Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning got its start in 1904 delivering coal and ice by horse-drawn carriage, decades before Lincolnwood looked anything like it does now. The company shifted to furnace repair in 1955, and four generations of the same family have kept it running since. Our headquarters sits right next door in Skokie, which makes Lincolnwood some of the closest ground we cover, and our Carrier-certified technicians install, repair, replace, and maintain furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, heat pumps, ductless systems, and indoor air quality equipment for homes and businesses throughout the village. Call 847-861-5559 or request service online to schedule service today.
Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
Chicago-area 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 install the right replacement. Regular maintenance in between keeps whichever system you have running efficiently.
Lincolnwood’s mix of postwar ranch homes and the high-rise condos in the Towers, west of the Edens Expressway, calls for different approaches to cooling. A ranch home near Proesel Park often has original ductwork that needs careful sizing for a new unit, while a high-rise near the Towers usually means working within a building’s shared systems and access rules. A tune-up before the first real heat wave catches most problems before they turn into an emergency call.
Furnace Repair & Installation
Short cycling, strange noises, or a climbing gas bill don’t automatically mean a furnace is done for. 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.
Many of the homes near Proesel Park and along the tree-lined streets closer to Devon Avenue date back to Lincolnwood’s original postwar growth, and their furnaces are often original or close to it. A fall inspection before the first hard freeze is the easiest way to avoid a no-heat call in January.
Boiler Repair & Installation
Plenty of older Lincolnwood homes still rely on boiler heat, and it’s easy to see why: boilers run quiet, heat evenly, and a well-maintained one 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.
Some of Lincolnwood’s larger, older homes near the Terraces and around Proesel Park still have their original 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
Heat pumps handle Chicago-area humidity well in the summer; the real question is always how they’ll perform once winter sets in. 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.
As more Lincolnwood homeowners take on renovations, particularly in the neighborhoods around Devon Avenue and near the North Shore Channel, heat pumps are increasingly the default recommendation over a separate furnace-and-AC setup.
Mini Split & Ductless Systems
Extending ductwork into a single room isn’t always worth the cost or the mess. A ductless system handles an addition, a converted attic, or a stubborn room that never quite matches the rest of the house, 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 and finished basements are common throughout Lincolnwood’s older ranch and bungalow-style homes, and condo units in the Towers occasionally need supplemental cooling that a building’s central system doesn’t cover. A ductless system brings reliable comfort to those spaces without touching a building’s original ductwork.
Indoor Air Quality Services
A filter swap, a new purifier, or a ventilation upgrade might sound like the fix, but we start by looking at what your current indoor air quality system is already doing. 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.
Lincolnwood’s seasonal swings, tree pollen in spring near Centennial Park and along the North Shore Channel Trail, humidity in summer, dry heat in winter, mean air quality concerns don’t let up throughout the year for families spending time in the village’s parks and green spaces.
Zone Control System Installation
A house where one room never matches the rest, no matter what the thermostat reads, usually needs zoning, not a bigger system. 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 Proesel Park and in the Terraces often have finished lower levels, sunrooms, 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
Longer recovery times, inconsistent temperature, and rising energy bills are usually the warning signs before a water heater fails outright. 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.
Larger households and multi-generational homes near Devon Avenue and the high-rise buildings in the Towers 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
A business loses more to downtime than it ever spends on the repair itself, which is why our commercial services team moves fast and keeps the parts that fail most often in stock, 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 and restaurants around Lincolnwood Town Center and along Devon Avenue depend on reliable heating and cooling to keep customers and employees comfortable year-round.
HVAC Maintenance Plans
There’s more to a maintenance visit than swapping a filter. 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 an original ranch near Proesel Park or a condo in the Towers, getting on a spring and fall maintenance schedule means your system is ready for the next temperature swing instead of failing on the first 90-degree or single-digit day of the season.
Frequently Asked Lincolnwood 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 Lincolnwood?
Being headquartered right next door in Skokie means Lincolnwood is one of the fastest calls for us to reach. 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 Lincolnwood 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-area 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 Lincolnwood?
In most cases, yes, mechanical permits are typically required through the Village of Lincolnwood for equipment replacement and new installation work. We handle that paperwork as part of installation jobs so it’s one less thing on your plate.
My home is in one of Lincolnwood’s older neighborhoods, like the Terraces or near Proesel Park. 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 condos in the Towers as well as single-family homes?
Yes. We work on both, and understand the differences between a single-family furnace or AC install and a system that has to account for a building’s shared infrastructure and access requirements.
Why choose Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning?
The company Bronson Shavitz runs today has been in his family for four generations, tracing back to 1904. That history comes with real credentials: Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer status, N.A.T.E. certified technicians, the Carrier President’s Award, and a Contractor of the Year honor from the Greater Chicago Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. Nearly 2,900 Google reviews averaging 4.9 stars back that up, and being headquartered a few minutes from Lincolnwood doesn’t hurt either.
Schedule Heating & Cooling Services in Lincolnwood, IL
From a century-old boiler near Proesel Park to a new heat pump near Devon Avenue to commercial HVAC at Lincolnwood Town Center, Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning is here for it. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout Lincolnwood 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.