Expert HVAC Services in Chicago, IL

Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has been showing up for Chicago homeowners since 1904, back when the job meant delivering coal and ice by horse-drawn carriage rather than servicing a furnace. The shift to HVAC work came in 1955, and four generations of the same family have run the company since. That kind of staying power is why our Carrier-certified technicians handle everything from a century-old greystone to a high-rise condo with the same level of attention: furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, heat pumps, ductless systems, and indoor air quality equipment, installed, repaired, replaced, and maintained throughout the city. Call 847-861-5559 or request service online to schedule service today.

Air Conditioning Repair & Installation

Chicago summers put real strain on a cooling system, and the fix isn’t always a full replacement. Our air conditioner technicians look at the whole system, refrigerant levels, airflow, electrical connections, before recommending a repair, and when a unit is aging out or undersized for the space, we’ll say so and walk you through installing the right replacement. Regular maintenance in between keeps whichever system you have running efficiently.

Chicago’s older housing stock and its newer high-rise condos put very different demands on a cooling system. A vintage two-flat near Hamlin Park in Roscoe Village needs a technician who understands original ductwork and tight mechanical closets, while a unit along the Southport Corridor near Wrigley Field often means specialized condenser placement and building-specific access. A tune-up before the first real heat wave catches most problems before they turn into an emergency call.

Furnace Repair & Installation

A furnace that’s short-cycling, making noise, or running up your gas bill usually isn’t a sign it needs to be replaced. Our technicians diagnose the actual cause first, whether that’s a failing igniter, a dirty flame sensor, or something more serious, and repair what can be repaired. When a furnace is old enough or damaged enough that replacement makes more sense, we handle the install and size the new unit correctly for your home; either way, staying current on maintenance is what keeps that decision further off.

Homes near the Ravenswood Corridor and Malt Row’s cluster of breweries tend to run higher-efficiency furnace models installed during recent renovations, while established neighborhoods around Welles Park and the Lincoln Avenue corridor in North Center often still have furnaces that are original, or close to it, to the building. Either way, a fall inspection before the first hard freeze is the easiest way to avoid a no-heat call in January.

Boiler Repair & Installation

A number of older Chicago homes still run on boilers, and for good reason: they heat quietly and evenly, and a well-maintained system can outlast several furnace replacements. Our technicians repair and maintain hydronic systems without treating them like something they’re not, and when an install or full replacement is the right call, we’ll tell you why before we tell you what it costs.

A lot of Chicago’s classic greystones, including plenty near Wells Street and St. Michael’s Church in Old Town and along Astor Street in the Gold Coast, still run on boiler systems. Understanding why they were designed a certain way lets us recommend upgrades that improve efficiency without tearing out something that’s still doing its job.

Heat Pump Installation & Repair

Modern heat pumps handle Chicago’s humid summers well, but winter performance comes down to the specific equipment and how your home is insulated. Our technicians install, repair, and maintain heat pump systems, and can tell you honestly whether a standard heat pump will get you through January or whether a dual-fuel setup, pairing the heat pump with backup furnace heat on the coldest days, calls for a different kind of installation altogether. If your existing unit just needs a repair or a season-end tune-up, we’ll say that instead of pushing a replacement.

Homes going through renovations near Lincoln Square Plaza and the Old Town School of Folk Music, as well as in North Shore suburbs like Glenview and Northbrook, are increasingly landing on heat pumps as the default recommendation over a separate furnace-and-AC setup.

Mini Split & Ductless Systems

Not every space is worth tearing into walls for. A ductless system handles an addition, a converted attic, or a single stubborn room without the cost and disruption of extending existing ductwork, and it’s often the more efficient choice for spaces that only need occasional heating or cooling. Our technicians install new systems, repair or replace units that are underperforming, and keep existing ductless equipment maintained so it lasts.

Additions, converted attic spaces, and older buildings without existing ductwork are common throughout dense strips like Northalsted and the Legacy Walk, as well as inner-ring suburbs like Lincolnwood and Park Ridge. A ductless system brings reliable comfort to those spaces without touching a building’s original ductwork.

Indoor Air Quality Services

Before recommending a filter, purifier, or ventilation upgrade, we look at what your existing indoor air quality system is already handling. Sometimes the fix is a repair or a simple filter swap; other times a home needs a new system installed, or an aging one replaced, to deal with what’s in the air. Keeping that equipment maintained is what makes the difference day to day.

Chicago’s seasonal swings, tree pollen in spring, humidity in summer, dry heat in winter, mean air quality concerns don’t let up throughout the year, and families spending time near Lincoln Park Zoo or Welles Park feel those changes as much as anyone.

Zone Control System Installation

If one room runs hot while another stays cold no matter what the thermostat says, zone control systems are usually the fix rather than a bigger unit. We install dampers and separate thermostats so each part of the house runs at its own setting, repair components that stick or fail, and maintain the system so it keeps working the way it was designed to; retrofitting an existing system or replacing outdated controls is straightforward once we’ve seen how your ductwork is laid out.

Larger homes near Oak Street Beach and Astor Street in the Gold Coast, along with properties on the North Shore in Highland Park and Kenilworth, often have finished lower levels, guest suites, or additions that all want something different from the thermostat. Zoning gives you that flexibility instead of forcing one setting on the whole house.

Water Heater Repair & Replacement

A water heater that’s struggling usually shows it well before it fails outright, through longer recovery times, inconsistent temperature, or rising energy bills. We repair what’s fixable, and when a replacement makes sense, we’ll explain whether a like-for-like install or a switch to tankless solves your household’s problem. A little maintenance along the way, flushing sediment, checking the anode rod, extends whichever system you choose.

Busy households and multi-family buildings near Skokie and West Rogers Park routinely push a standard tank water heater to its limit during peak morning hours, which is usually when tankless starts to make more sense than another tank.

Commercial HVAC Services

Downtime costs a business more than the repair itself, so our commercial services team prioritizes getting equipment back online fast and stocks the parts that fail most often during peak season, whether that’s a rooftop unit in July or a boiler in January. We also handle new installs, full equipment replacements, and the ongoing maintenance contracts that keep a building from needing an emergency call in the first place.

The retailers, restaurants, and offices around River North’s Merchandise Mart and Gallery District, along with the Magnificent Mile’s north end in the Gold Coast, depend on reliable heating and cooling to keep customers and employees comfortable year-round.

HVAC Maintenance Plans

A maintenance visit covers more than a filter change. Our technicians check electrical connections, verify refrigerant charge and airflow, and catch the small wear that turns into a bigger repair, or an early replacement, if it’s left alone for another season. It’s also when we flag anything that needs a fuller install or upgrade before it becomes urgent.

Whether your home is a century-old greystone in Old Town or a new build in the suburbs, getting on a spring and fall maintenance schedule means your system is ready for Chicago’s next temperature swing instead of failing on the first 90-degree or single-digit day of the season.

Frequently Asked Chicago HVAC Questions

How do I know if I need a furnace repair or a full replacement?

Age, repair history, and cost are the main factors. A furnace under 10-15 years old with a single failed part is usually worth repairing; one that’s older, has needed multiple repairs, or would cost more than half of a new unit to fix is usually a better candidate for replacement. Our technicians assess the actual condition of your equipment rather than defaulting to either answer.

What are the signs my AC is failing and needs attention?

Weak airflow, warm air from the vents, short-cycling, unusual noises, and a spike in your electric bill are the most common signs. Some of these point to a simple repair, like a refrigerant leak or a failing capacitor, while others suggest the compressor or coil is on its way out and replacement makes more financial sense.

How quickly can someone come out for an emergency no-heat or no-cool call in Chicago?

We prioritize no-heat calls in winter and no-cool calls during heat waves, and same-day service is common depending on how the day’s schedule is running. Call 847-861-5559 or request service online and we’ll get a technician out as soon as we can.

Is a heat pump a good fit for a Chicago home given the winters here?

For many homes, yes, though it depends on the home’s insulation and how cold your specific property tends to get. Modern heat pumps handle summer humidity well and can manage most of a Chicago winter efficiently; some homeowners pair one with a dual-fuel setup for the coldest stretches. Our technicians can walk you through what fits your home.

Do I need a permit to replace or install HVAC equipment in Chicago?

In most cases, yes, mechanical permits are typically required for equipment replacement and new installation work within the city. We handle that paperwork as part of installation jobs so it’s one less thing on your plate.

My home is older, in Lincoln Park or one of Chicago’s historic neighborhoods. Does that affect my options?

It can. Older homes sometimes have ductwork or boiler systems sized differently than what’s standard today, and running higher-efficiency equipment through original infrastructure isn’t always a straightforward swap. We evaluate the whole system before recommending a replacement rather than assuming a like-for-like install is the right call.

Do you service both the city and the North Shore suburbs?

Yes. We serve Chicago neighborhoods along with Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Wilmette, and Winnetka.

Why choose Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning?

Bronson Shavitz runs the company today, the fourth generation of his family to do it since 1904. We’re a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer with N.A.T.E. certified technicians, and the business has picked up recognition along the way, the Carrier President’s Award and Contractor of the Year honors from the Greater Chicago Refrigeration Service Engineers Society among them. Chicago homeowners have left nearly 2,900 Google reviews averaging 4.9 stars, which says more about day-to-day service than any credential on its own.

Schedule Heating & Cooling Services in Chicago, IL

Whether you’re keeping a century-old boiler running in Lincoln Park, upgrading to a heat pump in Glenview, or maintaining commercial HVAC downtown, Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning is here for it. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout Chicago and the North Shore with heating, cooling, indoor air quality, and commercial HVAC services.

From emergency repairs to full replacements, the goal doesn’t change: honest advice and work done right. Call 847-861-5559 or request service online to schedule your appointment today.