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Frequently Asked Questions

With a traditional heating and cooling system, if you wanted to save more, you had to use less. But a Hybrid Heat system combines the benefits of intelligent control for both gas and electric heating to create an intuitive system that can actually react to changing conditions.

No matter what the temperature is outside, a Hybrid Heat system will automatically select the fuel source most efficient for your home, which means you'll stay warm in the winter, cool in the summer and save money all year long.

To design a Hybrid Heat system for your home, we professionally match one of our heat pump units with a natural gas furnace. Contact us to see how much energy you can save over your existing system.

Heat waves can be brutal. Help your AC keep you cool during the high temperatures. Check out these tips to keep your A/C running efficiently.

Ways to prevent my AC from overworking during a heat wave?

  • Adjust the thermostat: Don't crank it down too low! Setting it to a comfortable temperature (around 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit) will make your AC work less while still keeping you cool.
  • Embrace the fan: Ceiling fans set to counter-clockwise circulation and strategically placed portable fans can significantly improve air movement and make you feel cooler without pushing your AC to the limit.
  • Block the sun: Keep blinds and curtains closed on south-facing windows to prevent direct sunlight from heating up your space.

Here's some maintenance you can do to ensure my AC's performance.

  • Filter first: Regularly changing air filters (usually monthly) ensures proper airflow and reduces strain on the system.
  • Clean the unit: Gently remove any debris like leaves or twigs from the outdoor unit to prevent airflow blockage.
  • Consider professional help: If you haven't already, schedule a professional tune-up for your AC before the heat wave hits. This will ensure optimal performance and catch any potential issues early on.

If my Air Conditioning system isn't cooling effectively. What should I do?

If your AC is struggling even after following these tips, there might be an underlying issue. It's best to call a qualified technician to diagnose and fix the problem before you're completely out in the heat.

It is not necessary to cover your condenser or outdoor air conditioning unit during the colder months. The units are designed to weather the elements. If you would like to cover the unit, we recommend using a cover that provides ventilation. There are many to choose from.

With over 53 years in business serving the surrounding communities. As you neighborhood HVAC provider, we offer reliable affordable, professional service to keep you and your loved ones comfortable all year round. Whether its for your home or your business we continue to ensure quality efficient, affordable service for all your heating and cooling needs. We are always ready and happy to assist with any issues you may have. Whether it is the furnace in your home or the heater for your business' warehouse, Climate Control Systems can help. From boilers and radiant heat to heat pumps and air conditioners, we have you covered. from start to finish.

We provide the best possible heating and cooling services to residential and commercial customers in the following areas.

  • Village of Frankfort
  • Village of Mokena
  • Village of New Lenox
  • Village of Tinley Park,
  • Village of Orland Park
  • Village of Orland Hills
  • Village of Palos Park
  • Village of Lemont
  • Village of Lockport
  • Village of Matteson
  • Village of Olympia Fields
  • Village of Flossmoor
  • Village of Park Forest
  • Village of Bolingbrook
  • Village of Woodridge
  • Village of Manhattan
  • City of Palos Heights
  • City of Palos Hills
  • City of Joliet
  • Will County
  • Cook County
  • Dupage County
  • and surrounding areas
The best humidity level for the winter months is usually a range between 30-50% depending on your personal preferences and the home.

We work on air cleaners, air purifiers, air conditioners, air handlers, boilers, dehumidifiers, ductless mini-splits, duct scenting machines, electric furnaces, garage heaters, gas furnaces, heat pumps, humidifiers, package air units, propane furnaces, radiant heating systems, rooftop units, snow melt systems, unit heaters and more. 

We work on the following brands of heating a cooling and equipment as well as many others. 

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What's your favorite scent? We all have one. That smell that transports us to our happy place. Have you ever wished you could smell that scent whenever you entered your home or business. You can! There are newer machines on the market that emit fragrances into your ductwork allowing your blower motor to push scented air into your home or business. With plenty of aroma options, your home or business can smell heavenly everyday. To learn more about scenting your environment call Climate Control Systems today.
You should at least check your filter once per month. Many guidelines will say every 1, 3, 6 months - frequency should increase if you have pets or people with allergies in your home or office space. Changing your filter more frequently increases the efficiency of your furnace because the air can flow through freely, and the system doesn't have to work so hard.

One quick way to know you should start a replacement plan is if you are having frequent repairs, or your most recent furnace repair will cost more than a third of a new furnace installation. Ask your HVAC technician what they think the life of your furnace is and when they might recommend a new installation, both for energy savings and peace of mind. Then you can start saving, and you can also ask about financing options, if it looks like you might need a new furnace sooner rather than later. If you want more information to help you make the decision whether to repair or replace, you can use our guide.

Try changing your filter. The furnace may be getting too hot inside because there is not enough airflow. When it overheats, the high limit switch will shut it off. And, some switches have a lockout feature, where, if it overheats a few times, it will shut the furnace off for a few hours.

Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 20 years. As your equipment gets older, it's efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. When a unit begins to show it's age, you have two choices. You can overhaul the system or replace it. Because heating and cooling technologies improve over time, a new system designed with newer, more energy-efficient equipment makes sense, especially if your system is 10 or more years old. We can estimate the cost of a new system as well as a payback schedule that will show you how newer technology will pay you back in lower energy usage.

No. Replacing only the outdoor unit will lower the efficiency of the unit. In fact, you can lose up to 15% of the unit's efficiency! Even worse, your system may fail sooner than normal and most manufacturers' warranties will be voided. You should always replace the indoor cooling coil with the outdoor unit.

No, you don't want your air conditioner to be too big. Air conditioners control the comfort level in your home by cooling the air and by removing humidity. An oversized air conditioner will cool your home faster, but it will use more energy and will not remove humidity adequately.

A unit that is too big for your home will have short run cycles. It may take only a short time to cool the air, but the unit shuts off before enough air blows across the indoor coil where moisture condenses into water and drains from your system. Too much moisture left in the air can lead to mold and mildew problems.

These short run cycles also mean your system starts and stops more often which uses more energy and causes a lot of wear and tear. An air conditioner operates more efficiently during long run cycles.

The same holds true with heating systems. An oversized furnace will warm the house quicker, but it uses more fuel and causes greater temperature swings in the home.

A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all your components are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need so you can relax. Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed, meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is minimized.

Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most systems people buy are too large for their homes, which uses more energy than needed for your home. A matched system outlined by a dealer who has completed a load calculation for your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the most value for your utility dollar.
At the risk of telling you something you're tired of hearing, replace the air filter in your furnace on a regular basis. Dirty air filters reduce the amount of air flowing through a system and make the furnace work harder to maintain the temperature. How often you change the filter depends on the type of filter you use, if you have pets, and the size of your equipment. Please give us a call and we can give you proper guidance.
Proper air filtration is just as important to the health of your heating and cooling system as it is to the health of your family. Without proper filtration, dust and dirt can build up on your system which impacts operation and efficiency. A high-efficiency filter will remove more dust, dirt, pollen, mold, and other particles from the air. If you suffer from allergies or other respiratory problems, you should strongly consider a high-efficiency filter. No matter what type of filter you have, make sure you change it regularly.
Yes. Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns, and prolong the life of your equipment. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.
Without warranty coverage, a breakdown can mean significant expense in parts, labor, or both. However, with one of our service agreements, you avoid that unexpected significant expense. While no warranty can guard against every possible problem, we can explain the broad range of protection our service agreements afford.
With a high efficiency air cleaner, you can remove up to 99% of the pollen and spores that find their way into the home. There is also a great reduction in household dust, dirt, smoke, and other air pollutants. Your indoor air will become cleaner and fresher while reducing the allergens and dust that circulate throughout the house. With a whole house humidifier, you can relieve the irritating discomfort of dry indoor air. The humidifier reduces itchy skin, scratchy throats, static electricity, and damage to your furnishings and woodwork. Since humid air feels warmer than dry air, you do not have to set the thermostat as high to feel the comfort you want. A lower thermostat setting will reduce the costs of your energy bill.

Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Click here to learn more about mold prevention in your home from the EPA.

When humid air passes over chilled cooling coils, water condenses and drips through the coils into a collection pan, from which it continuously drains. Problems with these systems may occur when this water collects and becomes stagnant when it becomes blocked, either on the coils or in the drip pan. The pan will grow mold that can infect your home with dangerous mold spores very quickly. Problems also exist when the HVAC ducting contains microscopic mold spores that stay continually present and blow contaminants around the home or office often caused by mold in other parts of your home.

You can do 3 things to prevent mold growth in your system:

  1. Preventative maintenance will ensure that the collection pan under the indoor coil stays clean and clog free.
  2. Install ultra violet lights next to the cooling coils to kill any mold or bacteria growing on the coils or collection pan.
  3. Keep your ductwork clean and use a high-efficiency filtration system to keep your entire HVAC system clean.



SEER, AFUE and HSPF are all measures of energy efficiency. Air conditioners may look similar, but their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) can vary widely. Higher SEER numbers save more money spent on electricity. A 13 SEER air conditioner, the EPA "current minimum standard", uses 23% less energy than a 10 SEER unit (EPA standard up until Jan. 2006). Even though 13 SEER is the minimum efficiency available, we currently offer a line of air conditioners that start at 13 SEER and go all the way up to a 21 SEER . Depending on your average usage, higher SEER air conditioners can significantly reduce your electric bill.

Heat pumps have SEER ratings like air conditioners and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings for measuring heating efficiency. Higher HSPF ratings mean greater energy savings. The HSPF scale range is 7.5 to 13.0.

Today's new high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 50% in operating costs over a ten-year-old furnace. Many 1990 and earlier model furnaces have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 65% or less. The minimum AFUE rated furnace that can be sold in the United States as of May 1, 2013 is 80% in southern states and 90% in northern states.

Our current product offering starts at this minimum AFUE rating and goes all the way to a very efficient 98.3% AFUE rating. Depending on your average usage, higher AFUE rated furnaces can significantly reduce your gas bill.

Cooling

  • Upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioner - Swapping your old, inefficient air conditioning system for a high-efficient one can cut electricity bills by one-third. Consult one of our professional technicians to ensure your system is the right size for your home, and you aren't over- or under-cooling for your space needs.
  • Turn up the temperature — To save electricity during the summer, set the temperature above 75° as every degree below this will add an extra three to five percent to your energy bill.
  • Install ceiling fans — Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the summer, the blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction as a way of creating a nice, gentle wind.
  • Have an annual maintenance performed — Having an annual maintenance performed on your air conditioner by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.
  • Don't block vents in well-used rooms — Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your air conditioner can operate efficiently and there is even cool air distribution.

Heating

  • Upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace — New high-efficiency furnaces use up to 50% less fuel than an older system. It can save you up to 25 percent of your home-heating costs in one year, and within a few years, you'll have recovered the initial cost of replacing/upgrading your furnace. Choosing a model with an energy efficient motor can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy needed to continuously operate a fan motor. Let us show you the advantages of replacing your old furnace today.
  • Have an annual maintenance performed — Having an annual maintenance performed on your furnace by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.
  • Install a programmable thermostat — A programmable thermostat enables you to control your home's temperature when you're away or asleep. For every 1° you lower your thermostat for seven hours per day, you save one percent on your heating bill.
  • Don't block vents in well-used rooms — Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your furnace can operate efficiently and there is even heat distribution.
  • Install ceiling fans — Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the winter, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room.
The average home spends about $1,900 annually on energy bills. Heating and cooling accounts for as much as half of a home's energy use. The EPA provides important recommendations for energy-efficient equipment, including proper sizing, quality installation and maintenance, and other home improvement considerations to help you get the most out of the heating and cooling products you purchase, save energy, and save as much as 20% annually on your total energy costs.

ENERGY STAR qualified products prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Heat pumps are a great solution for your home comfort system because they work to provide both heating and cooling. Heat pumps have SEER ratings like air conditioners and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings for measuring heating efficiency. Higher SEER and HSPF ratings mean greater energy savings.

Heat pumps are a very efficient alternative to electric heat. A heat pump works the same as an air conditioner in the summer, but it runs in reverse in the winter to heat your home. The system will be matched with a backup heating source, most often electric heat for those extremely cold days of winter.
Variable speed fans operate on a simple principle: they are able to spin at different speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home. Usually, they operate at lower speeds, delivering a steady, reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home. This helps control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions become more extreme, the fan speed increases so that the system can meet increased demand, guaranteeing that on even the hottest days or coldest nights, you're comfort needs will be met.
2-stage cooling is a method of cooling that can better manage the cooling of your home while outdoor temperatures are changing. It can also better maximize indoor comfort and energy efficiency. 2-stage cooling systems are typically the most energy efficient systems out there.

2-stage cooling can be done by having one unit with two compressors, one small and one large. The small one is typically capable of putting out about 50% the capacity of the larger one. The second way to have 2-stage cooling is to have a single scroll unloading compressor. This compressor can unload its capacity down to about 66% of maximum capacity. Both these methods of getting 2-stage cooling allow the unit to run at a lower stage when the high stage is not needed. By doing this, energy is saved.

2-stage heating has the same principle as 2-stage cooling. It allows the unit to adjust itself based on the amount of heating that is necessary. 2-stage heating is a good way to save on heating costs.

A heat pump system would have two different sized compressors, a small and a large one. The compressor that is used at a given time would depend upon the need. If only a small amount of heating is necessary, the smaller compressor would be used to save energy. The large compressor would only be used when a large amount of heating was needed.

A gas furnace that is 2-stage has a modulating gas valve that regulates gas flow depending upon the need.
Normal cooling settings are 75 degrees - 80 degrees. Normal heating settings are 68 degrees - 72 degrees. You should always set your thermostat to the highest possible setting that is comfortable for you in the summer, and the lowest comfortable setting in the winter. Setting your thermostat in this way will maximize your energy savings. On average, every 1 degree of temperature change is equal to about 1% energy savings. For example, changing your thermostat setting from 75 degrees to 76 degrees in the summer could result in savings on your cooling costs.
This can occur for many reasons; uneven solar heat load through windows, an undersized system, improperly balanced or clogged system or a single system serving a two-story home with no zoning control. Each situation is different, usually requiring an onsite analysis with problem specific recommendations. Please call to arrange for us to see your home.
Yes. As of January 2010 the refrigerant R-22 (what consumers call Freon®) is no longer allowed to be used in the manufacturing of new equipment. R-22 has been used as the "standard" refrigerant for many years but has been found to be harmful to our planet by our government. All new air conditioners and heat pumps use R-410A, the more "environmentally sound" refrigerant.

R-22 is still the most commonly used refrigerant in existing air conditioning equipment in residential homes today. However, per the Montreal Protocol, caps have been established to eliminate the production of R-22. In 2004, there was a 35% reduction; in 2010 there was a 65% reduction; in 2015 a 90% reduction; and finally in 2020 a 99.5% reduction in the production of R-22. This means that during the time of these reductions with high demand, the price of each pound of R-22 refrigerant could potentially skyrocket.

If you are considering replacing your existing air conditioning equipment, most higher efficiency products have already made the switch to R-410A, the more "environmentally sound" refrigerant.
A difference of 6 decibels (such as between 72 dB and 78 dB) is technically a four-fold increase in compressor sound when rating air conditioners or heat pump units. However, it takes a difference of 10 decibels to double the loudness. It is also noted that it takes approximately 3 decibels for the average human ear to discern any difference in loudness at all.

Great strides have been made in reducing the operating sound level of equipment. We will be happy to show you the difference in sound ratings with our product line.
Yes. Each year, carbon monoxide kills more than 200 Americans and sends nearly 5,000 more to emergency rooms for treatment, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Where does it come from? When carbon-based fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene or wood burn, they produce gases. When fuel combustion or burning isn't complete, carbon monoxide enters the air. The CPSC advises that carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to alert yourself to the presence of toxic gas in your home. If you wake in the night with a headache -- and especially if another member of the family complains of a headache or is difficult to arouse -- get out of the house fast and seek medical help. We recommend carbon monoxide detectors be installed in your home!

Propane (LP) gas: You have this type if your gas comes from a tank located outside close to your house. Propane is stored as a liquid under pressure in tanks and cylinders. In most residential applications, propane is used as a vapor. When liquid propane changes into a gas vapor, it expands in volume. This means that even a small leak of liquid propane can result in a much larger quantity of propane vapor, which can be especially dangerous in a confined space. A chemical odorant has been added to propane to give it a distinct smell. Learn to identify this odor. Propane gas is heavier than air, so it will sink to the floor and spread. To check for the presence of propane, carefully smell all over a room, especially in low spots.

If you smell propane (LP) gas:

  • Exit your home immediately.
  • Propane gas can ignite easily. Do not light a match, start an engine, use a cell phone, or do anything that may create a spark.
  • From a safe area, contact your propane supplier and call 911.
  • If you are able, shut the propane gas supply off at the tank.
  • Stay away from your home until you've been told that it is safe to return.

Natural gas: You have this type if you have a gas meter and pay a natural gas supplier or utility. A chemical odorant has been added to natural gas to give it a distinct smell. Learn to identify this odor.

If you smell natural gas:

  • Exit your home immediately.
  • Do not light a match, start an engine, use a cell phone, or do anything that may create a spark.
  • From a safe area, contact your gas company or call 911.
  • If you are able, turn the gas off at the meter.
  • Stay away from your home until you've been told that it is safe to return.

Try changing your filter first. But a burning electrical smell could be the sign of a bad blower motor. In that case, you may need to replace the blower motor and capacitor. If the filter change doesn't work, call us for service at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.

Heating Questions

Try changing your filter first. A slow-starting or quitting fan could be the sign of a bad blower motor. In that case, you may need to replace the blower motor and capacitor. Call us for service at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.

One possibility is a bad inducer motor. Either the motor could be bad, or the control board might not be sending power to the motor. There could be multiple things happening if you also have a bad control board. If you've changed the filter and nothing is happening, you can call us for service at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.

Your gas valve could be bad. Check to see if you have shut off your gas recently. If that is the case, there may just not be gas going to the furnace. Otherwise, call us for service at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.

You will have PVC venting (plastic pipes) coming out of your furnace rather than steel. The furnace should have a 90 or above in the model number.

The average life of a furnace is 12-15 years old. But it can wear out and get damaged sooner in the following situations: the filter isn't changed regularly (overheating constantly can crack the heat exchanger more quickly and cause many other costly breakdowns), bad ductwork, or improper installation. It is critical to the life of your system and to protect your investment to have a furnace correctly sized, safely and properly installed and properly maintained.

Your thermostat could be broken. You can bypass the thermostat in the short term, while you schedule service.

If your furnace tries to turn on a few times and then shuts off for a while, it might be a dirty flame sensor. If the flame sensor doesn't detect a flame, it shuts off the furnace and gas valve as a safety measure so that gas isn't flowing into your home. If the sensor is dirty, it can't detect the flame and will shut off the furnace. Our technicians clean the flame sensor as part of our routine maintenance. Call (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055 to schedule a service appointment.
Your blower wheel could be damaged or out of balance. The bearings could be going bad in the inducer motor. If this is the case, the noise will only worsen over time. Call us at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055 to schedule service.
Yes, we do.

Any maintenance, whether for your health, your car, or your home, is not mandatory, but always a good idea. It's best to hire a professional if you aren't confident with the maintenance of your furnace.

Some of the benefits of regular maintenance:

  • Prevent issues that stress the system
  • Prevent premature breakdowns
  • Increase efficiency
  • Improve comfort and air quality.
  • Save time and money
  • Reduce risk of emergencies
  • Prolong life of system

For more maintenance info, or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.

We can provide a heat certification for home sellers or landlords that need one. Just call us at (815) 806-1055">(815) 806-1055.
If you have a maintenance agreement, you'll save an additional 15% on any repairs, receive priority service, and your maintenance will be on autopilot, since we'll schedule all your appointments for you. We also keep records of service for you, so if you ever sell your home or office building, you can show potential buyers your equipment has been maintained and is in good operating condition.

If you are looking at an estimate for a repair, and it's over a third of the cost to replace the furnace and your furnace is 15 years old, for example, replace the furnace. Or, if the repair is over half the cost to replace, get a new furnace.

Six other factors that could let you know it will soon be time for a new furnace:

  1. Your furnace needs frequent repairs
  2. Furnace is making excessive noise
  3. Your furnace is shutting off frequently while not satisfying the thermostat.
  4. Your furnace is over 15 years old.
  5. You notice rust in and around your furnace
  6. Your furnace has a standing pilot light. (These furnaces were last manufactured in the 90s)

For more information about this decision, you can use our guide.

Your furnace could be blowing cold air for a few reasons. Try these suggestions. If they don’t help, you can call Climate Control Systems.

  • Your thermostat is set to ON rather than AUTO. Change the thermostat setting to AUTO.
  • Your thermostat is incompatible, or you have a low battery.
  • Your furnace has overheated. This could be from a clogged air filter. Change the filter.
  • Your flame sensor is dirty. Call us to schedule service 
Yes, we do. You can call or text (815) 806-1055 for service.
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