If you’ve found this blog post while looking for a way to efficiently heat your home, then you’ve come to the right spot! When you use your heater as much as we do here in Chicagoland, it’s only natural that you want to find a way to do so while still saving money. The good news is you don’t have to pay an arm and leg to heat your home each year. One significant way you can save is by investing in a zone control system.
Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Wilmette’
Efficient Heating: Is Zoning Right for Your Home?
Monday, December 26th, 20163 Reasons to Replace Your Heater This Year
Monday, November 7th, 2016Even though our summers are nice and warm, and often long, it doesn’t mean our winters don’t pack quite the punch. With nighttime temperatures already dropping low enough to begin using your heater, it’s time to ask yourself if your system is ready for the coming winter. If you’re considering replacing your current heater this year, we have 3 reasons below why now might be the best time.
Let’s Get Your Ductless System Ready for Winter
Monday, October 3rd, 2016Summer has officially come to an end, and our temperatures are starting to reflect the change of seasons. As our warm weather starts to dissipate, it’s time to think about our heating systems—namely if your current system is going to efficiently and effectively keep you warm this winter.
Ductless systems, also referred to as mini-splits, can be shifted from air conditioning to heating mode with just the touch of a button, making this a highly effective appliance. However without professional maintenance and regular care, it can’t work as well as it should. In addition to scheduling a tune-up with our professionals, there are a number of small tasks you can do on your own to ensure your ductless system is ready for winter.
Why is Water Dripping from My Heat Pump?
Friday, May 9th, 2014Your heat pump operates according to many of the same principles as an air conditioner, which means it suffers from many of the same problems as well. For instance, you may notice puddles of water forming around its base, or dripping from key components in your heat pump. It’s not a good thing. The causes are myriad, but you likely need to contact a professional to deal with it. The good news is that here in Wilmette, IL, heat pump repair services are readily available. “Why is water dripping from my heat pump?” you ask. A brief rundown of the more common causes can be found below.
In many cases, the dripping water comes from ice on the cooling coils, which indicates a loss of refrigerant. Heat pumps and air conditioners need specific levels of refrigerant (dependent upon their models) to operate. When a leak springs up and the refrigerant levels drop, the cooling process is thrown off balance and ice forms on the evaporator coils. (The ice represents lost cooling potential that should be going into your home, as well as forming an unwelcome layer of insulation between the refrigerant and the air it needs to cool.) When you turn the air conditioner off, the ice may melt, forming puddles at the base of the unit.
You may also experience leaks if there are problems with the drainage system. Heat pumps often feature a condensate pan to catch normal condensation as it forms in the unit. That condensation then drips out of the system via a drain line. If the line becomes clogged or the pan is misaligned, water may drip out. (In many cases, a floater in the pan will automatically turn the system off before this happens, though you’ll still need to fix the problem before the heat pump will run again.)
If you spot water dripping from your system, the next step is to call Shavitz Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We offer a variety of air conditioning services in Wilmette, IL and heat pump repair is one of our regular services, and we have the know how to treat the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. Contact us today and let us show you what we can do!
Damage Caused by Refrigerant Leaks
Friday, April 4th, 2014Refrigerant leaks are the bane of air conditioners and heat pumps of all shapes and sizes. The refrigerant gas is the source of the A/C’s cooling power, and it needs to be at certain set levels (which vary depending on the exact type of unit). When those levels drop – through a breach in the line, say, or similar loss – then the damage can cascade and eventually result in serious repairs. The good news is that here in Wilmette, IL heat pump repair services can fix the problem before the damage caused by refrigerant leaks can get too bad.
The biggest sign of a refrigerant leak is a build-up of ice on the evaporator coils. It doesn’t seem like much – isn’t an air conditioner supposed to be cold? – but in fact it can create as serious issue. It acts as an insulator between the refrigerant and the air it’s supposed to cool, keeping the system from functioning the way it should. The air conditioner or heat pump thus works harder to do its job, increasing the strain on every single component. The ice build-up only worsen since its insulating properties exacerbate the problem, until the entire unit stops producing cool air at all. In the meantime, numerous other components are apt to be damaged by the problem, caused by the strain of over-work and similar issues of wear and tear.
The ice itself can cause damage too, both to the evaporator coil and to any components vulnerable to water. When the system shuts off, the ice may melt, and the water will short out electrical motors and damage similar elements very easily.
Unfortunately, you can’t simply scrape the ice off, since it’s just a symptom of the actual problem. Instead, give the experts at Shavitz Heating & Air Conditioning a call. We can handle the damage caused by refrigerant leaks, and will seal up the leak and recharge refrigerant levels so that the problem doesn’t repair. Heating system repairs in Wilmette, IL should be courteous and efficient and we stand by our pledge to leave you completely satisfied with our work. Call us today to make an appointment and let us show you how!
Signs You Need to Replace Your Geothermal System
Thursday, February 20th, 2014In Illinois, a geothermal heat pump is one of the most efficient ways to receive heating during the winter. Standard air-source heat pumps have trouble providing warmth during Illinois winters (unless they have a back-up furnace), but a ground-source geothermal heat pump uses the steady temperature of the earth that varies only a few degrees, no matter how cold the surface becomes.
Geothermal systems are remarkably durable and long-lived, but they won’t last forever. You’ll need to know how to read the signs warning you that you should schedule a replacement for your geothermal system in Wilmette, IL. Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has some tips to help you find out if it’s time for a replacement:
- Heavy corrosion across the heat exchange coils: This is a good sign in general that any heat pump needs replacement. Corroded coils will restrict the heat exchange, just like dirt and ice, but corrosion also indicates extreme age that is affecting the whole system. If your geothermal system is over 20 years old at this point, then corrosion usually means it needs replacement. Your heat pump probably uses an older refrigerant blend, R-22, which needs to be switched for a system that uses the more environmentally healthy R-410A.
- Consistent drop in heating/cooling levels: If you notice that your geothermal heat pump is no longer delivering the level of heating or cooling that it once could, and nothing else seems wrong in the heat pump unit, then there may be damage in the underground coils causing a leak in refrigerant. Have professionals inspect the unit to locate the leaks and determine if you need a replacement. Once again, if your system is over 20 years old, replacement is often the best option.
- Consistent coil frosting: A loss of refrigerant will cause the indoor coils of the heat pump to frost over during cooling mode. Usually, a technician can repair leaks around the compressor or clean off the coils to fix this. But if this continues to happen to an older system, it probably means the underground coils are no longer capable of carrying out heat exchange.
Here’s a bit of good news about geothermal heat pump replacement: sometimes you will only need to replace the heat pump itself, and not the underground coils—a much less expensive procedure. The heat pump is more likely to need replacement before the coils, so make sure you consult with a geothermal specialist before you decide if you want the whole system replaced.
When you want an experienced opinion on your geothermal system or have any questions regarding heating installation in Wilmette, IL, look to Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning and give us a call today—we’ve served Chicagoland for four generations!
Electric Furnace Problems From Lack of Maintenance
Friday, December 13th, 2013If you have an electric furnace, chances are you don’t pay it much mind until a problem arises. We all have so much going on in our lives that as long as the furnace is running, we’re not inclined to worry too much about it. Here in Wilmette IL, electric furnace repair services are standing by to help, so fixing a problem quickly usually isn’t an issue. Even so, a number of problems arise solely from a lack of maintenance. A routine “tune-up” session can help you prevent them.
Your electric furnace suffers from the same wear and tear that any other major appliance does. Parts wear down, bolts become loose, fittings wear out, and dust builds up over months of non-use during the summer. All of these are relatively easy to correct, but all can result in long-term damage if they’re not treated. Dust increases friction in moving parts and can clog the important components over time, preventing them from working. Loose components can rattle in their housings, increasing the strain on them and other components will need to work harder in order to heat your house. That not only raises your monthly bills, but increases the chances of a more serious breakdown taking place in the near future. It may also shorten the life of your furnace, hastening the day when you will need to pay to replace it.
Contrast that with regular maintenance sessions conducted by a trained professional. The dust and dirt are cleaned up, reducing friction and ensuring that the components function effectively. Loose elements are tightened down to keep them from rattling, and thus reduces the strain on them. If any significant repairs are required, the technician can spot it and schedule it before it affects any other parts of your furnace.
All of that can eliminate a number of electric furnace problems from lack of maintenance, or at least reduce the risk of them considerable. In Willmette IL, electric furnace repair services can be addressed by Shavitz Heating and air Conditioning.
Call us today to schedule a regular maintenance session, and help keep your electric furnace running as smoothly as it can!
My Air Conditioning System Is Really Loud: What’s Wrong With It?
Friday, August 16th, 2013Your air conditioning system will naturally make some noise as it operates because of all the moving parts and motors. But if you notice that it has started to operate at a much louder volume than normal, it likely means that you need to call a Wilmette air conditioning repair expert to have a look at it. We wanted to help our customers understand reasons why their AC might be running so loudly, so we put together a short explanation of what might be causing the noise.
Call us here at Shavitz if you need any kind of air conditioning services.
Wilmette Air Conditioning Tips: What Causes Loud Operation
Your air conditioning system uses a number of different motors and if you hear that your AC is operating much louder than normal it likely has something to do with them. Call us here at Shavitz when you need any Wilmette air conditioning repair.
- Compressor motor – One of the most critical components of your air conditioning system is the compressor. It has a motor in it that can start to rattle and also make loud noises when it starts to have problems. This might also be accompanied by a reduction in the amount of cooling that your AC is able to provide. You may also notice that the loud noise only happens when the system starts up or shuts down.
- Fan motor – You have a fan motor in the inside unit of your AC as well as in the outdoor unit. Both of these motors can start to make a variety of sounds including grinding which usually indicates that the bearings are bad or need lubrication.
- Debris – If you hear a loud rattling noise coming from your air conditioning system it could be that there is a branch or some other debris stuck in the fan blades. You should turn off the system immediately as this can warp or bend the fan blades.
- Fan cage – Surrounding each of your fans is a cage that protects you and the fans from any damage or injury. But if the cage gets damaged it can rub against the fan blades and cause huge problems for you.
No matter what kind of Wilmette air conditioning services you need, just call the technicians at Shavitz.