ServiceMax Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Evanston’

Heating Maintenance—Now’s the Time!

Monday, October 8th, 2018

calendar-scheduling-bookThere’s always a special feeling in the air when October arrives. No matter if the weather is still occasionally warm, the crisp fall is arriving—and around the corner is the cold of winter. October means Halloween to many. To HVAC professionals, it means it’s time for heating maintenance. Have you signed up for your fall heating maintenance in Evanston, IL yet?

What’s This Heating Maintenance of Which You Speak?

Heating maintenance is an annual visit from an HVAC professional to inspect your home’s heater and take care of adjustments, cleanings, and tune-ups. We recommend it each fall for all types of heating systems, from gas furnaces to heat pumps. The job takes around an hour and is easy to schedule through our MAX Comfort Plan.

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5 Things We Wish Everybody Knew About Air Conditioning

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

air-conditioning-collageThe air conditioning system is just a way of life. Homes are now constructed with central air conditioning in mind, and even vintage buildings can enjoy powerful air conditioning without using window units thanks to ductless mini splits.

But even though ACs are everywhere, they’re still poorly understood. Below is a list of five things we want people to know about air conditioning. These bits of knowledge makes it easier to care for an AC and to know when to call on trained HVAC professionals to fix and maintain them.

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Electrical Problems May Be the Trouble with Your Heating, Not the Heater

Monday, March 12th, 2018

electrical-panel-repairsYou need electricity to run your heating system. That’s true even if you have a gas-powered system like a gas furnace or boiler. Modern gas heaters use electronic ignition systems to fire up their burners and they also need electrical power for other components, such as the blower fan that sends heated air from a furnace and into the ventilation system.

If you run into trouble getting your heater to run, it’s possible you have an external electrical issue rather than an issue inside the heater. Regardless of what the source of the problem is, you’ll need experts—either in HVAC or residential electrical systems—to assist you with locating, identifying, and fixing the problem. Since we’re both electricians and HVAC technicians, you can trust us to find out what’s wrong with your heater and get your house warm again.

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Is a Tankless Water Heater Always a Better Replacement Option?

Monday, July 17th, 2017

tank-water-heaterWe may be in the height of summer here in Chicagoland, but there’s one heating system in our homes that must always work on a regular basis, day in and day out: the water heater. The water heater accounts for the largest amount of heat energy used in most homes, and that’s because it serves so many functions around the year. You’ll always need hot water for morning showers and to handle doing dishes and cleaning clothes.

Because of the 12-months-a-year operation of a water heater, a system can start to give out on you at almost any time. There’s no “season” for water heater repairs and water heater replacement! If you find yourself with a failing water heater and are ready to have it replaced, one of the options you’re probably considering is putting in a tankless system. These alternatives to the standard storage tank water heater receive a lot of good press—including from us!—so you might think that going with a tankless water heater in Evanston, IL is automatically the best choice for a replacement.

But it isn’t necessarily! Let’s take a close look at what may be the best option for your home’s water heater.

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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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Air Conditioner Shopping Help: SEER vs. EER

Monday, March 27th, 2017

spinning-fan-closeupIt’s now officially spring, and no matter what cold spells we may encounter in the coming weeks, the move toward warmer weather has started. This is an excellent time of the year to consider options for replacing an old air conditioning system. If your current AC is over 15 years old or has started to show signs of a decline in efficiency, reliability, and/or cooling output, it’s smart to have it retired and replaced with a new unit before the summer heat arrives.

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Furnaces Are More Efficient Than Ever: Here’s Why

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

furnace-burner-flamesHeating technology doesn’t stand still. It is constantly advancing, and that’s why modern gas furnaces are more energy efficient than the furnaces of 30, 20, or even 10 years in the past. But simply saying that “technology got better” isn’t really saying that much. What exactly makes the new furnace so efficient?

And New Furnaces Are Indeed Much More Efficient

Before we get into why furnaces are more efficient, let’s look at exactly how much more efficient they are today than in the past.

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Things Your Heat Pump May Do in Winter (That Aren’t Really Problems)

Tuesday, December 27th, 2016

So, is this your first winter using a heat pump to provide cozy comfort to your house? Whether it’s because you have moved into a new home that has a heat pump installed, or you had the heat pump installed yourself earlier this year, you need to know a few things about what happens during winter. There are some behaviors you may notice from your heat pump that seem alarming. But they are actually normal and not necessarily indications of malfunctions that require repairs:

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ALL Heating Systems Need Maintenance!

Monday, November 28th, 2016

During the fall, we make a major effort to stress with our customers and potential customers the importance of arranging for heating maintenance before winter cold arrives. And as you can probably guess from the calendar, winter is not that far away. If you haven’t yet arranged for your annual heating maintenance, right now is the time to jump on it. It’s easy: you only have to call us and ask about our Residential Maintenance Agreements.

Here’s something we need to stress: ­all types of heating systems require these pre-winter inspections.

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Tips to Keep Safe with a Gas Furnace This Winter

Monday, October 31st, 2016

Do you have a natural gas furnace to provide your home with warmth over the winters? Chances are good that you do, since gas furnaces are the most common type of residential heater in the country—and their powerful heating ability makes them especially popular in in places like Chicago that experience harsh winters.

Although a gas furnace is a great way to heat your house, it can present a number of safety hazards without proper care. These aren’t difficult or arduous steps, but they can make a big difference for your home:

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