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

5 Sounds You Shouldn’t Hear Coming from Your Air Conditioner

Monday, June 27th, 2022

We get used to the noises that we hear from our air conditioning in Winnetka, IL. While a dull hum and the occasional **click** are normal, there are some sounds you don’t ever want to hear and are signals that are something that needs your immediate attention.

In this article, we’ll tell you about 5 common air conditioner noises that spell bad news. If you start hearing any of these listed below, then that’s a tell-tale sign that repairs are in order. We’ll let you know who the usual culprits are and what those repairs will likely be. Remember, you don’t want to ignore what your AC is telling you because the worst thing is being stuck in a hot home this summer.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Winnetka
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How to Determine When It’s Time to Replace Your Heater

Monday, March 7th, 2022

As many of us in Winnetka know, the winters can be harsh. If your furnace isn’t up to par, it can not only make it uncomfortable at home, but it can also cause damage to your house if there’s no heat.

To keep that from happening, you need to know when it’s time to replace your heater so you can catch issues before they turn into big problems. Here are 5 signs that it’s time to upgrade your heater.

Tags: Heating Repair, Winnetka
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Duct Tape: Good for Everything but Fixing Ducts!

Monday, July 17th, 2017

If you have a construction worker in your life, you’ve probably heard one of the many popular sayings they have: “All you need to have is two tools: If it doesn’t move and it’s supposed to, WD-40. If it moves and it’s not supposed to, duct tape!” That’s right, duct tape can resolve just about any situation—at least temporarily—except ductwork breaches. Go figure!

But the fact of the matter is that one of the biggest “energy thieves” in your home could be from leaks in your air ducts, which is something not a lot of people think about. Proper duct sealing from ventilation experts can stop your HVAC systems from losing 20 to 30% of the air that moves through the ductwork. Think about what that translates to: this is air you’re paying to cool your home in the summer that is simply going to waste. With professional duct sealing services in Winnetka, IL, though, you’ll see significant savings on your cooling bills.

Tags: Air Duct Design, Duct Repair, Ductwork Installation, Professional Duct Sealing, Winnetka
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Signs Your Heater Is in Trouble

Monday, January 2nd, 2017

There’s no denying that winter is officially here, and our temperatures have already dropped to the point that we definitely need fully functioning heaters to get us through the coming months.

So when something goes wrong with your heating system, it can put you into a panic. Preventing large problems starts with scheduling routine heating system tune-ups once a year (or twice if you use a heat pump). However, even a well-cared for system can run into repair needs every now and then. How do you know, though, when it’s time to call for professional assistance?

Tags: furnace repairs, Furnace Replacement, Winnetka
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Yes, We Install Geothermal Systems!

Monday, November 28th, 2016

When it comes to choosing either a cooling or a heating system for your home, we know that you have many options to choose from. With the advancement and improvement of technology, one heating system that has become increasingly popular is the geothermal heat pump.

Before you dismiss the geothermal system as something that won’t work for your home, you can take our word that a geothermal system can work for almost any type of home. Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider this system for your next home comfort installation.

Tags: geothermal system installation, Winnetka
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Why Should You Consider a Boiler for Your Home?

Monday, October 10th, 2016

Are you looking for a new heating system to have installed before the winter temperatures hit? If you are in the market for a heater, now is definitely the time to look, and while you look it is important to keep the benefits of various systems in mind. Take boilers for example: what advantages do they have over other heating systems?

Tags: Boiler Installation, Winnetka
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Why Ductwork Repairs Will Save You Money

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

You can’t see most of the ductwork in your home, and that unfortunately makes it easy to forget that it sometimes requires professional repairs. If you start to notice warning signs that you have damaged ducts, such as odd smells coming from the vents or a decrease in airflow, you must contact duct repair professionals right away to take care of the problem.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has the experienced team to handle what work you need done to fix your home’s ductwork in Winnetka, IL. We have been in the business of handling home comfort needs for more than a hundred and ten years now, making us one of the best names to trust when it come to your home comfort needs.

The money savings from ductwork repair

Fixing broken and leaky ducts does more than ensure that your air conditioning and forced-air heating system distribute air properly around a home to maintain comfort. Duct repairs will also help you save money.

Ductwork is designed to have an airtight seal to prevent a loss of pressure inside the vents. If air pressure starts to drop inside the ventilation system because of gaps, holes, and breaks along the ducts, it will force the air conditioner and/or heater to work harder. This can lead to a large jump in energy bills, often increasing your costs to heat and cool your home by a third. Broken ducts will also allow in large amounts of contamination that will coat the duct walls and place extra resistance against airflow, another source of energy inefficiency. Once you have professional ductwork repairs done, you will see a substantial drop in your monthly power bills.

Ductwork repairs will also help you save money by lowering the number of repairs you will need for the heater and air conditioner and prolonging their service lives. The less stress a comfort system experiences, the less likely it will start to encounter malfunctions due to wear and tear, and the longer it will last. You don’t want to pay for unnecessary repairs for your heater and air conditioner, and you certainly don’t want to pay to replace a heater or AC years ahead of its time.

You deserve to have an HVAC system in your home that works its best so your family will enjoy comfort and high indoor air quality—and so you will enjoy lower bills. If you think that your ductwork needs professional repair work, don’t hesitate to call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule the job. We provide high-quality repairs for ductwork in Winnetka, IL and throughout Chicagoland.

Tags: Ductwork, Winnetka
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How Are Ductless Mini Splits Installed?

Wednesday, January 7th, 2015

A ductless mini split works similar to a standard heat pump: refrigerant cycles between an indoor and an outdoor unit, absorbing heat from one location and then releasing it in another in order to warm or cool the indoors. The difference between the two systems is that a mini split system uses multiple indoor air handlers instead of a single larger unit connected to ductwork. The individual air handlers contain blowers and refrigerant coils and send out conditioned air directly into the rooms.

Although these air handlers are miniature compared to the indoor components of a standard heat pump, ductless mini splits still require professionals to install. If you want fast and effective ductless mini split installation in Winnetka, IL or other parts of Chicagoland, call on the team with more than a century of experience of delivering home comfort: Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning.

What Happens During Ductless Mini Split Installation

When technicians install a ductless mini split heat pump for a home, they first determine the best location for the outdoor unit and which rooms will have separate air handlers. After figuring out this general layout, the installers will place and secure the outdoor unit; this part of the installation process is similar to how a standard heat pump or air conditioner is installed.

The next step is to put in the air handlers. The technicians will find wall locations in the rooms that are strong and not subject to excess vibration. They then drill outlet ports through the wall so the air handler can access the outdoor unit of the heat pump. Next, a mounting plate goes onto the wall. The technicians make sure the plate is secure and can handle the weight of the air handler while leaving no space behind where condensate leaking might damage and weaken building material. (This is one of the major dangers of amateur installation: wall damage that might cause the air handler to rip away and fall.)

After the mounting plate is in place, the installers connect the power cable, refrigerant piping, and drain hose through the outlet ports. The air handler now goes into place, connecting to each of the lines first before it is secured tightly onto the mounting plate.

Once all the components are set up, the installers put refrigerant into the system and test the electrical connections. You should have a fully working new ductless mini split after this.

We Can Install Your Ductless Mini Split System

At Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning, we have experience installing all types of heaters and ACs. We can help you decide if your home will benefit from ductless heating and cooling, and then handle all the steps so you have a new system working for you in no time. Depend on us for ductless mini split installation in Winnetka, IL. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Tags: Ductless Mini Split Systems, Winnetka
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Can Geothermal Systems Work With Any Home?

Friday, December 6th, 2013

Geothermal systems are probably one of the most efficient systems on the market. They use the endless and free energy of the earth to provide heating and cooling for your home. However, because of how they work, they require certain accommodations that not all homes can provide. Here at Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning, we offer total geothermal installation, repair, maintenance and replacement. We wanted to let our customers know about some of the limitations that geothermal systems have.

Call us today if you have any questions or if you need heating service in Winnetka, IL.

A Look at How Geothermal Systems Work

If you dig down into the ground, the temperature there will be about 55° F all year long—no matter what temperature the air is above ground. Geothermal systems use that temperature consistency to provide both heating and cooling. However, in order to do that, geothermal systems need a long series of pipes that are filled with refrigerant and buried in the ground. This is referred to as the ground loop. In heating mode, the geothermal system will use the pipes to absorb heat and bring it into your home. In cooling mode, the unit will absorb heat out of your home and exhaust it into the ground.

So while geothermal systems are very efficient, your home must have enough space to accommodate the long series of pipes buried in the ground. Typically, the ground loop is installed horizontally. However, for homes that have less space, the ground loop can be installed vertically.

If you have any questions or if you’re ready to have one of our technicians visit your home to talk with you about the possibility of a geothermal system, then call the Winnetka, IL geothermal system experts at Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning.

Tags: Geothermal System, Winnetka
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What’s the Difference Between a Gas and Electric Furnace?

Friday, November 8th, 2013

Since furnaces first came into existence, they have used many different fuel sources. The earliest modern furnaces in homes and businesses relied on wood or coal. Over time, furnaces became cleaner, more refined, and more efficient. Most contemporary furnaces use natural gas, electricity, or propane. Propane has started to fade, however, with many homes converting over to gas. If you are considering a furnace for your home for the coming winter, your choice will most likely come down to gas or electric.

In this post, we’ll explain some of the differences between the two to help you make a choice. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but since your home has specific heating needs (as well as fuel availability), you should turn to professionals to help you make the final decision and then install your new system.

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has a long history with gas and electric furnace repair in Winnetka, IL, and we’ve done numerous installations of both. Contact us for the help you need.

The two furnaces share a distribution system: blower fans that move heated air through ducts and out vents into your home. However, the way they generate that heat is where the differences appear.

When the thermostat signals to a gas furnace that it needs heat, a silicon nitride igniter activates the gas-powered burners. Gas jets ignite and create heat in a combustion chamber. The heat transfers to the air through a heat exchanger. Air blows around and through the heat exchanger (usually a series of steel chambers), and this heated air then gets picked up by the blower fans and sent into the ductwork.

An electric-powered furnace doesn’t have burners or a combustion chamber: instead, the cabinet contains an array of heating elements, which are sets of electric coils that burn hot when current runs through them. The more heat the thermostat requires, the more heating elements will turn on. The blower fans then distribute the air warmed from the heating elements.

Electric furnaces have the advantages of lower initial installation costs and generally smaller sizes. If your home doesn’t have a gas line, an electric furnace is usually the best option. Electric furnaces also have no safety issues from potential gas leaks. However, natural gas furnaces tend to cost less to run because gas is a cheaper energy source than electricity, and they usually provide more effective and even heating.

Don’t try to make the decision between electric or gas on your own. A technician from Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning can come to your home and help determine which one will do the best job for you.

For installation, maintenance, or repair on an electric or gas furnace in Winnetka, IL, make Shavitz your number one choice. And of course, feel free to learn more about all of our Winnetka heating services.

Tags: Electric Furnace Repair, Heating, Winnetka
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