ServiceMax Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

The Tricks to Catching AC Repair Problems Early

Monday, May 21st, 2018

air-conditioning-manometer-pressure-refrigerantAs you get ready for the summer weather that’s on its way, you’ll want to make sure your residential air conditioning system is prepared to handle the heat. The best way to do this is to arrange for a system tune-up and inspection with our qualified professionals. We offer superb service for air conditioning and heating in Highland Park, IL, and that includes routine maintenance for both. Our MAX Comfort Plan will help your air conditioner avoid the majority of possible repair problems and prevent breakdowns by 95%.

However, maintenance can’t stop all problems. As your air conditioner starts to operate for the season, there are a few tricks you can use to catch an early developing malfunction. That way you can have it fixed before the serious heat arrives.

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Spring HVAC Maintenance—Now Is the Time!

Monday, May 7th, 2018

air-conditioner-unit-being-repairedYou may already be looking ahead to your calendar toward the end of June and the official first day of summer. If you are, make sure that when you think of the coming summer you also think about handling the summer heat with an air conditioner in the best shape possible. If you haven’t arranged for professional maintenance for your air conditioner yet—the spring tune-up and inspection—now is definitely time to have it done!

If this is the first time you’ve heard about spring maintenance, we’re glad we got your attention. Find out more about this vital service below.

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Don’t Shut Down Your AC Yet if It Needs Repairs

Monday, October 9th, 2017

tools-on-ac-unitLast month we offered tips on how to shut down your air conditioning system at the end of the season so it’s in the best shape for next year. But since your air conditioner is probably still putting in days of work here in the early fall and it’s not yet time to shut it off completely, we want to warn you to keep a sharp watch for possible malfunctions. If your AC needs to have repairs, call our technicians right away to schedule service before you need to shut down the system for the coming winter weather.

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Should You Have a Ductless System Installed This Fall?

Monday, September 25th, 2017

ductless-mini-split-on-wallThe fall is one of the best times of the year to make major changes to a residential HVAC system. Transitioning between the heat of a Chicago summer into the cold of the winter is a period when you won’t have to rely heavily on either the AC or the heater, so it’s not difficult to arrange for a convenient time to have major repairs done, or to schedule annual maintenance for the heating system.

(It’s not too early to get on the schedule for a fall heating tune-up and inspection. Join our Max Comfort Plan today for superb whole-house maintenance.)

What if the work you need done is to have a new HVAC system installed? In that case, fall is definitely the right time to plan it. One of the options you might consider is a ductless mini split heat pump. This means you receive both ductless heating and ductless air conditioning in Winnetka, IL or wherever you are in Chicagoland. But going with a ductless air conditioning and heating system is a major change, and not right for every home. Let’s take a look at times when going with a ductless system is a good option.

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Planning for Your AC’s Future at the End of the Season

Monday, September 11th, 2017

frozen-over-air-conditionerThe summer weather is starting to recede: the official end of the season is less than two weeks away. You’re soon going to start making plans for turning on the heating system that will warm your home through later fall and into the winter. A crucial part of those plans includes schedule routine heating maintenance: sign up for our MAX Comfort Plan and we’ll have your heating taken care of!

But part of fall planning involves the air conditioning system. Simply shutting it off for the season isn’t the best idea. You want the AC in excellent shape for that first day you need it in spring. The way you want your heater to be prepared when the first cold day hits, you also want your AC prepared. There are a few steps you can take at this time of the year to help.

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Yes, Your Heat Pump Needs Maintenance in Fall As Well

Monday, August 28th, 2017

hot-and-cold-home-badgesSpring was when you arranged to have your AC maintenance in Chicago, IL. (At least we hope so! It’s the best way to ensure reliable and energy-saving performance from an air conditioner all through summer.) Fall is coming up soon, and although Chicagoland won’t experience a major drop in heat quite yet, this is the point of the year to begin thinking ahead to colder weather and making appropriate plans.

Those plans should start with arranging for maintenance for your heater, no matter if it’s a furnace, boiler, heat pump, or other system.

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Odd Noises That Can Warn You Have an AC in Need of Repairs

Monday, July 31st, 2017

shocked-by-loud-noiseOne day in the future, consumers may have access to HVAC systems equipped with powerful artificial intelligence programs capable of diagnosing malfunctions early and altering homeowners to the problem—along with instructions of exactly what’s wrong and how to call a technicians to ask for help.

But we’re not quite there yet. Air conditioning systems can’t self-diagnose, but they do have ways of telling homeowners that something has gone amiss so they know to call for professional assistance. HVAC technicians use good old fashioned “organic intelligence,” i.e. their extensive training and experience, to find out what’s wrong and how to fix it. One of the ways air conditioners tell homeowners there’s a problem is unusual sounds from the system.

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Why Ice Might Form on Your Air Conditioner’s Evaporator Coil

Monday, June 19th, 2017

frozen-glassIf you have some knowledge of how the modern air conditioner works, you may know it’s a refrigerant-based system, working in a similar fashion to a refrigerator. To providing cooling, both systems use chemical refrigerant to absorb heat from inside and move the heat to the outside air. This is why the condenser unit outside your house blows out heated air when the AC is working.

What neither system needs to work is ice. It’s easy to believe ice might be involved somehow—after all, the air conditioner is sending out chilled air—but it isn’t the case. Moving heat from one place to another using refrigerant doesn’t use ice. It shouldn’t create it either.

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4 Ways You Might Spend Too Much on Air Conditioning This Summer

Monday, June 5th, 2017

air-conditioner-money-saverYou’ll need to have your home’s air conditioning system running during the summer to stay cool. That’s just a basic part of Chicagoland Survival 101—our summers are hot and humid. Of course, keeping a home cool doesn’t come for free, and you can expect to see a rise in your electricity costs over the summer because of the extra use of the air conditioner.

However, air conditioning bills in homes are often higher than they need to be. Below we’ve listed 4 of the ways you may end up wasting energy with your AC over the summer—and how you prevent them.

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You Need to Know This about Wireless Thermostats!

Monday, May 22nd, 2017

thermostat-being-adjustedWhen we’re looking into ways to help you save money on your air conditioning in Evanston, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland, a piece of advice we frequently offer is to upgrade the thermostat. The manual slider/dial model of thermostat is out of date, and programmable digital models have taken over. A digital thermostat with the basic two programming slots—an inexpensive option when it comes to thermostats—is a tremendous improvement in precision and convenience for an HVAC system.

Then there’s the current height of climate control technology, wireless and smart thermostats. These are models permitting remote access through smart phones, tablets, and computers. The “smart” technology means the thermostat “learns” from the homeowner’s settings to develop its own programs. These are attractive options, and customers often ask about them.

There’s good news and bad news on the Wi-Fi thermostat front, and we’re here to help you be better informed.

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