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

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.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Chicago
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Can Your Air Conditioner Cause Allergy Symptoms?

Monday, June 1st, 2020

Using your air conditioner can cause your allergy symptoms to flare up if you aren’t utilizing the right indoor air quality practices and products.

Ideally, you are well aware that your central air conditioning system has a filter in it that you should change on a regular basis (every 1-3 months, to be exact—it depends on the type of filter and the level of contaminants in your home). A clean air filter helps your cooling system operate as it should. What it won’t do, however, is filter out all the allergens and contaminants that can cause you to have flare-ups.

The standard air filter is actually designed with the purpose of protecting the air conditioner itself. It should provide a basic level of filtration, but may not be all you need. In fact, it probably isn’t. Read on as we explain.

Tags: Chicago, Indoor Air Quality
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4 Reasons to Consider Going Ductless

Monday, May 18th, 2020

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Did you know there is an alternative to using your air conditioner and heating system that only involves installing one system? For many homeowners throughout Chicagoland, a ductless system is becoming the preferred option for home temperature control, and for good reason. They’re good at not only keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

We get it—choosing the right HVAC system for your household can seem overwhelming, as there are many options to choose from. Our best advice is for you to speak with a trained and experienced professional before making a final decision. Not all homes are candidates for a ductless system, but our pros can help you make an informed decision about what’s best for your household.

Tags: Chicago, Ductless Services, Ductless Systems
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Why You Shouldn’t Wait on Your Furnace Replacement

Monday, May 4th, 2020

We’re nearing the end of the heating season, so if you’ve been discussing replacing or upgrading your current heater at all, you’re probably tempted to wait until next fall when you need it. We understand this temptation. After all, why spend money on something you don’t need right now?

Well, if you paid for repairs a couple of times already this past winter and spring, and your system is aging, you’re wasting money anyway. Why not look into a replacement? Additionally, it’s always better to replace your system now rather than waiting until fall and struggling to get on your HVAC technician’s schedule.

Plus, considering your furnace replacement now gives you time to look into various system options without the pressure of needing the system very shortly. But, how do you know it’s really time for a new furnace? Luckily, we’ve shared some common indicators, below!

Tags: Chicago, HVAC Services
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Should You Install a UV Air Purifier?

Monday, March 23rd, 2020

It would be really easy for us to answer this question with a simple, “yes” and leave it at that. But we know you deserve a better explanation! There are a number of factors that can negatively impact your indoor air quality, and there are also a variety of systems that can help improve it.

Indoor air quality is a big concern just about any time of the year—in fact, at any given moment your indoor air quality can be worse than the air quality outside, without the right products in place. And a UV air purifier is one of these products.

Tags: Chicago, Chicagoland, Install an Air Purifier, UV Germicidal Lights
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How NOT to Boost Your Furnace Efficiency

Monday, March 9th, 2020

You won’t boost your furnace efficiency by neglecting repair needs!

Look, we get it. In other parts of the country, they’d consider our springtime weather “heating system” weather—but for us, that’s almost laughable. It’s 56° degrees out? Time for shorts and t-shirts. And it’s time to shut off our furnaces for the season.

But there is a mistake that many Chicagoland homeowners make when they stop using their heaters for the season. If they skipped maintenance, or noticed—and ignored—signs of furnace repair needs they might just figure it can wait until next year when they need their furnace again. This can be detrimental to the performance and efficiency of your furnace, and perhaps even your air conditioner, depending on the problem.

Curious to learn more? Read on to learn about some of the furnace repair needs you’re likely to run into as the heating season ends.

Tags: Chicago, Chicagoland, Reliable Furnace Repairs
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“Does Dry Air Hurt My Furnace?”

Monday, February 10th, 2020

You may have read here on our blog or heard us say that too much humidity hurts your air conditioner in the summer. The reasoning behind this is that the excess moisture makes you feel hotter in your home, which means you may adjust the thermostat so your AC will cycle on and cool your home faster. This practice wears down on the air conditioner, making it more likely that repair needs will occur and shortening the systems’ lifespan.

The answer, in this case, is having a dehumidifier professionally installed—this will cut down on the humidity levels, which should be between 30% to 50%, and allow you to use your air conditioner more efficiently and effectively.

So now you may be wondering, if humid air hurts your cooling system, does dry air hurt your furnace? Read on!

Tags: Chicago, HVAC Company
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Should I Get Radiant Heating Installed for Next Winter?

Monday, January 27th, 2020

You might be wondering why we’re saying “next” winter instead of “this” winter. Well, because the installation of radiant heating can be complex, and to truly enjoy the comfort it brings, you don’t want this job to be rushed! But if you currently have an inefficient system, are having a new home built this year, or simply want to enjoy the benefits of radiant heat, then you’d do well to consider this installation.

We do want to stress how vital it is you hire a pro for a job of this caliber.

Tags: Chicago, Chicagoland, Heating Installation, Heating Installation Experts, Radiant Heating Installation
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How to Best Boost Heating Efficiency

Monday, January 13th, 2020

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If there’s anything we know about Chicagoland residents, it’s that you need an effective heater to get you through winter comfortably and even healthfully. If there’s something else we know, it’s that you want this without having to pay an arm and a leg for that comfort.

Even if you’re staying comfortable this winter, if you find yourself paying more than you should in order to warm your home, then you aren’t getting the most from your furnace or heat pump system. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take. Some of these steps don’t take anything but a bit of your time. Curious? Read on!

Tags: Chicago, Chicagoland, Heating Repair Experts
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Is Your Heat Pump Leaking Refrigerant?

Monday, December 16th, 2019

There’s a question many homeowners ask us that’s born from a common refrigerant myth—that question is, “how often does it need to be refilled?”

But the answer to this is actually, “hopefully, never!”

This is the myth. The refrigerant that flows through your heat pump system shouldn’t need to be refilled on a routine basis. This is because it’s not something that depletes over time like gasoline does from a car or oil does from an oil-powered appliance in your home. Refrigerant, alternatively, cycles through your heat pump continuously, transferring heat rather than generating it like other types of heating systems do.

So if you’re losing refrigerant, it means you have a leak.

Tags: Chicago, Heat Pump Repair
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