Ductless Heating Installation Is a Good February Choice

February 26th, 2018

ductless-unit-on-wall-hand-with-remoteAlthough February is still winter and a reprieve from the cold is a good stretch away (sometimes farther away than we’d like to acknowledge), it’s still a good time to make improvements to your home’s heating system—especially if you’ve noticed the heater hasn’t been doing its job as well as usual during the past few months.

You’re probably already thinking: “That sounds like it will take too much time, and I need my heating system—good or bad—right now.” This is one of the reasons we think installing a ductless heating system is such a good idea: it’s a fast installation that creates minor disruption to your home. When our professionals are finished, you’ll not only have a great new heating system for the rest of the winter, but you’ll have a jump on the coming summer weather as well. Why? Because ductless heating systems are also ductless cooling systems!

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Why We Recommend AFCI and GFCI Outlets for Your Home

February 12th, 2018

GFCI-electrical-outletThe changes in electrical usage in homes over the last twenty years, even the last ten years, are nothing short of incredible. The average household now consumes more electricity than ever before because of the increase in charging electrical devices and powerful computers and home entertainment systems. Electrical circuitry and panels have to stay current with the rise in consumption, but the outlets have to change as well.

If your home still has two-pronged outlets or standard three-pronged outlets, we strongly recommend calling us to arrange for the installation of GFCI and AFCI outlets as replacements. What are these, and why should you make the upgrade? We’ll answer these questions for both outlet types below.

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Are There Any Furnace Repairs I Can Do Myself?

January 29th, 2018

hand-holding-wrenchA faulty or broken furnace is an emergency during a Chicago winter. No matter how well-insulated the home, no matter how many layers of clothes people pile on, there’s no way to deal with the bitter cold invading the house—except to have the furnace fixed as soon as possible.

How to do this? Call on professionals for heating repair in Oak Park, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland. Our team of trained comfort experts can get any type of furnace back in shape. If necessary, they’ll replace the furnace with a new one. You can trust us for honesty and quality work every time.

But wait a second … we know what you’re thinking. You want to know if you can tinker with the furnace and fix the trouble yourself. It sounds like a much less expensive option, and you have confidence in your DIY skills. (You did put in that new tile floor yourself, after all!) Can you do any furnace repairs on your own?

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Some Suggestions for a Mid-Season Heating System Replacement

January 15th, 2018

man-keping-warmA home heater that breaks down in winter for the last time is bad news. You want to have an old heating system replaced ahead of time to conform to your schedule, not the heater’s! So if your furnace, boiler, heat pump, or other system is already looking like it won’t make it through to spring, we recommend you start considering what type of heater should be installed to replace it.

If you think you need a major change for your heating in Park Ridge, IL before the end of winter, we have suggestions to get you started thinking about that replacement. Don’t wait too long to schedule service if you think your current heater is close to the end. Talk to our heating professionals to find out the best new system and have it put in place soon so you don’t miss out on heat this winter.

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Never Delay with Gas Furnace Repairs

January 1st, 2018

basemetn-gas-furnaceThe natural gas furnace is the backbone of winter heating in the U.S. Here in Chicago, it’s one of the best ways to heat a home through another tough winter: not only does a gas furnace provide a high level of heat output and work fast at delivering it, it also saves money compared to electric models because natural gas doesn’t cost as much as electricity.

There is a concern with gas furnaces, however, and it’s one you’ve probably already considered. Any natural gas-powered appliance is at risk of creating safety hazards because of the leak of toxic fumes and combustion concerns. We don’t want you to feel panicked by your gas furnace, since modern heaters are built with numerous safety features. If you have your gas furnace maintained each year by professionals and put carbon monoxide detectors around the house, you’ll be in good shape as far as safety goes.

One more important way to stay safe with your gas furnace: never procrastinate about calling for repairs if the furnace shows signs something is wrong with it. You can always call on us for heater repair in Niles, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland, and we’ll come to your assistance any time of the day or night.

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Why We Recommend Generator Installation

December 18th, 2017

natural-gas-generatorElectricity is such a basic part of our lives that we rarely stop to think about all that it does for us. It’s simply always there when we flick on a switch, turn on an appliance, or plug in a phone or laptop to charge. But what if that electricity suddenly vanished? Stopped working and didn’t turn back on a few minutes later? What if it stayed off for hours or even days? Think about the impact an extended power outage like that would have on your life and on your family.

Unfortunately, long blackouts are a possibility during winter. Downed power lines, accidents at power plants, or grid failures can mean whole blocks going black for extended periods. You can’t prevent these power failures, but you can protect yourself with a generator.

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It’s Not Too Late for Heater Maintenance

December 4th, 2017

service-reminder-stopwatchLooking at the calendar, it’s hard to believe that it’s already December. The year went by in a flash, and we’re only a few weeks from the official start of winter. The cooler temperatures are already here in Chicagoland, although we can expect a much steeper drop as we head toward New Year’s Eve.

This means you’re still in a great window to have your annual professional maintenance appointment to tune-up, clean, and inspect your home heating system, whether it’s a furnace, boiler, heat pump, ductless system, or in-floor radiant heater. We recommend having this job arranged in the early fall, since it’s easier then to get it scheduled at a convenient time. But it’s still officially fall and your heating system isn’t yet putting in the major work it will need to do to overcome the intense cold of winter: that means it is definitely not too late for heating maintenance.

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The Danger of a Furnace with a Cracked Heat Exchanger

November 20th, 2017

gas-burners-in-furnaceWhat type of heating system do you use to warm up your house during a tough Chicagoland winter? If your home is like the majority, the answer is a natural gas furnace. Gas furnaces are the most common type of residential heating system across the country, especially in locations with cold winters. Gas furnaces not only produce a large amount of heat, they do so at less expense than electric furnaces because natural gas costs less than electricity per unit.

However, any natural gas appliance has the potential to develop safety hazards. We don’t want to alarm you, as a well-maintained gas furnace will rarely encounter dangers, and current furnace models are built with safety in mind and have special features to prevent the escape of carbon monoxide or a rise in combustion hazards.

There is one gas furnace problem we want to draw your attention to, because it’s the most common reason for a furnace allowing toxic gasses into a home: the cracked heat exchanger.

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Have You Scheduled Generator Maintenance Yet?

November 6th, 2017

emergency-home-generatorOne of the important jobs to have done before fall is over and the serious cold weather starts in is to have your home’s heating system maintained. One of our technicians will come to your house and give your furnace or other heater a thorough inspection and take care of necessary cleaning and adjustments. This helps ensure the best heater performance during the winter, with little chance of repair troubles and needless energy waste.

If you have a whole-house standby generator to protect your home in case of a power outage, you should also arrange for generator maintenance as part of your regular seasonal maintenance.

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Repairs an Electric Furnace May Need

October 23rd, 2017

wrenchesGas power for homes is widespread, but gas mains can’t reach every residential property. In some cases, homeowners prefer to rely entirely on electricity in their homes because of safety concerns from natural gas. Whatever the situation, a home relying solely on electrical power can still have a furnace to provide comfort during the frigid winters in Chicago. Electric furnaces are a popular choice when it comes to home comfort: they’re less expensive to install than gas furnaces and can often outlast them.

To get the longest service life from an electric furnace so you receive those extra years, always schedule annual heating maintenance. Our technicians will help see you have as trouble-free a heating system as possible! However, nothing is able to prevent all potential malfunctions, and at some point your electric furnace may need heater repair in Oak Park, IL.

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