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

This Temperature is Perfect for Your AC Settings

Monday, February 20th, 2023
studio-shot-of-modern-thermsotat

When you think about the ideal temperature for your home, it may not be the temperature that is recommended by experts. You may want your home to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. But, experts have other recommendations that don’t coincide with your ideal home comfort levels.

You may be wondering why HVAC companies recommend certain temperatures in the first place. Although it’s entirely up to homeowners to decide their own thermostat settings, it’s also important not to overwork the system. Ideally, you should have more moderate temperature settings to alleviate the strain and reduce wear and tear on your HVAC system.

Following these recommendations can also lower your energy costs, which is a bonus. You may be wondering, “at what temperature should I turn on the air conditioner?” Keep reading to learn more about the ideal temperature for your home in each season of the year. 

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Is Humidity Hurting My Air Conditioner?

Monday, August 24th, 2020
vent-low-on-wall

Humidity does not directly hurt your air conditioner, but it’s not great for it either. It’s even worse for the health of your indoor air!

Humidity is excess moisture that comes alongside our warmer temperatures in the summer, making it feel hotter than it actually is outside. The only way to dissipate humidity is by lowering the temperature, so homeowners often set their thermostats as low as they’ll go.

Unfortunately, all this is doing is causing your air conditioner to run longer than it should have to in order to keep your household cool, and it’s really not doing an effective job of eliminating humidity in the meantime. Read on to learn more!

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The Role, And Potential Danger, Of a Heat Exchanger

Monday, February 11th, 2019

inside-of-natural-gas-furnaceWe get it, when you see a professional Chicago HVAC company use the words “danger” and “heater” in the same post, it can be a little disconcerting! Not to worry though, heating systems—rather, gas-powered heating systems—are not inherently dangerous devices. This is something we must clear up right now—we don’t want you to feel like you’re constantly in danger just because you utilize your natural gas lines.

However, it’s extremely important for us to tell you that just like powerful appliances that create combustion gases, a furnace can potentially create health hazards if it is not properly maintained.

That being said, we want to warn you about the most common cause for a gas furnace (at least, an aging one—in most cases) to become unsafe—because of a cracked heat exchanger. When we say aging, we mean about 15 years old. If your system is nearing this age, we’d recommend looking into a replacement soon regardless of whether you have a cracked heat exchanger or not, as an aging heater simply can’t perform as efficiently as it did near the beginning of its lifespan.

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What Happens During HVAC Maintenance?

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

technician accessing inside of air conditioning unitIf you’ve been reading blog posts on our site for even just a few months, then you’ve likely seen us mention the importance of maintenance before. We really can’t stress how important it is that you schedule this service for both your air conditioner and your heater each and every year to ensure your HVAC systems work at peak efficiency and for as long as possible.

And it’s easy to get started with a maintenance plan, you can just give us a call! Our maintenance session includes thoroughly cleaning your system, making recommendations for repairs and perhaps one of the most important HVAC services in Northbrook, IL–inspecting the system. But, what is involved in this inspection? What do technicians actually do during maintenance, particularly when they’re checking over the system—what do they look for?

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When You Need a Great HVAC Company, Look for These Qualities!

Monday, September 10th, 2018

technician reviewing paperwork with homeownerThere are a number of people out there willing to work on your air conditioner, or heating system. Many of them, however, have limited experience in the industry and may still have a thing or two to learn about before working on your system. Therefore, we don’t advise you put the well-being of your HVAC systems at risk by hiring anyone less than a pro.

Fortunately, there are plenty of qualified HVAC contractors out there. But only some of these are great technicians with the training and skills that go above and beyond. So, when searching for such a company, what qualities should you look for?

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Considering a New Heater? Go the Radiant Route

Monday, February 12th, 2018

radiant heater pipesMost homes in our area, and even throughout the country, use some form of forced-air system such as a furnace to keep warm during the cooler months. This is what most homeowners are familiar with, and it’s a very good option for some homes, which is why so many people use furnaces and heat pumps. However, it’s not the only option for your home heating solutions!

Radiant heating has become increasingly popular in recent years, though it’s actually been around for quite a while! In fact, the ancient Romans even used a form of radiant heat. It is a great option for those looking for a different, perhaps more efficient, way to heat their home. Keep reading to learn more about this Park Ridge, IL HVAC system, how it operates, and how it can benefit your household.

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Tips for Choosing a Quality HVAC Company

Monday, December 18th, 2017

smiling HVAC technicianWhen it comes to ensuring your home is well cared for, you want to make sure that the people you trust for your home comfort services are reputable, have integrity, and will get the job done right the first time. When it comes to HVAC installation, or any service at all on your heater or air conditioning system, there is no exception.

But just because an HVAC contractor is popular or affordable does not mean they are the right professional for you and your particular job. It’s essential that you do your homework and choose a contractor that is the right fit for you and your needs. We’ve provided some guidelines below to help you choose a quality Chicago, IL HVAC company.

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How to Choose the Right HVAC Company

Monday, September 11th, 2017

male service professional in blue jumpsuitWhen it comes to scheduling any sort of service work for your residence or your business, it makes sense that you want to know that the person coming to do the job is highly experienced and trained in the work you need done. When it comes to installation, or any service on an HVAC system, there is no exception to this fact.

But just because an HVAC contractor is popular, or a company is affordable, doesn’t make that the right contractor for your particular job. It’s important to do your homework and to ensure that the HVAC company you choose is a right fit for you and your needs. We’ve provided a brief guide below to help you do just that.

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