What to Expect During Spring HVAC Maintenance

April 4th, 2016

When spring arrives and the temperatures begin to warm up (although the threat of sudden cold weather still hangs around), it’s time to call your local HVAC contractor to arrange for a maintenance visit for your air conditioning system. If you’re already a part of our maintenance program, then we’ll call you with the reminder that your AC is due for its “check-up.” Make sure you schedule the service, since it’s the best way to see that your air conditioner makes it through the season without major mishaps and maintaining its energy efficiency.

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Now Is the Time to Have Your Air Conditioning System Professionally Maintained

March 28th, 2016

The early spring weather is still on the cool side here in Chicagoland, and most likely you haven’t had to run your air conditioning system much yet. But the weather will soon start to warm up, and the cooling system in your home will settle in for many months of steady work. Make sure that the AC is ready for the stresses of the middle of the year with professional maintenance. This is the best way to prevent breakdowns, unnecessary repairs, and loss of energy efficiency—and it will also help the equipment enjoy the longest life possible.

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What Does the ENERGY STAR Label Mean on ACs and Heaters?

March 21st, 2016

If you’ve purchased any type of appliance or electronic device in the last couple of decades, you’ve more than likely heard of the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.

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Closing Air Vents in Your House Is Not a Way to Save Money!

March 14th, 2016

One of the services that we offer to homeowners in Chicagoland, and have offered since we started in business in 1998, is the installation of zone control systems. What these systems do is give the homeowner the ability to close off sections of the ductwork so that the forced-air heater and air conditioner do not send conditioned air to unoccupied rooms. This is a way to reduce heating and cooling costs in a home, and it’s helpful for larger homes or homes that have rooms (such as guest rooms) that are often unoccupied.

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Is an Air Purifier Enough for Indoor Air Quality?

March 7th, 2016

HVAC systems are an excellent addition to our homes, providing indoor comfort year-round. However, they do introduce pollutants into our indoor air, such as dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles that can affect your allergies.

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FAQ: How Often Should I Replace My HVAC System’s Air Filter?

February 29th, 2016

Most modern homes that use forced-air for heating and cooling have an HVAC setup that consists of a furnace and air conditioner inside a single cabinet with the same air handler working for both. A filter mounted near the air handler where the return ducts connects to the cabinet does the job of protecting the internal mechanisms in the cabinet from dust and dirt. In order for an HVAC system to continue to work effectively—whether during cold or hot weather—this filter must be free from heavy clogs.

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What Happens During Standby Generator Maintenance?

February 22nd, 2016

If your home has an automatic standby generator, it’s essential that you schedule annual maintenance for it. After all, what good is an emergency generator that will see to your home’s electric needs during a power loss if you can’t count on it to actually work when the time comes? Regular generator maintenance is like and insurance policy for an insurance policy, essentially.

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Sealed Combustion vs. Atmospheric Combustion in Gas Furnaces

February 15th, 2016

The technology of heating and cooling is never static. New developments are constantly finding better and less expensive ways to provide comfort for homes and commercial buildings. For example, even though gas furnaces have been around for decades, they remain a competitive type of heating system because new advances in design have made them safer and more energy efficient.

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What’s In Your Home’s Air That Might Be Harmful?

February 8th, 2016

One of the services we offer to the Chicagoland area, and have offered since we started in business in 1998, is solutions to improve indoor air quality for homes. Although people assume that outdoor air is unhealthier than indoor air, the reverse is often true. The U.S. EPA has discovered that the air inside buildings is often 3 to 4 times worse than that outside.

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What Do Those Odd Smells Coming from My Furnace Mean?

February 1st, 2016

There are a number of ways that furnaces send signals that they’re experiencing malfunctions or are in danger of breaking down. Strange noises, elevated bills, drops in air flow, and uneven heating are all warnings that a furnace should receive attention from repair experts—the sooner, the better.

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