Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Friday, June 17th, 2011
For many the summer heat is no surprise. Every year we face high 80s and even the occasional 90 or 100 degree day in Chicago. Most have an air conditioned home to seek refuge in during these dangerously hot days, but even air conditioned homes face the potential for system failures. The stifling heat can choke an air conditioner and cause the system to overheat. Those that take good care of their systems don’t usually have this problem, but for those that haven’t cared for their units in years, this problem is all too common.
24 Hour Emergency Service
Luckily, Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is there for you even when your air conditioner isn’t! We are open 24 hours a day to service your system, but odds are these hot days will have a bit of a waiting list. We will still service your unit same day but you may have to go without cooling for a few hours. For some this may not be a big deal, but for others, scorching hot temperatures could be a death sentence! That is why we are offering our customers a few tips to keep in mind while they wait for their service technician to fix their air conditioner: (more…)
Tags: 24 hour, air conditioner repair, Chicago, comfort, Cooling, emergency, Four Seasons, heat exhaustion, IL, Jefferson Park, Kildeer, Lynwood, safety tips
Posted in Air conditioning, Health, Informational, Safety, Tips and Suggestions | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
I had a customer last summer who was one of the hundreds of Chicagoans that had a flood in their basement. She was very upset with us when she found out we were unable to repair her furnace. It had been submerged under a few feet of water, and according to GAMA, any gas appliance that has been under flood waters is unsafe to operate. These systems must be replaced. But, who is GAMA, and why would they care what I do?
Who is GAMA?
GAMA stands for Gas Appliance Manufacturer Association. They are the national trade association that represents the manufacturers of gas appliances like furnaces, boilers, and hot water tanks. GAMA makes sure that the gas appliances we buy meet stringent safety standards, and they are the reason we cannot fix flooded equipment. Well, to be fair, they aren’t the only reason. Common sense also tells us that trying to repair water damaged equipment is a terrible way to conduct business, and GAMA simply reinforces common sense. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, Boiler, Chicago, damage, flood, Four Seasons, Furnace, gas valve, Harwood Heights, hot water tank, Oak Lawn, repair, replacement, Safety, Villa Park, water damage
Posted in Air conditioning, Health, Heating, Informational, Safety | Comments Off
Monday, March 28th, 2011
With all of the cleaning and maintenance checks that you will be making of your home during spring cleaning, don’t forget to check the attic. This past winter we had some crazy weather and all of the snow and rain may have caused leaks or allowed water to get into your attic space in some way. For many, there isn’t much in the attic besides a little storage and some insulation material, so you may not think that a little water in the attic is big deal. However, here at Four Seasons we want you to know about 2 major problems that wet insulation can cause in your home if you don’t have it promptly removed and replaced.
Problem #1: Heat Barrier Damage
No matter what type of insulation material you have in your attic, water can damage them all both temporarily and permanently. Your insulation is what protects your home from heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. The material is resistant to the transfer of heat, and therefore allows for your heating and cooling systems to work efficiently keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. However, water has the opposite effect. (more…)
Tags: attic, blown-in fiberglass, Chicago, comfort, Downers Grove, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, IL, Insulation, insulation removal, leaks, Lemont, mold growth, R-Value, water
Posted in Health, Home Services, attic insulation | Comments Off
Friday, March 25th, 2011
When it comes to getting the air inside your home clean, many homeowners believe that the furnace filter is getting the job done. These people probably change their cheap fiberglass filters on a regular basis and believe that fancy air purifiers and air cleaners are for germaphobes that fear even the smallest of unseen particles. Well, Four Seasons is here to tell your that just changing the furnace filter on a regular basis is not enough to keep the air in most homes clean, and if you are one of those homeowners that uses cheap fiberglass filters as your replacement, the air in your home is probably much more contaminated than you may even realize.
The Trouble with Furnace Filters
The real problem with furnace filters is that purchasing a high quality filter every month or every 3 months can get very costly very quickly. For many homeowners it is much easier to purchase a stack of cheap thin fiberglass filters and replace them every month. The problem is that these cheap filters, though they may save you a few bucks, do very little to capture particles that float around in the air of your home. In fact the only particles they do catch are large dust particles, and if they catch anything smaller it is due to the fact that the filter is clogged with dust that makes it harder for tiny particles to get through. (more…)
Tags: Air Cleaner, air filter, Air Quality, Chicago, Country Club Hills, fiberglass, filtration, Four Seasons, Furnace, IL, Lennox, particles, River Forest
Posted in Air Quality, Air filtration, Health, furnace filtration | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Many allergy sufferers have enjoyed the long winter away from itchy eyes, sore throats, and nasal congestion, but spring is almost here. As the flowers bloom and the grass grows, allergens will be released into the air and into our homes. If you use a furnace or air conditioner with a duct work system to circulate the air, these allergens could be flying around in the air of your home making it very difficult to get control of your allergy symptoms. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to rid your home of as many allergens as possible, and Four Seasons has the experts to help you get it done.
Your Duct Work
The duct work system in your home is breeding ground for mold, dust mites, pet dander, and a plethora of other allergy causing particles. The dark and sometimes damp bends and twists of your duct work system are the perfect place for these microorganisms and particles to collect, and removing them is nearly impossible without help from a duct cleaning company. (more…)
Tags: air purifier, Air Quality, allergens, Allergies, Alsip, Chicago, cleaning, Dolton, duct work, dust, Four Seasons, Glenwood, IL, mold, pollen, spring allergies
Posted in Air Quality, Air filtration, Duct Cleaning, Health, Home Services | Comments Off
Monday, February 14th, 2011
As spring approaches, allergy sufferers prepare for the dreaded return of pollen and other spring time allergens. Our eyes water and itch, our noses drip, and our heads hurt. Just the thought of the most potent allergy season approaching makes many of us wish that winter would stick around. But, this year you can win the battle between you and pollen by having a UV light installed by Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning.
The Solution to Your Indoor Air Pollution
Our powerful UV lights from Lennox Healthy Climate Solutions are your solution to the indoor air quality problems in your home. When placed inside your duct work system, these lights are able to attack the biological contaminants in your air supply as they are circulated through your home. (more…)
Tags: Air Purification, Air Quality, Allergies, allergy season, Chicago, contaminants, Glenwood, Hinsdale, IL, Lennox, pollen, Posen, spring, UV Light
Posted in Air Quality, Air filtration, Health | Comments Off
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
The multiple feet of snow that we received across the Chicagoland area have caused several problems for furnaces for many homeowners. The biggest problems resulted from old worn out units overworking to keep up with the cold and blocked exhaust pipes on newer high efficiency model furnaces. Furnace problems are not only frustrating and inconvenient, but they also can be dangerous. Furnaces create hazardous gases during the combustion process and unless they are vented safely from the home, these gases can backup into the home.
Older furnaces are traditionally vented through a chimney to the roof, but newer high efficiency units vent directly from the unit through plastic pipes that are often only a few feet off of the ground. When the snow reaches the levels that it has in recent weeks, these pipes can become blocked. Unless the snow is removed the furnace will either shut down or emit carbon monoxide in the home. Safety mechanisms usually will protect homeowners by not allowing the furnace to come on, but problems can occur that cause these mechanisms to not function properly. As a homeowner, there are a few steps you can take to stop this from happening in your home:
- Clear Away the Snow: Locate your furnace’s venting pipes and make sure that snow is cleared from the area. Periodically check the situation to ensure that there are no other obstructions. (more…)
Tags: 24 hours, Alsip, around the clock furnace repair, blizzard, Chicago, Crest Hill, exhaust, flue, Four Seasons, Furnace, IL, pipe, snow, Tinley Park, vent
Posted in Air Quality, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Health, Safety | Comments Off
Monday, February 7th, 2011
Source removal is the only method of air duct cleaning supported by NADCA. As a member of NADCA, Four Seasons abides by this standard of practice, but what does source removal mean for our customers? Simply put, source removal is a method of removing particles from the duct work of a home without allowing them into the homeowner’s breathing air. Seems like the logical way to remove contaminants from a home right? Well, for many unscrupulous companies, this is not a common practice. Accidentally hiring one of these companies to clean the duct in your home could actually make the air quality in your home worse rather than better.
Major Mishap
During a duct cleaning, a legitimate company like Four Seasons will seal the vents and use certain devices to agitate the particles in your duct work while a large vacuum system sucks the particles from the ducts to a collection device. If this process were not done properly, it could lead to the release of dust, pollen, mold spores, and other airborne particles into the air of the home. This would drastically raise the levels of these particulates in your breathing air, and require immediate cleaning in order to prevent any health problems. (more…)
Tags: Air Quality, Calumet City, Chicago, debris, Duct Cleaning, dust, Four Seasons, health problems, Merrionette Park, mold spores, NADCA, source removal, vents
Posted in Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Health, Quality | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is a 24 hour service company for a reason. Every year in Chicago, we experience months of frigid temperatures, and heating the home becomes a major priority for every homeowner. Four Seasons strives daily to offer around the clock service 365 days a year to the citizens of Chicago land, and we do this because going without heat threatens your family’s safety, health, and comfort. We know that not all HVAC companies offer this level of service, but here are some of the reasons why Four Seasons has made your warmth our priority no matter what time of day it may be:
- Safety Hazards: When the furnace goes out on a particularly cold night, many people search for other ways to heat their homes. These methods often pose dangers to the safety of your home and your family. Space heaters can be a fire hazard if not used properly. If the heater needs to be vented and is not or if the homeowner is using the oven for heating, poisonous carbon monoxide could leak into the home. Another home safety issue is pipe freezing. If the heat is out for an extended period of time, there is a good chance that pipes in the home will begin to freeze. If you are not quick to act, they could burst. The gallons of water that flow from the busted pipe will cause damage to anything around it, and could cost you hundreds or thousands to repair. (more…)
Tags: 24 hr service, around the clock, Elmhurst, Four Seasons, frozen pipes, Furnace, furnace repairs, Health, Heating, Hoffman Estates, home comfort, IL, Joliet, Safety
Posted in Boiler, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Health, Heating, Safety | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
Having good indoor air quality is important. I think we can all agree on that, but what type of system we use to achieve good indoor air quality is we some of us may differ in opinion. When it comes to purchasing an air purifier for your home, you will have many decisions to make, but one of the first choices you will have to make is whether you want a whole house air purification system or a portable air purifier. Although portable units do have some advantages, here at Four Seasons we believe that whole house systems are your best choice when you want to clean the air in your entire home.
The BIG Problem with Portable Systems
If you or someone living in your home has allergies or asthma, the air purifier is crucial to their comfort. The biggest problem that exists with portable units is that they can only cover a small area of space. Unless you buy multiple systems and place them in every room of the home, you could be limiting the areas in the home where people with this problem can be comfortable. (more…)
Tags: air purifier, Air Quality, Chicago, Four Seasons, Glen Ellyn, Healthy Climate, Homer Glen, IL, Lennox, portable, whole house
Posted in Air Quality, Air filtration, Health, maintenance | Comments Off
