1.        Possible tripped breaker – One of the most common causes of no-cool calls is a tripped breaker.  Be sure to reset your breaker before making a call for heating & cooling repairs.  Hopefully it won’t trip again, but if it does then it’s time to make a call.  At that point something is causing the breaker to trip and still it is often something simple like a bad breaker, loose wire, or a bad capacitor.  However, if not addressed, some simple problems can lead to far more expensive repairs.

2.       Dirty filter – If you have a 1” disposable filter, it should be replaced monthly.  It’s easy to forget because it’s out of sight and out of mind.  But every year many HVAC service calls where the air conditioner is not cooling the air are the direct result of restricted air flow from a dirty filter.  A dirty filter can also result in a frozen indoor coil, which again can lead to more serious repairs.

So be mindful of both of these easy to fix problems before you get too worried.  And if these tips don’t work, we’re right around the corner to help with any problems you may encounter!

- Paul K.

the wrong a/c cover

you may assume that all cooling system covers are the same, but in reality this is far from the truth. there are hundreds of “do it yourself” websites that give various instructions on how to make your own cooling system cover, and they may seem like a preferred option. however, the “do it yourself” covers and even some manufactured covers have a major design flaw that could actually damage your cooling system instead of protect it.

when a cover is made out of a non-breathable material like tarp, moisture will collect in the cooling system and not be able to escape. when moisture builds up in the outdoor a/c unit, it can cause premature rust of the coils and other vital components of the air conditioning unit. you need to purchase a cover that has taken this fact into account and created a way for the moisture to be vented out from underneath the cover.

when you purchase you’re air conditioning cover from four seasons, you don’t have to worry about this flaw. the covers that we offer will protect your unit from garbage, wildlife, and ice without trapping condensation inside. falling ice and other garbage can damage the fan blades, and that rebuild alone can quickly become very costly. come next warm seasons, the cooling system will be in higher quality shape to begin the season if you keep it protected all cold seasons long with the correct air conditioning cover.

window and wall a/c covers

some wall and window units can be removed and placed in storage for the cold seasons season, but others are stuck in place. when these types of air conditioners are not covered, the wind and cold air from the outdoors can easily pour into the house through the systems vents. the problem could become so bad that it feels like there is an open window in your house all cold seasons long.

the easy way to solve this problem is to cover both the inside and outside of the unit. on this inside, you should purchase a cover that can plug of the vents, insulate, and blend in with the homes décor. if you can find one that has a reflective panel, it will be able to reflect the heat it comes in contact with back indoors. for the exterior cover, you should not use a cover with insulating material in it. you need for the outside is a material that will prevent the wind from entering the house and plug itself to the house.

covering the cooling system in the cold seasons will save you big bucks on your power bills because you heater will not have to make up for the heat that is lost through the window or wall cooling system. it will also keep the unit protected from the elements and therefore, prolong the life of the unit.

if you ever have any questions regarding preparing your house for the cold seasons or anything heating, ventalation, and air conditioning related, four seasons has a 24 hour live customer care center where you can find the answers that you are looking for. chicago winters are crazy, and with the help of four seasons, you , your family, and your heating, ventalation, and air conditioning systems will stay protected.

protect the cooling system this cold seasons| orland park, lynwood, hinsdale is a post from: heating and cooling heater rebuild

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a warning from the bbb

the higher quality business bureau recently released an article featuring an 89 year old woman who was taken advantage of by a chicago based channel clearing buisness. the article highlighted the “bait and switch” method of scamming customers during a channel clearing service. the “bait” is the attractively low price you find in the advertisements. in this woman’s case the price that drew her in was a $79 whole house channel clearing. the “switch” doesn’t happen until the channel clearing crew enters your house, and it consists of pushy sales tactics and unauthorized services that drive up the bill sky formidable. in the case presented by the bbb, the woman ended up owing $500!

having this buisness over to her house was just the beginning of the problem that this woman had to experience. while the technicians were at her house, they tacked on charges for a variety of services, and the bill ended up being $777. the woman argued the men down to $500 because two of the services were obviously unnecessary. the first was a mould prevention treatment and the second was a smoke odor treatment. the woman explained that she neither had mould nor smoke odor in her house, and that the charges were ridiculous because no one in the house had ever smoked!

she paid the men to get them out of her house, and later ended up canceling the review because she wasn’t going to put up with their scam. she went to the bbb to complain after she was threatened and harassed by the buisness in question, but she wasn’t the only one who complained.

emptying pockets

the bbb gave this buisness an f rating because this woman’s case was not the only unresolved complaint that they received. a man from the homer glen area informed the bbb that this buisness had taken $2,000 from his father. the buisness then refused to return the money even after the man showed written proof from a physician that his father has dementia and explained that he is not in the right mind to make such hefty financial decisions. in the case of a 75 year old woman from hanover park, she lost $1,700 to this channel clearing buisness when her monthly income is only $993 in social security benefits! don’t let yourself be fooled and protect your loved ones.

trust four seasons

research is crucial when looking for a reliable channel clearing buisness, and here at four seasons house services, we counsel you start your research with the higher quality business bureau. there you will find that four seasons has an a+ rating and bbb accreditation to back up all of the services that we perform. we earned that rating through years of dedication to quality and top notch customer service. with four seasons there are no tricks or math problems to figure out, just simple upfront pricing and honest services performed by true professionals. experience the difference for yourself, and schedule your channel clearing with four seasons today!

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the potential for mould increase

mould increase in the house is unfortunately pretty standard, and all it needs is a little water to get started. that leaky pipe that drips into the basement ceiling could end up causing your family health problems, and if you or one of your family members suffers with a respiratory condition like asthma, the mould increase could be worsening their condition.

how four seasons can help

even if the water crack hasn’t gotten to the point where mould is running rampant, now is still the time to have four seasons take care of the problem. our house services division has handymen experts who have worked in the house rebuild industry for over 30 years! they have skills and the know-how to search out your crack and stop the problem for preferred. whether your problem is as simple as tightening a joint or as complicated as replacing a sink, four seasons can help you get the work done right! give us a call today to discuss ridding your house of water spots once and for all!

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• vent combustion heaters: if your space heater runs on anything other than electricity, it needs to be vented correctly to the outdoors in order to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the house.
• space heater placement: keep the space heater well out of the way of any combustible materials in order to prevent fire.
• space heater’s cord: try not to use a space heater with an extension cord, and if you do use one, make sure it can handle to extra load created by the space heater. do not operate space heaters that have frayed cords or exposed wires and do not run a cord under a rug because these are both fire hazards.
• educate children: children need to be aware of the dangers caused by space heaters. let them know that touching the space heater could cause serious, painful burns, and maybe even create a safe zone surrounding the heater that no one is allowed to cross into.
• running the heater: never leave the space heater unattended. turn the unit off when you leave the room or the house, and when you go to bed.
• smoke/ co detectors and fire extinguishers: make sure that you have both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed around the house, and make sure that they are working correctly. also, it is important to have a fire extinguisher handy in case there is a fire sparked by the heater.

space heaters are not made to be permanent heating sources. if you are having problems with the heater or if rooms in the house don’t receive enough heat, you should have the pros at four seasons heating and air conditioning out to take a look. limit the amount of time that you have to use the space heater by calling four seasons as soon as the heater breaks down. we are a 24 hour heating and air conditioning buisness, and we will send a serviceman to fix your heater day or night.

if your problem lies in inadequate heating, now may be the time to upgrade your heater. have one of the knowledgeable salesmen from four seasons out for a free estimate and to discuss the possible solutions for your air distribution problem. four seasons has a service for all of your heating needs. so, call today, and stop relying on that space heater for your family’s comfort this cold seasons.

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• system efficiency: whenever you replace just one component in a system, the older units limit the efficiency of the new system. there have been drastic improvements in the power efficiency of heating and cooling units, and replacing both systems at the same time will allow you to maximize the efficiency of both units.
• savings: when you maximize the power efficiency of your units, you maximize your savings as well! also, there is a preferred chance that you will get that cooling system at a discounted price during the off season.
• warranty coverage: your new heater will come equipped with a warranty that will protect you from the formidable cost of repairs for years and years to come. replacing the cooling system with the heater ensures that your entire system is covered by a warranty and not just part of it.
• equipment age: if your 25 year old heater broke down, it is only a matter of time before your 25 year old cooling system breaks down too! you could remove the hassle of going without air conditioning on a hot chicago warm seasons day, and replace both the heater and the cooling system this cold seasons.

when you have a matched system operating in your house you will experience increased comfort, savings, and reliability. call four seasons heating and air conditioning today to learn more about how you can benefit from having a matched heater and cooling system in your house.

a match made in heaven| downers grove, oak brook, calumet park is a post from: heating and cooling heater rebuild

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The eligible products would have to be energy efficient and provide significant energy savings. The Home Star program has been compared to the “Cash for Clunkers” program in which consumers would replace existing air conditioners, furnaces and boilers for more energy efficient models. The rebates would go directly to the homeowner to offset the purchase price. In addition to the bonus that the rebates provide consumers should also benefit from long-term savings related to reduced energy bills every month.

For more information visit the Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning website and the Four Seasons news blog.

Before reentering the flooded area, there are a few steps you must take to ensure your safety. You must first turn off the electricity and the gas. Then, enter the area wearing protective boots and gloves and begin removing any submerged appliances from the water to allow them to dry out. Any excess water can be removed using a wet/dry vacuum. However, once the water is gone you are not yet in the clear. The area that was exposed to the water needs to be dried and sanitized. You need to keep the area well ventilated and use a dehumidifier to keep the air as dry as possible. A dehumidifier can prevent the growth of mold and mildew by keeping the humidity below 50% in the home. You may also want to consider using an air purifier. An air purifier will destroy microorganisms, mold, spores, fungi, viruses, and much more. The use of fans and air dryers are useful for carpet and walls. The carpet may need a professional steam cleaning. If the flooring is wood, a slow drying technique should be used to prevent the wood from warping.

Now comes the hard part. Many of the major appliances that are touched by water can become severely damaged. In the case of refrigerators and dishwashers, it is often easier and less costly to replace the unit rather than repair it. If your home has insulated duct work that got wet, it must be replaced. There is no way to efficiently clean this type of duct work, and if left alone it can produce mold growth. The furnace, air conditioner, and hot water tank can be a bit more tricky. First and foremost, an inspection must be done by a licensed HVAC technician before any of the units are used. If neglected, a furnace or hot water tank that is severely water damaged my not light and simply leak gas into the home. Also, the water may have created cracks in the internal components of the unit that can lead to the release of carbon monoxide into the home. Depending on the degree of water exposure, the technician will suggest one of two things: repair or replacement. If at all possible, the units should be replaced. Even if problems are not apparent now, the unit is now more likely to rust out or have individual parts fail. Many companies may not even work on or warranty work done on damaged units because there is no guarantee that other parts won’t break in the near future. You could either continue throwing money away with useless repairs or just scrap the unit and start from scratch.

Once you have cleaned up after a flood chances are you never want to do it ever again. If you are willing to dedicate the funds to the effort, there are several options the proactive homeowner can do to prevent the same level of damage from ever happening again. If you are replacing the duct work because it was insulated, then you may want to consider a more modern style of duct work that doesn’t require insulation. If you are replacing the HVAC units because of a flood, it would be a good idea to take the opportunity to move them to a higher level of the home. It may require rewiring and plumbing work, but this is the best way to protect your investment from meeting the fate as the units before it. If this is not an option for you, another option would be to create a flood wall around the unit. They are usually built by a professional contractor and are made of cement. These are more difficult because if not designed properly the unit may become inaccessible by a service technician if a repair is needed in the future or not actually protect the units from future flood waters.

Flooding is an unfortunate part of being a homeowner. It can become costly to repair and replace all that was damaged by the flood, but its better to do it right the first time then to take a chance with your safety and your currency.

The Damage That Moisture Can Do…

Moisture can travel with infiltrating outdoor air (or exfiltrating indoor air) through the building shell, including the foundation. In addition to health problems, high relative humidity or water that enters building cavities that is not allowed to dry quickly can lead to problems such as rot, structural damage, and premature paint failure.

How You Can Control Moisture

Methods to control moisture include building an energy-efficient home with proper air-sealing, proper use of vapor barriers and vapor diffusion strategies. The entire building envelope, from the foundation to the roof, should be designed to not only prevent moisture entry, but also to allow any moisture which does enter a means to escape. As mentioned above, people and their activities in a home are big sources of moisture; thus proper ventilation is also important in order to maintain indoor humidity levels within an acceptable range.

the importance of an a/c cover

window and wall air conditioning units pull air from the outside, cool it, and blow it into the room it is attached to. but, when the unit is not running, there is still a ventilation passageway created by the wall cooling system. gusts of wind and cold air during the cold seasons will flow through the vents on your cooling system. as you run the heating in your house, this cold air will diminish the ability of the heater to reach the temperature that you have set on the thermostat.

this addition of cold air will force the heater to run for longer periods of time. the immediate consequence is higher power bills and wasted power. the long term consequence is damage to the heater or boiler from unnecessary over use. these are very extreme consequences that no property owner has to suffer from if they simply cover and plug the air conditioning unit.

covering the cooling system

for starters, if the cooling system can be easily removed from the wall or window, you should place the unit in storage for the cold seasons. however, in many cases this is not possible. what these people need to do is place a cover on both the inside and the outside of the cooling system. let’s begin with the inside of the house. the inside cover should fit snugly onto your cooling system, and you may have to purchase a cover that is custom fitted to the specific size of your cooling system. it should be made out of isolating material, and you may want to even consider one that has a reflective surface to radiate the heat in the house back into the main areas instead of through the vents on the cooling system.

also, you may want to consider reviewing the seals around the air conditioning unit. if you can feel cold air seeping in around the cooling system, you should add caulk or some other sealant material to prevent air leakage. the inside cover is easier to setup and will be the barrier that keeps the majority of the cold air out of your house.

the outdoor cover is an added layer of protection that will keep the wind from ever entering the cooling system in the first place. if the outdoor portion of the cooling system can be accessed easily, you should consider adding this cover. outdoor covers are made out of water proof, wind resistant material and should have an air tight plug to the exterior of the house. this will prevent moisture build-up inside the cover, and keep out the icy cold seasons air. however, there is always a preferred chance that a strong enough cold seasons storm will tear this cover right off, so you must make sure that the home’s interior is well insulated.

when sealed correctly, you will see immediate savings on your next power bill when compared to years when the units were not covered. but this improvement is not just about saving money, it is also about increasing the comfort in your house. drafts make your homes comfort unpredictable, and that is something that no house in chicago should have to deal with.

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