Blog - JC Heating & Cooling HVAC

YARD SIGN APRIL 2020 $250.00 WINNER!!!

April 30, 2020 By Tomasz Trzyna

We have a winner!! The winner is…… MARY T. !!!!!!! Please see the picture below and contact us to get your AWARD!!!

JC Heating and Cooling pick one customer of all post from Facebook page post. We will continue our contest every month. If you would like to join it just call us to get free Yard Sign and put it on your yard! You can also ask technician during Service or Installation your furnace Air Conditioner Humidifier etc for Yard Sign.

So Far we have our Yard Signs in cities:

Western Springs, La Grange, Elm Hurst, Oak Park, Palos Hills, Willow Springs and Hinsdale.

Tomorrow 5/1/2020 we will also put new post for next month!
If you already have Yard Sign on your Yard keep it! Then you have second chance to WIN in MAY!!!

Air Quality – AirSterilizer

March 25, 2020 By Tomasz Trzyna

All Respicaire products are independently tested by 3rd party industry recognized labs. The OXY 4 test results are excellent with 99% kill rates on some of the most challenging airborne organisms.

Air Purification:
Clean air is an essential element for vibrant health, yet it is also one of the most heavily polluted.
Indoor breathing environments are typically more contaminated than outdoor air.
Increased energy costs have made homes, offices and buildings airtight. These confined living spaces trap and concentrate airborne particulates. Like molds, viruses, bacteria, microbials, gases, and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) including some that are highly toxic. Modern synthetic materials combined with troublesome microorganisms, contaminate our contact surfaces and indoor breathing environments. Consider the fact that we now spend 90% of our life indoors, living, breathing, and growing in artificial environments. This makes effective indoor air and surface treatment an essential investment.

Please see link below for more information:

Ultraviolet light can kill the novel corona-virus – COVID-19

WHO recommends ‘airborne precautions’ after corona-virus found to survive in air

Corona-virus Prompts Response in HVAC Industry

UV LEDs for sterilization to prevent spread of corona-virus

Narrow Range of UV Safely Kills Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Generation and Behavior of Airborne Particles (Aerosols)

At JC Heating and Cooling we specialize and provide all related services involving Home Air Quality.

Fell free to contact us regarding our specials.

Remember Your Thermostat During HVAC Upgrades and Maintenance

February 8, 2020 By Jerry Chwierut

The thermostat is an easy item to overlook. It is usually modest in size and design and hangs silently on the wall. People often remember it only as they change the temperature, but even then, the homeowner may think only of their HVAC system. The vital role of thermostats means that homeowners should value them enough to replace or repair the units as needed. Read on to learn more.

Manage Utility Costs

Inaccurate temperatures can cause utility bills to rise. A thermostat that needs calibration could inaccurately read the air temperature. The mistake could cause the furnace or AC system to run and heat or cool the air more than necessary. The extra cycles can increase utility bills for the homeowner.

The cost of extra use can increase bills quickly. According to the Department of Energy, it is possible to save as much as 10 percent on annual heating and cooling costs by turning the furnace back between 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day. A system that runs inaccurately could do so 24 hours each day, with homeowners unaware of how far off they are from their intended temperature.

Improve Household Comfort

Saving money by reducing how much the HVAC system heats or cools the home when it is empty is made easier with modern thermostats that do not affect the comfort of the residents. Automatic setting controls enable people to set timers for frugal use when no one is at home and have the temperatures change to a more comfortable setting before people arrive.

Saving money is a benefit for the homeowner, but for many people, the best part is the comfort. Older thermostats only allow people to adjust the temperature manually once they are in the home. That method means that they must enter and sit in a cold or hot home until the HVAC system can reach the preferred temperature. Remote and timed settings prevent discomfort.

Protect the Home

Homeowners rely on their thermostats to take care of the home when no one is around. The control becomes especially important during the winter. A non-working furnace on a cold day could become a severe concern for the homeowner. A few hours may cool the home enough to make it unbearably cold for pets left alone, a full day or night could be much worse.

If a thermostat stops working, the furnace will no longer receive the signal to turn on. The home could become cold enough for the water pipes to freeze. Frozen pipes can burst and cause icy water to coat the home and cause extensive property damage.

People often leave their homes for days at a time during winter as they travel for the holidays or seek shelter from the cold in a warm vacation destination. Frozen pipes sometimes occur overnight as people sleep in their warm beds unaware of the house becoming cold. Sometimes it happens as the residents leave for school and work.

A modern, maintained thermostat can ensure the home stays climate controlled without interruption. The chances of a breakdown drop dramatically with regular maintenance. Modern systems even enable homeowners to monitor the temperature of their homes remotely, so they instantly see any temperature drop.

Signal Other Problems

An issue with a thermostat could mean a problem in the wiring or with the furnace. The homeowner may only notice the problem because of their difficulties with the accuracy of the thermostat. Maintenance for the thermostat can help to point out problems like faulty wires in the thermostat or the wall or help the homeowner discover a bad fuse.

Repairs and recalibrations of the thermostat should take place during annual HVAC inspections. Replacement of thermostats should occur whenever the home receives a new HVAC system. Address accuracy concerns immediately. At JC Heating & Cooling, we can help with HVAC repairs and replacements and thermostat issues and much more. Contact us today.

Causes and Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

January 29, 2020 By Jerry Chwierut

The heat exchanger is a part of the furnace that heats up the air that warms up your house. The heat exchanger consists of a series of tubes inside the furnace, and the furnace blower forces air over the heat exchanger to heat it up.

Sometimes, however, the heat exchanger tubes crack and become a fire hazard. Apart from the risk of fire, a cracked heat exchanger can also introduce poisonous carbon monoxide in your indoor air. Both of these dangers mean you should know what causes heat exchangers to crack and the telltale signs that mean your heat exchanger is cracked.

Why Heat Exchangers Crack

Here are some of the reasons a heat exchanger may crack.

Aging

All heat exchangers eventually fail, even those of the best furnaces; the cracking of a heat exchanger is a natural part of aging. As previously mentioned, the heat exchanger is a serious or set of metal tubes; metal expands when heated and contracts when cool. The heat exchanger metal weakens with each expansion and contraction.

After years of use, the tiny damages eventually add up to serious damage that cause the metal to crack. Therefore, you should expect your heat exchanger to crack if your furnace is nearing the end of its useful life.

Overheating

An overheated heat exchanger may crack even if it’s still relatively new. The crack may appear when the heat becomes too much for the metal material to handle. Here are some of the reasons a furnace, and by extension the heat exchanger, may overheat:

Dirty air filter: Dirty air filters restrict air supply to the furnace and makes the furnace overwork and overheat.
Air duct blockage: Air duct damage or blockage causes the furnace to overwork in an attempt to force through the required air.
Electrical malfunction: An electrical malfunction can cause overheating in the furnace just as it can in any other electrical appliance.

You can help prevent overheating in a newer heat exchanger if you maintain the air filter, air ducts, and electrical components of your furnace.

Telltale Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Learn the warning signs that mean you have a cracked heat exchanger on your hands. Watch out for the following.

Too Much Soot in the Furnace’s Interior

Soot is actually carbon compounds that are byproducts of incomplete combustion. Too much soot in the interior of the furnace may point to a cracked heat exchanger because the furnace won’t burn its fuel cleanly if its heat exchanger is cracked. The soot is the product of this incomplete combustion.

Dirty or Yellow Flame

If your furnace is operating normally and burning its fuel efficiently, it will produce a hot flame that is bluish in color. However, the blue color will change to a dirty or yellowish color if the furnace burner is not running as usual. A yellow flame is not a definitive sign of a cracked heat exchanger, however, because the furnace burner may also produce the same color of flame if the furnace is dirty.

Physical Damage to the Exterior Components

A visual inspection of the exterior components of a furnace may also tell you whether the heat exchanger has cracked. You should particularly watch out for signs of corrosion, hairline cracks, or opening of seams. Since furnace damage typically begins from the interior and extends outwards, you are likely dealing with a crack if the exterior of the furnace has signs of damage.

At JC Heating & Cooling, we have the tools, expertise, and resources to give you a correct diagnosis and solution if you suspect a crack. If we confirm the crack, then we will advise you either to replace the heat exchanger or the whole furnace. If your furnace has a problem, contact us today and we will help you out as soon as possible.

Summertime Will Be Here Before You Know It.

April 1, 2019 By Tomasz Trzyna

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For the Task?

It seems like winter will never end, but summer will soon arrive in Chicago. Knowing Chicago, this could happen over the span of a few days. Before the temperature rises too much, get your air conditioner inspected… But will you get through another summer without costly repairs? Below are some signals that you need an AC upgrade before Chicago starts to melt.

Your Cooling System Is More Than a Decade Old
After a decade, many cooling systems may not work as well as when they were first installed. Whether they lose efficiency or need frequent repairs, air conditioner repairs can gradually become more expensive after they pass the 10-year mark. Sounds too expensive? Consider the benefits of upgrading to a new cooling system. When you buy a new system, you’ll face an upfront cost, but you can save money over time with many of the latest technology updates on new systems. Today, almost all new air conditioners work with programmable or smart thermostats, which allow you to save on utility costs by keeping energy usage low for long periods of time during the day.

Your Air Conditioner Always Needs Repairs
Pretty obvious, but air conditioners tend to need progressively more expensive repairs as they age. Over time, repair costs can increase, and summer causes stress to older operating units. Instead of waiting until mid-July to replace a failing unit, consider upgrading your air conditioner before summer starts. When you install a new system, you can feel confident that the new unit will keep your home as cool as possible while needing minimal repairs.

Your Energy Bills Have Increased
Of course energy bills are will peaks & dipp, depending on the season and your home/famiy energy consumption. A significant increase in your utility bill, however, is a sign that something may be wrong with your HVAC system.
Even the best air conditioners lose efficiency over time, and as.they become less effective at cooling your home, and they need more energy to keep your home comfortable.

Some Rooms Never Seem to Become Cooler
Are you completely freezing in some rooms while others never seem to cool down? If so, your air conditioner may have lost its ability to run efficiently, especially if your air conditioner is continually operating.

When you call JC Heating & Cooling, we arrive promptly, we inspect your system and only if needed, will we recommend an upgrade. When you start feeling the heat, just call us, we are here to help.

How Do You Know When It’s Time For Your Furnace Time To Go?

April 1, 2019 By Tomasz Trzyna

Chicago can put furnaces through the ringer, and the byproduct of a broken furnace is the possible release of the odorless, colorless gas carbon monoxide. A few classic warning signs of a broken furnace and some are easy to spot, some not. Some require a pro. Broken furnace not only deprives your home of heat and comfort, its a slow drain financially, plus there is the “it can kill you” thing too.

Some of the unrecognizable warning signs.

Carbon monoxide is the most common household poison, sends more people the emergency room (or worse) arbon monoxide. The gas could come from a few places in the home, but the furnace is the most common source of all, esecially likely harm, a broken furnace.

Becasue CO gas is colorless/ odorless, it can go undetected. It can make someone drowzy or cause drowsiness, vomiting, which can be written off as something as simple as “the flu”. create flu-like symptoms. Sometimes a person may fall asleep, and never wake up. Scheduled maintenance of your furnace by a qualified heating and cooling company like JC Heating & Coolng (and there are not many like us:) will drop your risk of carbon monoxide gas poinioning.

Some of the recognizable warning signs, but, you really have to pay attention.

Experienceing a noticeably higher energy bill? Suddenly? Warning sign! Higher utility bills can be a clue that your sure sign of furnace is overworked, it has run more than usual for its weak output. This could just be the result of clogged or dirty air vents/filters. If your monthly bills are higher than those of the same time in the previous year, it may not just be because gas prices are higher. If its your first year, ask some neighbors if they mind sharing their monthly heating/energy expense.

There are other warning signs of a broken furnace, too. The most obvious is the failure of your furnace to bring your home up to the desired thermostat settings or to maintain an even temperature. Cold or uncomfortable houses are sure signs of a broken furnace. The furnace may cycle on or off, causing an uneven or inconsistent flow of heated air. This can be because of a poor blower or a clogged furnace filter. A cracked gas line can emit an odor, and may cause a furnace to break down as well.If you don’t feel any moving heated air or detect any unusual odors or smells coming from your heating vents, that’s a sure sign of a broken or malfunctioning furnace.

Don’t take a chance of losing heat and comfort this winter. At the first possible warning sign, call JC Heating and Cooling for home heating system tune-up.