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The weather is getting colder. You will require more heat to keep your home comfortable. This does not mean your heating bill needs to become unreasonable. Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning have been providing HVAC in Glenview, IL for four generations.
We are experts at spotting potential problems that will cause your heating bill to rise. Now is the time to prepare your home and HVAC system for the winter freeze by scheduling a pre-season inspection.
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.
You might be reading this blog post title and wondering why we’re talking about furnace steps for spring and summer, but hear us out!
Homeowners often don’t realize this, but there are a number of easy ways to cut down on monthly and yearly energy costs, and one way is to either fully or at least partially shut down the furnace during the warmer spring and summer months.
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.
If you asked us what one of the most dependable types of heating systems is, we’d definitely say the boiler system. Since they need fewer moving parts than more conventional systems like heat pumps or furnaces, boilers tend to accumulate less wear and tear, and have a longer lifespan.
But, like any other important home appliance, boiler systems still need repairs on occasion. Read on as we uncover some of the signs that your boiler needs repairs sooner rather than later.
Are you one of the many homeowners in our area who relies on a boiler for your heating needs instead of the traditional furnace? This is definitely a great choice, especially if you have limited room in your living space for ductwork, since a boiler operates by circulating hot water through concealed pipes to terminal points like radiators or baseboard heaters, where the heat then radiates into the rooms.
Most households that utilize these powerful systems appreciate the comfort and energy savings that they bring. They also like how rarely these boilers need repair. Since boilers contain fewer moving parts than furnaces or heat pumps do, they wear down a lot slower, and don’t require as many repairs as traditional furnaces do throughout their useful lifespan.
However, it’s important that you don’t let this slower aging and fewer repair needs trick you into thinking you boiler system doesn’t need maintenance. Because yes, it does need maintenance!
In our last blog post, we talked about the differences in AFUE rating (energy rating) between gas and electric furnaces. If you read it, then you know the one that will be more efficient for your home depends on a number of factors. But whether you have a gas or electric furnace, there are some steps you can take to boost the efficiency even more, and subsequently save money.
The first step we’re going to share with you is this: schedule maintenance! Yes, this is a service we typically recommend in the fall, before you need your system the most. But the fact of the matter is that consistent maintenance is key to helping your heater work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
So let’s say you’ve got the maintenance part down, what else can you do to use your heater more efficiently before warm springtime temperatures arrive?
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!
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!
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.
