Heating Services

No heat? What we check first

When a furnace stops producing heat, the cause is usually one of a short list: a thermostat that has lost power or programming, a tripped breaker, a clogged filter that has caused the unit to overheat and lock out, a failed igniter or flame sensor, a bad blower motor or capacitor, or a safety switch doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

Before you call, it is worth checking that the thermostat has batteries, the furnace switch is on, the breaker has not tripped and the filter is not filthy. If all of that looks fine, the diagnosis needs tools. We identify the failed component, quote the repair, and carry the parts that fail most often so heat is usually restored on the same visit.

Furnace repair, and when replacement makes more sense

A repair is usually the right answer on a furnace that is still in the middle of its service life and has not had a string of failures. The picture changes when the unit is old, the repair is expensive, the heat exchanger is compromised, or the same system has needed attention two or three winters in a row.

We give you the numbers both ways: what the repair costs, what it realistically buys you, and what replacement equipment would cost installed. If a cracked or failing heat exchanger turns up we will show you the inspection and explain the safety implications plainly, because that is one of the few cases where continuing to run the equipment is not an option.

Boilers and radiator heat in older homes

Steam and hot water heat is still common in Chicago two-flats, greystones and older suburban homes, and it behaves nothing like forced air. We service low-pressure steam and hot water boilers: low-water cutoffs, sight glasses, pressuretrols and aquastats, expansion tanks, circulators, zone valves and radiator vents.

Uneven heat between floors or between units is usually a venting and balancing problem, not a reason to replace a boiler that still has years of service in it. We work the balancing first and talk about replacement only when the equipment genuinely warrants it.

Thermostats and zoning

A surprising number of comfort complaints trace back to controls rather than equipment. A thermostat mounted on an exterior wall or in direct sun reads the wrong temperature. A programmable schedule nobody set fights the household's actual routine. In zoned systems, a stuck damper or a failed zone board can make one floor unbearable while the equipment looks perfectly healthy at the furnace.

We install and configure standard, programmable and smart thermostats, and we troubleshoot zone controls before recommending equipment — which is often the difference between a service call and a replacement quote.

Heating maintenance and efficiency

A yearly heating tune-up before the cold sets in is the cheapest form of insurance available on the system. We clean and inspect the burners, check the heat exchanger, test the igniter and flame sensor, verify safety controls, check gas pressure and combustion, inspect the blower and confirm airflow.

Efficiency follows from the same work. A clean, correctly adjusted furnace with an unrestricted filter and sealed ductwork uses less gas to hold the same temperature. If you want a broader look at where energy is going in your building, our energy savings consulting covers heating, cooling and hot water together.

Commercial heating

For businesses and property managers we service rooftop heating sections, unit heaters, make-up air, commercial boilers and the controls that tie them together. Preventive maintenance visits are scheduled around your operating hours where possible, and we document what was checked so building records stay complete.