Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for September, 2013

How to Keep Your Heating System Working Well This Winter

Tuesday, September 24th, 2013

Winter in Chicago is both a lovely and harsh time. It will be more of the former and less of the latter if the heater in your home works its best during the season though. Heating systems get plenty of work during the winter months, and unless they receive regular attention, they can start to weaken or even fail completely. You don’t want the inconvenience of shivering in your home until the problem can be fixed, so follow some of the advice below to make sure your heating system is prepared to get you through to spring.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning can help you with your Chicago heating service needs. We promise to always do right by the customer, and we’ll make certain your heater is in the best condition it can be.

Change the air filters: Many Chicago homes use furnaces to provide heat. Any system that uses forced air, like a furnace, will have a filter to protect the internal components from damage. If the filter becomes clogged it can cause problems leading to repairs and a loss of heating power. Change the filter at least once a month during the winter or any other time your furnace receives heavy use.

Don’t overwork it: Find a lower heat setting that will keep you comfortable with the aid of heavier clothes. Depending on the insulation in your home, you can locate a comfortable temperature between 62°F and 68°F. At night, lower the temperature further to 58°F and snuggle up under thick blankets. A programmable thermostat can be especially beneficial in controlling lower temperatures for maximum comfort. Aside from saving you money on your heating bills, this will place less strain on your heating system and help prevent repairs and breakdowns.

Get preventive maintenance before the heating season: The best care you can give your heater to keep it healthy during winter is to have a professional do a check-up and tune-up on it before the winter starts. An annual visit can prevent costly repairs and emergency calls, and keep your heater working efficiently without an unnecessary drain on power. Schedule a heating maintenance appointment soon, before the busy winter season fills up HVAC technicians’ calendars.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning wants you to get the most comfort for you and your family during the snow-filled months. For Chicago heating, we’re one of the city’s oldest and most dependable companies. Contact us today to help get your heater ready to keep you cozy through another Illinois winter.

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How to Get a Great Air Conditioning Installation

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

If you need an air conditioning system installed in your home, you want to avoid a sloppy, amateur job. If your AC is improperly set up, it won’t give you the high efficiency cooling that you need and it will lead to a drain on your electricity bills. It could also pose health hazards. You need to let a professional into your home in Chicago to perform an air conditioning installation, so you know you’re getting the most out of your new system. Our highly trained technicians are a part of a company that has been servicing HVAC since 1904, so you can rest assure you will receive a great AC installation. Giving us a call is one of the first steps to getting this job done right.

Read more tips on buying an air conditioner, and call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning with any questions or concerns!

Steps for Installing the Right Air Conditioner for Your Home

One of the most important steps you need to take to get superior installation is proper sizing. The biggest air conditioner isn’t necessarily your best choice, since an AC that’s too powerful will start to short cycle, turning on and off numerous times. This will cause uneven levels of cooling throughout your home, and the extra wear on your system will shorten its lifespan. Getting too small an AC will mean that you won’t get enough cool air. To get correct sizing done, call in a professional. An HVAC technician will take into account numerous factors, such as the square footage in your house, the number of windows and doors, how many people live there, and the extra heat generated from your appliances.

Knowing your size requirements will help you with the decision of what type of system to install. There are many options available today—ductless mini splits, package systems, heat pumps—and not all will give you the right cooling that you need. A professional can guide you toward which of the AC systems on the market will suit your needs and will best fit your home and any existing ductwork.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has performing Chicago air conditioning installations for so long that we’re only two years younger than the invention of the electric air conditioner itself! For the proper, fast, and professional installation work you want, trust the company with over a century of experience: Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning.

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How to Tell When You Need Duct Replacement

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013

The ductwork in your home functions as part of your central heat or air conditioning system: piping cool or warm air from the main unit into the various rooms in your home. When they become damaged or old, you may want to consider replacement instead of normal repairs. Consulting with a professional can help determine when (or if) such a step is necessary.  That’s of special importance in Chicagoland communities like Morton Grove, IL. Duct replacement needs to come between the heat of our Lake Michigan summers and the cold of our Midwest winters, and you want to be sure it’s necessary before making plans.

Here’s a few ways you can tell when you need duct replacement:

  • Problems with the air flow. If your air conditioner or heater is working fine, and yet the air flow into your home is slow or nonexistent, the problem may lie with crushed or damaged ducts. Similarly, you may feel that the air isn’t sufficiently cool or warm despite the fact that you’re running your HVAC system as prescribed. Crushed ducts usually mean serious leaks in your system, which also means the conditioned air isn’t getting into the parts of your home that need it.
  • Higher electric bills. Similarly, if you find your energy bills going up despite the fact that you’re not using your appliances any more than normal; it could mean a major leak in your ductwork. Escaping air reduces the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, and until the rupture is addressed, your bills will continue to stay high.
  • Strange noises. Any odd sounds coming from your ducts – rattles, hums even thuds or grinding noises – are usually signs of trouble. A length of duct may be loose in its housings, or a damaged spot may be releasing air quickly enough to create an odd noise.

A trained professional can examine your duct system and determine if you simply need repairs, or if you’d be better off with full-bore duct replacement. For over 100 years, Shavitz has delivered safe and reliable air conditioning services throughout Chicago, including areas like Morton Grove, IL. Duct replacement services are one of our focuses, and we can provide sound consultation before beginning any installation procedures.

Call us today and let us show you how we can help with your duct replacement needs.

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Why We Celebrate Labor Day

Monday, September 2nd, 2013

We hope our present and future customers had a pleasant Labor Day this September. We know how hard you work to ensure that you and your loved ones have a good life, and we feel the same way about the work that we do throughout the year. Home comfort is our business, so you can rely on our technicians to take care of any issues that you may have. To many of us, Labor Day means BBQ, the start of the football season, and spending quality time with our friends and family. But there is much more to this holiday, and we wanted to share its true purpose with you.

Like many US holidays, the origins of Labor Day are somewhat disputed. While many cite Peter J. McGuire’s (of the American Federation of Labor) suggestion of a demonstration and picnic as the inaugural Monday, others cite Matthew Maguire, then secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York. In the wake of the massive and violent Pullman Strike of 1894, which pitted George Pullman and US Marshals and Military against workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company outside Chicago. Designated as a federal holiday by Congress and President Grover Cleveland in 1894, a mere six days after the strike ended, Labor Day has since become a way of recognizing the contribution that hard working Americans have made to this country.

We wish you all the best, and hopefully you took the time to relax, eat some good food, and take a load off.

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