidstrup in 1947; currently owned by Bob Bidstrup (CEO/General Manager)

Serves

Southeastern Idaho — including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Blackfoot, Rexburg, Ammon, Iona, Shelley, Rigby, Ririe, Ucon, Menan, Lewisville, Firth, Basalt, Chester, Roberts, Parker, Fort Hall, Inkom, McCammon, Lava Hot Springs, Downey, Arimo, American Falls, Aberdeen, Chester, Grace, Bancroft, Soda Springs, Georgetown, Bennington, Montpelier, Paris, Bloomington, St. Charles, Fish Haven, Preston, Franklin, Clifton, Dayton, Weston, Cornish, Lewiston (Utah-border areas), Driggs, Victor, Tetonia, Ashton, St. Anthony, Sugar City, Newdale, Parker, Rexburg-area, Rigby-area, Island Park, Spencer, Dubois, Hamer, Terreton, Mud Lake, Roberts, Howe, Leadore, Mackay, Moore, Lost River areas, etc.

Rating

4.82 stars across ~2,290 reviews (Experience.com aggregate of Google reviews); 4.8 stars across 1,402 reviews (Ecohome); 4.9 stars across 1,497 reviews (Lennox dealer page); BBB profile lists an A+ displayed rating (not Accredited)