Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Skokie’

Furnace Replacement: How to Choose a New One

Monday, February 5th, 2024

If it’s time to replace your older furnace, you have a lot of options to consider. Modern furnaces are much more efficient compared to furnaces that were installed 15 to 20 years ago. There are also more options available than there were in previous decades.

How do you know if you’re making the right decision? When you need a furnace replacement in Skokie, give our team a call. We can be there to help you every step of the way. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about some of our tips for how to select a new furnace for your home.

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Gas or Electric Furnace: How to Choose

Monday, November 27th, 2023

If you’re shopping around for a new furnace, you may be deciding between a gas or electric model. Both heating systems offer their own unique benefits. There is no right or wrong answer in which type of furnace you choose, and it really comes down to personal preference.

If you need help choosing between gas or electric furnaces in Skokie, give our team a call. We can help by offering an in-home assessment and walking you through how each type of furnace would work in your home. You can keep reading to learn more about the differences in gas and electric furnaces and why you might choose one over the other. 

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Yes, A Heat Pump Both Heats & Cools A Home

Monday, July 10th, 2023
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Heat pumps are increasing in popularity when it comes to replacing air conditioners in residential homes. And not just any heat pumps, but ductless heat pumps specifically. If you’re interested in an all-in-one heating and cooling solution, a ductless mini split system may be right for your home.

Our team can help answer all of your questions about heat pump installation in Skokie. We can offer an in-home assessment and explain how a heat pump system operates and how it would fit into your unique home layout. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about the benefits of a ductless mini split system, and the way it works to offer both heating and cooling.

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When’s the Last Time You Had Air Conditioner Maintenance?

Monday, March 6th, 2023

It’s easy for routine air conditioning maintenance to slip your mind. You only have to schedule the service once a year, and it’s easy for the weeks and months to blur together. If you were wondering when the last time you had your air conditioner serviced was, that probably means it’s time to schedule an appointment.

AC maintenance in Skokie is easy when you have our team to help. Our experts know exactly what they’re doing and what to look for during an AC inspection at your home. Learn why annual AC service is so important, and why you need to be thinking about it right now. 

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Have You Scheduled Your Heating System Maintenance Yet?

Monday, December 12th, 2022
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We’re well into fall, and time is ticking down on your opportunity to stay ahead of heating maintenance for this heating season. In fact, we have less than a few weeks until winter is here. And once the heating season really sets in, our team will begin to take more calls for emergency service – mostly for homes that didn’t invest in heating maintenance this year.

If you’re ready to invest in furnace maintenance in Skokie before winter sets in, now is the time to call us. Not sure if heating maintenance is right for you? Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of furnace maintenance for your home. 

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Don’t Ignore These End-of-Season Furnace Noises

Monday, May 3rd, 2021
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It’s the end of the heating season, and you’re probably just about ready to shut your furnace down in favor of your cooling system, right? Before you do that though, it’s important to make sure you address any heating repair needs you might have, so that you don’t find yourself with an inefficient or even completely broken down furnace next fall when you need the system again.

One of the most apparent signs that something is amiss with your furnace is loud, unfamiliar noises. Now, your furnace is always going to make some noise. You’re probably even used to the standard sounds you hear from it… like the whir of the motor starting up for the blower fan or the whoosh of the air coming through the vents.

However, you know the typical noises you hear on a daily basis better than anyone. So if your furnace starts making unfamiliar or loud noises, it’s time to give our team a call for repairs. Read on as we uncover some of the most common signs we get called for and what they might mean.

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Pay Attention to These Ominous Furnace Symptoms

Monday, April 5th, 2021
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There’s no question that Skokie winters are cold. Even the most mild of winter conditions in our area require a fully functional, efficiently operating heating system. So, if your furnace has started showing signs of struggle as we close in on the end of the heating season, it can be very disconcerting.

Of course, if you had maintenance done this past fall, and followed up on any repair needs that we alerted you to, then you probably won’t have any problems with your furnace. But if it’s showing any signs of disrepair, the best thing you can do for your system is give us a call. But what are these signs?

Read on as we uncover some of the most ominous furnace symptoms out there.

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Electric vs. Gas: Which Type of Furnace is More Efficient?

Monday, February 8th, 2021
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If it’s this late into the winter season and you’re just now looking into having a new heater installed, chances are that something happened to your current one—and you’re in a bit of a rush to replace it. We get it. You want to get back to the comfort that you’re used to. But this really isn’t a decision you should rush! Plus this gives you a good opportunity to decide whether you want to stick with the fuel source you’ve always relied on, or go with something more efficient.

So what is more efficient? Answering this can be a little tricky, since efficiency is a rating of the heating output of your furnace compared to the amount of energy it actually uses. But this does not necessarily mean that a furnace with a higher efficiency rating will use less energy and therefore cost less to run, because an electric furnace could have a higher efficiency rating (called AFUE, which we’ll touch on more below) than a different model of gas furnace, but in general gas is a more affordable fuel source.

Read on to learn more!

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The Information Every Electric Furnace Owner Needs to Know

Monday, January 25th, 2021
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Do you have an electric furnace in your home keeping you and your family warm? Great! These are powerful systems that can work very effectively and efficiently, as long as they’re well cared for. This means staying on top of your heating maintenance needs—each year, our professionals come out to clean, inspect, and adjust your furnace and ensure that it has no pending repair needs.

However, there’s always a chance that something will go amiss with your electric furnace, even between maintenance sessions. This is especially true for aging furnaces. If you do notice that your electric furnace isn’t quite working as it should, give us a call! We’re here to help. We also want to share with you signs that your electric furnace may be struggling. Read on for the information you need to know!

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Should You Invest in an Electric Furnace?

Monday, January 11th, 2021
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If you’re shopping for a new furnace this time of year, there’s no doubt that this is something you need very soon. However, choosing a new heater for your home isn’t a decision you should make lightly or hastily. Today’s technology gives you so many choices when it comes to effective heating. So if you’ve been using a gas-powered system or even space heaters, then you may not know that there are electric heating options that don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to operate.

Homeowners often ask us if electric furnaces have what it takes to keep Chicagoland residents warm. Read on as we answer that and dive into more information about electric furnaces that will help you make an educated decision about your next heating installation.

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