High Electric Bills? What Chicago Commercial and Residential Properties Should Check
· 8 min read · Right Away Plumbing and HVAC
An electric bill that keeps climbing is not always explained by rate increases alone. On both commercial and residential properties, the equipment that heats, cools and heats water is often the biggest swing factor in the bill — and it is common for a property owner to notice the bill before anyone has looked closely at the equipment driving it.
This article explains what typically drives higher electric usage in HVAC and water heating equipment, what a technician checks during an assessment, and when it makes sense to consider a more efficient system.
Start with annual rooftop unit maintenance
For commercial properties, the rooftop unit is usually the largest electric load in the building. A unit that has not had annual maintenance can lose efficiency gradually — a dirty coil, a worn belt, a low refrigerant charge, or a fan running out of adjustment all make the equipment work harder to produce the same amount of heating or cooling. None of these show up as an obvious failure; the unit still runs, but it pulls more electricity to do the same job.
Annual maintenance is the first, most direct way to manage rooftop unit electric usage: catching those small losses before they compound across an entire cooling or heating season.
Rooftop maintenance and no-heat diagnosis are part of our commercial heating and mechanical service.
What drives high electric bills in residential properties
On the residential side, the most common contributors are:
- An aging or oversized/undersized air conditioner working outside its efficient range
- An electric furnace or electric resistance heat strip carrying more of the heating load than it should
- An older electric water heater that cycles more than a newer, better-insulated unit
- Ductwork or insulation issues that make the system run longer to reach the same setpoint
- A thermostat schedule that keeps the system working during unoccupied hours
Furnaces, boilers, heat pumps and thermostats are covered under our residential heating service.
Air conditioning repair, sizing and replacement sit on the residential cooling side.
For tanks that cycle constantly or run out of hot water, see water heater repair and installation.
What drives high electric bills in commercial properties
Commercial properties see similar issues at a larger scale:
- Aging rooftop units that have lost efficiency over time
- Equipment that is oversized or undersized for the space it serves
- Economizers or dampers not operating correctly, forcing the heating or cooling section to work harder
- Scheduling and control problems that run equipment during unoccupied hours
- Electric water heating equipment serving multiple tenants or a high-demand kitchen or restroom load
Rooftop units, make-up air, boilers and building controls fall under our commercial mechanical services.
What we check during an energy assessment
When a customer calls about a high electric bill, we look at the actual equipment driving the load rather than guessing from the bill alone:
- System age, type and condition (rooftop unit, furnace, boiler, water heater)
- Whether the equipment is electric resistance, gas, or a heat pump type system
- Run time and cycling patterns
- Thermostat and control schedule
- Basic airflow and equipment condition indicators
That tells us whether the fix is maintenance, a repair, a control adjustment, or replacement with more efficient equipment. If you are weighing a larger decision, you can schedule a consultation.
Before a purchase, lease or capital budget, a documented plumbing and HVAC property inspection gives you equipment condition notes and priorities in writing.
Options once you know what is driving usage
Depending on what the assessment finds, there are a few paths:
- Maintenance or repair on the existing system, if the equipment itself is sound
- Converting an aging electric water heater to a more efficient model
- Upgrading a rooftop unit, furnace, or air conditioner to more efficient equipment on either the heating side or the cooling side (or both)
- Adjusting controls and scheduling so equipment is not running during unoccupied hours
Why we do not quote a savings percentage
We do not promise a specific dollar or percentage savings figure, since usage depends on the building, occupancy and how the system is used. What we can do is show you what the current system is costing to operate and what a more efficient option would look like for your property.
Warranty coverage on new equipment
Replacement is a long-term decision, so it is worth asking what the coverage looks like before the equipment is ordered. On a rooftop unit, boiler or water heater installation, we go over the manufacturer terms for the equipment and our own coverage on the installation work, in writing, with the quote.
Qualifying installations may include our lifetime product, labor and parts warranty program; terms and eligibility apply.
Commercial and residential service across Chicago and the suburbs
Right Away Plumbing and HVAC provides commercial and residential rooftop unit, furnace, boiler, and water heater service across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
You can reach us through our contact page, or check the full list of
Commercial and residential work inside Chicago runs through 773-250-6060.
Our shop is in Des Plaines, and 847-550-3322 covers the suburbs.
We also handle offices, retail and multifamily buildings in Schaumburg and nearby communities.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my electric bill higher than it used to be, even though I haven't changed how I use my system?
Equipment efficiency degrades gradually. A rooftop unit, furnace, air conditioner or water heater that has not had recent maintenance can lose efficiency over time and pull more electricity to do the same job, even with no change in how it's used.
Does annual rooftop unit maintenance actually affect the electric bill?
Yes — maintenance addresses the small, gradual losses (dirty coils, worn components, refrigerant charge, airflow) that make equipment work harder than it needs to. Left unaddressed, those losses compound over a season.
Is it the water heater, the HVAC system, or both driving up my bill?
It depends on the property. An assessment looks at each piece of equipment individually — water heater, furnace or rooftop unit, and air conditioning — to identify which one is contributing the most to the bill.
Do commercial and residential properties have different causes for high electric bills?
Some causes overlap (aging equipment, poor scheduling), but commercial properties more often involve rooftop unit economizers, multi-tenant loads, and equipment sizing across a larger space, while residential issues more often involve a single aging system or water heater.
What does Right Away check during an energy assessment?
System age, type and condition, whether it's electric resistance, gas or heat pump equipment, run time and cycling patterns, thermostat and control schedule, and basic airflow and equipment condition.
Does new equipment from Right Away come with a warranty?
Manufacturer terms on the equipment and our coverage on the installation work are both provided in writing with the quote. Qualifying installations may include our lifetime product, labor and parts warranty program; terms and eligibility apply.
Talk to Right Away
Right Away Plumbing and HVAC provides commercial and residential rooftop unit, furnace, boiler, and water heater service across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
If the bill is climbing and nobody has looked at the equipment yet, that is the place to start.
For a Chicago address, call 773-250-6060. For Des Plaines and the surrounding suburbs, call 847-550-3322 or request service online.
Right Away Plumbing and HVAC is based at 2093 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016 and is licensed, bonded and insured.
You can read more about our plumbing services, check the communities we serve, or start with plumbing in Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Planning a remodel or weighing a big replacement? Our consulting service is built for that conversation.
For installation, repair, descaling or sizing on a tankless system, see our tankless water heater services page.