Posts Tagged ‘maintenance’

Frequently Changing Filters | Forest Park, Flossmoor, Evergreen Park

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

As Americans, we inherently have busy lives full of things to remember on a day to day basis. Maintaining the heating and cooling system may not be a task that needs to be completed every day, but for most, checking the furnace’s filter just once a month is still too much of a task to remember. In order to make sure things continue to work properly, many homeowners will invest in fancy filters that can last for multiple months, so that they don’t have to remember to change the filter every 30 days. However, some of these homeowners are finding that despite the manufacturer’s claims that the filter should last 3 months or longer, the filter still needs changing every 30 days. Before you blame the manufacturer, take a moment to consider that the problem might not be your filter; it might be your HVAC system and the air quality in your home!

Finding the Source of Air Quality Problems

It is recommended that once you replace your filter or upgrade to a new type of filter you check it every 30 days to make sure that it is able to handle to air quality in the home. For some, 30 days comes and the filter that is made to last 3-6 months is still in good conditioner. For others, the filter already needs to be changed. The problem lies within the home’s air quality. You may have animals or other factors that are contributing to the dirty air in the home or you may just have filthy ducts. As the furnace circulates air through them, debris is picked up and caught by the filter. When this debris is excessive, it can waste a filter in 30 days or less. (more…)

Remodeling Your Home? Have Your HVAC System Cleaned

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Having work performed in the home can create quite a mess. From dirty floors and walls to construction dust on every surface, getting the home back to its original condition after the repairs or remodeling jobs have been completed can prove to be quite a task. Many construction companies will clean up after themselves, but nearly all of them forget about the mess they made of one very crucial system in the home: the HVAC system! All of that dust, debris, and odor will be swept up into the duct work to be transferred through the furnace and then re-circulated throughout the home. Depending on how extensive the work was, you may have a serious air quality and furnace efficiency problem leftover. You are going to need someone to clean up this system, and Four Seasons has got your back.

Cleaning Up After Construction

  • Duct Cleaning: Many homeowners have never had the ducts cleaned in the home, so odds are they are not only full of construction debris but also years and years of particle build up. A professional duct cleaning from Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is the only way to restore this part of the system back to peak performance and bring clean air back into your home. Without this service, you could be left breathing in construction dust for years to come.
  • Heating and Cooling Cleaning: With all of that debris circulating through the ducts, it will have to pass through the furnace and air conditioner as well. If you aren’t using advanced filtration system to capture these particles before they dirty up the furnace, then you probably have a mess inside your system that could be causing a massive decrease in energy efficiency. Burners and heat exchangers that are coated in a layer or dust and debris cannot transfer heat as effectively and energy efficiency suffers. You will end up paying more to use the furnace every month because the system will need to burn more fuel to keep up. (more…)

High Efficiency Furnace Care | Arlington Heights, Oakbrook Terrace

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…)

Reviving the Furnace and Scheduling Maintenance | Libertyville

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…)

A Technician for Every HVAC Need | Rolling Meadows, Lake Bluff

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…)

Protecting Your Furnace with Four Seasons | Hanover Park, Alsip

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…)

Cheapest Price Doesn’t Mean Best Value | Indian Head Park, Hines

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Your home is your sanctuary, and odds are you have invested quite a bit of money into the place. You want it to be nice and you want it to be comfortable. When the furnace and air conditioning system are due for replacement, you are going to want to make the best investment for your home. Most homeowners are initially driven by price when comparing and contrasting furnaces and air conditioners, but what they should really be looking for is the best value for their needs. When comparing your offers, you will look for a system that offers comfort, lower utility bills and an increased resale value on the home if possible. If all you are looking at is price, chances are you won’t find all of these things. You need to consider both the quality of the contractor you are going to make this agreement with and the true value of the investment you are about to make.

Choosing Your Heating and Cooling Contractor

When deciding on what equipment and what company will do the best job, it is essential to do your homework.  Is the company accredited with the BBB, what is there rating on social media sites.  What brand HVAC equipment do they offer, what are the guarantees, are they open 24 hours a day for your needs, do they charge additional fees for evening, after hours, weekend or holiday service.  These are questions that when answered will lead you to the best company to meet your HVAC needs. (more…)

Did Your Air Conditioner Destroy Your Furnace? | Evanston, Elmhurst

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…)

Wayward Water Tanks this Winter | Homer Glen, Palatine, Posen

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!

Understanding Your Furnace’s Diagnosis | Fox Valley, Mundelein

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

When something goes wrong with the furnace, many homeowners take the wrong attitude when it comes to the furnace repair. They could care less what is wrong with the system or what caused it. They just want the system fixed so that they can get on with their normal day to day lives. At Four Seasons, we want our customers to be involved in the care of their heating and cooling systems. When you are kept in the loop and concerned about your system you will find that you have far fewer problems. Our servicemen are educators. They will walk you through the repair step by step and even give you ways to prevent the same problems from reoccurring. So, this is Four Seasons encouraging you to get in your technician’s face and get involved in the care of your heating system this winter.

Teaching You the Basics

Some HVAC companies don’t want to teach you the basics of furnace care because they want you to rely on them for every little issue. We realized that this was an unrealistic approach to business. Customers need to know how to properly replace their filter and adjust their thermostat. Our servicemen will take the time to walk you through these simple procedures, and we have a 24 hour customer support center available to those that may have questions. This way you don’t have to waste your time and money hiring a technician for a simple adjustment that you can handle on your own. (more…)