Archive for the ‘maintenance’ Category
Friday, January 13th, 2012
Juggling a busy schedule is part of the day to day life of an average American. We all work long hours to provide for our family. We spend time caring for children and spending time with our loved ones and all of this leaves little time for anything else. As homeowners, general home maintenance is just one of the many responsibilities that come along with having a home. Finding time for this responsibility is the problem. There are other priorities that must come first, and if this sounds like your home life, odds are you could use a helping hand. This is where Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning and Four Seasons Home Services can lend a hand.
Licensed Pros for Every Need
At Four Seasons we have professionally trained and licensed plumbers, HVAC technicians, handymen, window installation experts, and air duct cleaners. We can handle nearly any job around the home from furnace maintenance and repair to toilet replacements and gutter cleaning. Big or small, we value every customers needs no matter the cost of the job. Our goal is to make living in your home as comfortable as possible, and to make the space work for you and your family. Don’t put off your home’s much needed repairs any longer and rely on Four Seasons.
Tags: affordable, air duct cleaning, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Four Seasons, handyman services, home maintenance, home repair, Home Services, hvac maintenance, HVAC repair, IL, Plumbing Services, window installation
Posted in Air Quality, Air conditioning, Furnace Repair, Heating, Home Services, Tips and Suggestions, customer service, maintenance | Comments Off
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Boilers have a very long lifetime especially when they are cared for properly. At Four Seasons, we have seen old boilers last 20, 30 and even 40 years before breaking down to the point that they need to be replaced. So, how old is your boiler? Is your boiler still the original unit that was there when you moved into your home? If so, you can save money and energy by replacing that old system with a new high efficiency boiler from Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning.
Overpaying Every Month
You run into two problems when you allow an old outdated boiler to run in your home. The first problem is the cost. The older the boiler the odds are the less energy efficient it will be. Some older boilers waste as much as 50% of the natural gas they consume during the combustion process. That adds up to a hefty cost every month on your utility bills and for most of us, overpaying every month by 50% is simply not an option! (more…)
Tags: age, Boiler, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, heat exchanger, Heating, hot water, installation, Peerless, replacement, Safety, save money, steam, utility bills
Posted in Boiler, Heating, Savings, Tips and Suggestions, maintenance | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
When you upgrade the furnace in your home to a high efficiency unit, you will notice many things that are different about this system when compared to the old unit you had been operating in the home. The ventilation system is completely different, the unit operates very quietly, and hopefully the comfort level has increased as well. These new systems need to be cared for differently than that old unit that you once had. They have different needs you must keep an eye on, but luckily Four Seasons can help you make the transition easy.
Condensation and Your Drain Line
Besides taking special care to have your filters changed on a regular basis, there are a couple other parts of the system you should keep an eye on. The drain line, for example, is a vital component of your new furnace. This until creates a lot of water during its efficient combustion process and that water must be drained. The drain line will safely remove this water from the unit, but only if the line is clear. With a lack of maintenance this line can become easily clogged with mineral deposits and mold. The clog will cause the system to back up and shut itself down until the line is cleared. However, if you have the system regularly maintained by your Four Seasons serviceman, this will not be a problem. (more…)
Tags: Arlington Heights, Chicago, cleaning, clog, drain line, filter replacement, Four Seasons, Furnace, Heating, high efficiency, IL, maintenance, maintenance plans, Oakbrook Terrace
Posted in Furnace, Furnace Repair, Heating, Tips and Suggestions, maintenance | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Some people will try anything to get the furnace to kick back on during a breakdown without needing to call a professional. They will mess with the thermostat and jiggle wires, and all the while they are crossing their fingers hoping for a miracle. Sometimes, these people get lucky, and maybe you could too! It is true. The majority of furnace problems can be prevented in advance by having regular maintenance performed on the system. However, what happens when you don’t get the furnace cleaned? Well, you end up with a breakdown. Four Seasons would encourage you to have this cleaning performed even if you are one of those lucky people that are able to get the unit to start back up.
Restarting the Furnace
Sometimes all the furnace needs to get going is to be restarted. Like the many electronics out there that can freeze up, you simply reboot the unit and suddenly it works again. This sometimes works with your furnace or other heating system. You turn the unit off at the thermostat. Then you turn the switch off at the furnace, flip the breaker, and manually turn the unit back on before setting the temperature on the thermostat. Suddenly the furnace kicks on and all is well. If this were to happen to you, you should take this as a warning call! Your furnace is having some sort of problem, and it needs to be checked. (more…)
Tags: Chicago, cleaning, Four Seasons, furnac repair, Furnace, Heating, IL, kick on, Libertyville, maintenance, reboot, restart, technician, thermostat, Tune Up, warning call
Posted in Boiler, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Heating, Tips and Suggestions, maintenance | Comments Off
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is your one stop shop for all of your hvac needs. In order to make this claim though, Four Seasons had to expand the search for technicians that could handle all of the jobs our customers needed. We wanted true professionals that were experts in their chosen field, and that is how we ended up with such a wide variety of servicemen. No matter the problem you may need solved or the maintenance job you need completed, Four Seasons has your technician on hand!
- Maintenance Technician: A Four Seasons maintenance technician will knowledgeably clean and assess your system on a yearly basis. His work will help you get the most out of your heating or cooling system for the least amount of cost possible. He or she will also check for any potential problems that may arise down the line based on the condition of your system.
- Repair Technician: Our repair technicians are some of the hardest workers in the city of Chicago. They travel all over the Chicagoland area at all hours of the night and day. They are NATE and/or EPA certified to properly assess and diagnose your system.
- Senior Repair Technicians: Do you have an accessibly old furnace or an air conditioner that is an odd make and model? If so, you have found your repair specialist. Some companies turn away business based on the type of unit that the customer has. At Four Seasons, we decided to find professionals that have the experience to work on these units with precise skill. These technicians are called our senior repair technicians and they can handle literally anything your furnace or air conditioner may throw at them. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, Chicago, Duct Cleaning, Four Seasons, furance, heating and cooling, HVAC, IL, installation, Lake Bluff, maintenance, repair, Rolling Meadows, serviceman, specilaist, technician
Posted in Air Conditioner Repair, Air conditioning, Boiler, Furnace, Heating, Hot Water Heater, customer service, maintenance | Comments Off
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Your furnace is your home’s source of comfort. As long as that unit keeps running and continues to keep you and your family warm, there is a sense of security in the home. However, your furnace can quickly turn into a source of danger if you don’t take the proper precautions. Having a furnace in the home is like having a well ventilated and circulated fire in the home. It is able to keep everyone warm, but in the process is creates harmful combustion gases that must be expelled from the home. When everything is working properly and well cared for, venting these harmful gases is not a major concern. Yet, when maintenance falls by the wayside, the furnace can cause dangerous problems for your family. Luckily Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is around to help you keep your furnace in check.
Heat Exchanger Deterioration
Not maintaining the furnace yearly could lead to a variety of problems that will require any number of repairs. But, the problems that a lack of maintenance can cause for your furnace’s heat exchanger are what truly concern us. The heat exchanger expands and contracts with every cycle of the furnace. Over time this will lead to the development of cracks and holes in the steel of the heat exchanger. Nearly all furnaces will meet this fate if they are in operation for long enough, but the goal is to prevent this from happening for as long as possible. That means that you must have yearly furnace cleanings performed on the system along with regular filter replacements. (more…)
Tags: air flow, Alsip, Chicago, comfort, filter replacement, Four Seasons, Furnace, furnace cleaning, Hanover Park, heat exchanger, Heating, heating problems, HVAC contractor, IL, maintenance, maintenance checks, over heating, Safety, yearly cleaning
Posted in Furnace, Furnace Repair, Heating, Safety, Tips and Suggestions, furnace filtration, maintenance | Comments Off
Monday, December 26th, 2011
The biggest threat to the condition of the hot water tank is corrosion. The steel within your hot water tank is susceptible to damage done by the water that the tank is heating, but thanks to one very valuable part, your hot water tank is able to avoid disaster. The anode is a magnesium or aluminum rod that has been inserted into the top of your hot water tank and its number one job is to corrode. However, once this anode is gone, so is the protection your tank has against corrosion. Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning offers hot water heating services that can secure safety for your hot water tank for years to come.
Anode Erosion Protection
The magnesium or aluminum anode in your water tank has been attracting erosion since your unit was first installed. By doing so, it protects the steel within the tank from corroding because aluminum and magnesium are more corrosive than steel. The steel is spared until the anode has eroded. Once this happens, the water will begin to corrode the steel in the tank. This problem usually manifests itself as a leak in the bottom of the tank that simply cannot be fixed. Once the tank is at this point, the corrosion is so extensive that it is beyond repair. (more…)
Tags: aluminum, anode, Chicago, cleaning, corrosion, energy efficiency, erosion, Four Seasons, hot water tank, IL, leaks, longevity, magnesium, maintenance checks, Midlothian, protection, repair, save money, steel, Vernon Hills
Posted in Heating, Home Services, Hot Water Heater, Plumbing Services, maintenance | Comments Off
Monday, December 19th, 2011
Excess moisture and negative odors are two things that every homeowner wants to get out of their home as quickly as possible. It is for this reason that our bathrooms and kitchens are equipped with exhaust fans and ventilation systems. However, if we are not taking that moment to flip the switch to turn the fan on, we aren’t going to reap the benefits of these valuable fans.
Why Your Exhaust Fans are so Important!
The first step it to get used to turning on that fan with every hot shower, but if you are still noticing sweat on the walls and ceilings, there may be a problem. Many homes are equipped with fans that move very little air and therefore allow loads of moist air to remain inside the home after hot showers. This could lead to mold and mildew growth that will cause even bigger and more expensive problems.
The Tissue Test
What you need to do is test your fan. This is easy enough to do on your own with a piece of tissue paper. Simply hold a tissue up to the fan and let go. The fan should be able to hold the tissue securely to its grills. This is a good indicator of the strength of your fan. If it can hold the tissue, odds are it is strong enough. However, if there is still excess moisture in the bathroom long after the showers are done for the day, your fan may not be large enough and therefore not powerful enough to remove the needed amount of moisture from the room. (more…)
Tags: bathroom, Chicago, exhaust fan, Four Seasons, handyman services, Kildeer, kitchen, La Grange, Lake Bluff, mildew, moisture, mold, repair, testing, ventilation systems
Posted in Air Quality, Air filtration, Home Improvement and Repair, Home Services, Tips and Suggestions, maintenance | Comments Off
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Over the summer months, many of us experienced problems with our air conditioners. The souring temperatures and the repetitive heat waves truly took a toll on the system and if you didn’t have problems with your air conditioner, you were one of the lucky ones. The rest of us dealt with failures and leaks that needed emergency repairs. Luckily, Four Seasons was around all summer long, day in and day out, fixing broken air conditioners. A broken part is one thing but a leak or a condensation problem could cause much bigger problems that may have been initially seen. Water is like poison for both your air conditioner and your furnace, and if you had a leak in your air conditioner last summer, getting the furnace cleaned is more important than ever before.
Finding Problems Your Air Conditioner Caused
It is always recommended that you have a yearly maintenance check performed on the furnace at some point during the heating season. The cleaning will help identify problems and get the unit running efficiently and reliably for the remainder of the season. If the furnace was exposed to water over the summer months, you may not even know the extent of the damage that it may have caused unless you have the unit assessed. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, Chicago, cleaning, condensation, Elmhurst, Evanston, Four Seasons, Furnace, furnace maintenance, furnace repair, Heating, IL, installation, leaks, maintenance, mold, replacement, rust, Tune Up, winter
Posted in Air conditioning, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Heating, maintenance | Comments Off
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
The winter season brings with it the need for warmth and comfort within the home. With all of the focus being placed on the condition of your furnace, odds are you haven’t even thought to check up on the state of your hot water heater. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone, but if you don’t take the time to give this unit a little attention, you could find yourself in a bit of a pickle down the line. Hot water tanks, like furnaces, tend to fail at inconvenient times. For example, your poorly maintained hot water tank may decide to stop working in the middle of your morning shower on the coldest of cold winter days. This is an all too common occurrence that could be easily prevented with water heater maintenance from Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning.
Eliminate Cold Showers with Four Seasons
Just like the furnace needs to be cleaned and checked yearly, the hot water tank could use a good scrub down as well. Your Four Seasons serviceman can give your hot water tank the servicing that it truly needs and we can do it right now! From flushing the system to cleaning the pilot, your Four Seasons tech can handle it all. In the end you will have a system that runs much more efficiently and reliably than ever before. Don’t wait for a cold shower to ruin your day and schedule your proactive maintenance with Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning today!
Tags: Chicago, clean pilot, cleaning, cold showers, efficiency, Four Seasons, Homer Glen, hot water, Hot Water Heater, hot water tank, IL, maintenance, Palatine, Posen, reliability, system flush, yearly tune up
Posted in Heating, Hot Water Heater, Tips and Suggestions, maintenance | Comments Off
