Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Is It Ever Too Late for an AC Tune-Up?

Monday, July 26th, 2021
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How’s your air conditioner performing this summer? Have you noticed any suspicious symptoms that might indicate you need repair? Of course, you’ll know for sure if you need AC repairs if you had AC maintenance done this past spring. Maintenance, after all, allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components of that system to make sure it operates as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible.

So maybe you skipped it this year. Perhaps you think you may as well wait until next year at this point, since summer is halfway over anyway.

Here’s the thing though–we still have plenty of opportunity for heat waves here in the coming months, and if that happens you’ll be very grateful for a fully functional air conditioner. Read on as we uncover the importance of AC maintenance, even if it’s a little late!

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AC Installation Guide

Monday, July 12th, 2021
homeowner-talking-to-smiling-ac-technician-working-on-outside-ac-unit

This isn’t an instructional guide on how to install an air conditioner on your own–that would be ill-advised. Rather, we want to arm you with factors to consider before you pay for an air conditioner to be installed. This could save you time, money, and major headaches!

After all, this is a big investment. Considering that the energy your HVAC systems use accounts for half of all your energy use, that’s a big deal! We want your air conditioner installation to be as painless as possible. So, what is it that you should consider? Read on to find out!

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Should You Go Ductless This Summer?

Monday, May 17th, 2021
hand-using-remote-to-turn-on-ductless-air-handler

When it comes to cooling down your living space or heating it up, wouldn’t it be nice if you could use just one system? Well, you can! A ductless system, also referred to as a ductless mini-split due to its setup, is a heat pump-style system that’s become the preferred HVAC choice for many homeowners throughout Chicago and beyond, for good reason.

Ductless systems are not only a fantastic option for keeping your home comfortably cool in the summer, but they can also heat up your home in the winter, too. So, if you’re considering going ductless this summer for your cooling needs, it may benefit you this fall as well! Read on to learn more.

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AC Troubleshooting: The Problem with Refrigerant Loss

Monday, September 21st, 2020
insulated-refrigerant-line-behind-air-conditioner

There’s a fairly common misconception among homeowners about refrigerant–that it “runs out” or depletes from your air conditioner like gasoline does from a vehicle.

This misconception could come from an internet video or article, or even a dishonest HVAC “professional” looking to make a quick buck. But the point is, refrigerant loss isn’t something that should ever happen!

Refrigerant is in a closed, sealed loop, and is recycled throughout the lifespan of your air conditioner or heat pump. So if you’re suffering from refrigerant loss, it means there is a leak that must be repaired. Read on to learn more!

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End of the Season Is No Time to Neglect AC Repairs!

Monday, September 7th, 2020
bag-of-tools-with-home-in-the-background

When you live in a climate like ours, it can be easy to put off AC care. We’re much more well known for our chilly winters, after all, than we are our hot and humid summers, no matter how much of a punch they pack when they come.

As the summer season slowly but surely comes to a close, it’s almost time to turn our attention to our heating systems, scheduling maintenance or upgrading our systems as needed. This does not mean, however, that you should ignore any AC repair needs you might have. Read on as we uncover some of the most common signs that you need AC repair, and call our team when you’re ready to schedule them!

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Why You Need a Quality AC Installer

Monday, August 10th, 2020
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The reason you need a quality, professional, AC installer, is because they know the intricacies involved in every step of the installation process. Sure, we can share those steps, and we’re about to below. But air conditioners are complex–we aren’t sharing these steps to encourage you to do it on your own. We’re sharing them to show why it’s important to hire a professional.

We understand, however, that if you’re on the lookout for an AC installation company this time of the year, you’re probably desperate for a new cooling system. But even though you need one now, we really encourage you to take your time finding the right installer. Rushing into a decision like this can leave you with an ineffective or inefficient cooling system.

So, what are the 3 steps, and subsequently 3 reasons you need a quality installer, for AC installation? Read on!

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Why Is My Upstairs Hotter Than My Downstairs?

Friday, July 31st, 2020

My high school physics teacher, Mr. Ploplys, said you can’t fight physics.  Hot air is always rising and cold air is always falling.  If you live in a townhome, you know first-hand how this gets worse as you walk to the upper floors.  The laws of physics apply, but we can at least help!  

simpsons-cartoon-angry-homer-with-dialogue-young-lady-in-this-house-we-obey-the-laws-of-thermodynamics

One way to win the fight for comfort in your home is air movement.  Set your thermostat fan setting from “auto” to “on” to constantly mix up and redistribute that hot and cold air.  Properly sized and multi-stage or modulating air conditioners will help with this as well (see below). 

Hot Roofs and Attics  

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Temperatures in poorly ventilated and poorly insulated attics can easily reach 140 degrees F or more making a sauna seem breezy.  Ensure your attic is well ventilated and insulated or that heat will make your top floor uncomfortable. 

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Your Ductless AC Might Need Repair If…

Monday, July 27th, 2020
air-handler-up-high-on-wall

Air conditioning repair is not a service you should wait on when you know or suspect you need it. This is especially true for ductless cooling and heating systems, that have unique qualities and equally unique repair needs.

While an air handler can be easily replaced, it’s not the cheapest purchase to make, especially if the problem that led to the replacement could have been avoided. And then if the outdoor unit–namely, the compressor–fails, you’re really out of luck!

Essentially, the longer you wait to have your air conditioner professionally repaired, the higher chance there is of a complete system breakdown. And when you do need AC repair, we’re the team to call! But how do you know when there’s a need? Read on as we uncover a few of the top ways to tell if your ductless air conditioner needs repairs.

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“My AC Compressor Failed! What Do I Do?”

Monday, July 13th, 2020
HVAC-technician-working-on-ac-outside-unit

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you might have seen us refer to the thermostat of your HVAC system as the brain of the system. If it fails, you lose all control of your air conditioner and cannot possibly get it to function and cool your home properly. Fortunately, thermostats are relatively easy to replace, and affordable as well, when compared to other AC components.

Take the compressor, for example. This is considered the “heart” of your air conditioner. Unfortunately, when this component fails, the fix is typically an expensive one. And your air conditioner can’t do any part of its job with a failed compressor. Because this is such an essential component, actually, homeowners have an important decision to make if theirs fails. Read on as we uncover what your options are at this point, and if you’ve come across this problem give our team a call for further guidance.

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AC Not Performing As It Should? Here’s Why

Monday, June 29th, 2020
woman-sitting-in-front-of-fan-trying-to-cool-off

Nobody needs to explain to you why an air conditioner is beneficial. Air conditioning is more than just a luxury these days, it’s a necessity to stay comfortable and even healthy inside of our homes. If you have a whole-house air conditioner in place, however, and it’s not performing as it should, it could leave you frustrated and miserable.

We would like to help you avoid this! There are a few AC performance problems in particular that homeowners will often ignore or neglect at first, because “it’s not that bad” or they’re afraid that a repair will be expensive. The truth is, though, that the longer you wait on fixing a cooling system problem, the worse the problem can get—until you’re stuck with a completely broken down system.

So, read on as we uncover these few common AC problems and what they may mean for your air conditioner.

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