HVAC Blog Crystal Lake, IL

6 Signs That Your Furnace Needs Repair

November 21st, 2022

Your furnace is arguably the most important appliance in your home during the winter season. It keeps your home warm and your family comfortable, but it also does more than that. Your heater protects your home’s pipes from freezing or bursting on the coldest winter days.

But when your furnace goes unused for around half of the year, it may need a tune-up before taking on the freezing temperatures that are around the corner for our community. If you need furnace repair in Lake Zurich, IL, give our team a call. You can also keep reading to learn more about the signs that your furnace needs repair.

Schedule This Important Heating Service Today! Here’s Why

November 7th, 2022

Your furnace has a big, important job at your house. It keeps your home and family comfortably warm all winter long. But since it usually works without a hiccup and doesn’t make much noise, you probably don’t give your furnace much thought. Sure, you change the air filter each month, but aside from that as long as it’s working you don’t have to worry about your furnace, right?

Wrong! Your furnace deserves more attention when it’s working right than when it’s working wrong. That’s because the only way to keep it running great is to take steps toward maintaining that high level of functionality. When you invest in your furnace at its best, it can stay at its best for even longer without any problems. Give our team a call if you’re ready to schedule heater maintenance in Algonquin, IL. In the meantime you can keep reading to learn why furnace maintenance is so important.

Why You Should Choose a Whole-House Air Purifier

October 24th, 2022

When you think about air quality, you might think about the mold and pollen levels outside. You can’t do much to improve the outdoor air, but you can improve the air quality inside your home. Don’t think that high mold and pollen levels have to come inside with you when you go home.

There’s something you can do to improve our indoor air quality. When you invest in an air purifier in Hinsdale, IL, you also invest in your family’s health and well-being. Air purifiers can even help protect your home from mold and mildew damage. If you’re ready to breathe easy when you’re in the comfort of your own home, give us a call. We can help you pick the best whole-house air purifier to fit your needs.

Preparing for Utility Price Hikes

October 14th, 2022

It’s been all over the news–the prices of gas and electricity have gone up tremendously, to the point where a lot of homeowners are struggling to meet their home comfort demands. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a choice when it comes to our utility bills. We practically rely on electrical appliances and devices to live life or work from home, and our gas furnaces are our best friends when fall and winter arrive.

Today, we want to talk about a few strategies we can help with to combat these price hikes. Our team wants to keep your home and life comfortable without breaking the bank.

The Refrigerant Misconception You Don’t Want to Believe

October 10th, 2022

Most air conditioners use refrigerant to cool your home. With temperatures dropping, you may not be thinking much about your AC’s cooling function, but it’s still important, even in fall and winter. Some homeowners think they know what refrigerant is and how it works. Others know that their AC has refrigerant, but don’t know its function inside the AC unit.

Cooling your home is only possible because of refrigerant in your HVAC unit. Your AC unit functions differently when you switch from cooling to heating, but refrigerant is the key to cooling. Many people believe that refrigerant runs out over time and has to be replaced, but this isn’t true. Your AC unit is installed with a lifetime supply of refrigerant.

The next time you need air conditioning repair in Hinsdale, IL, trust our team of professionals to help you. If your system is losing refrigerant for some reason, we can recharge your supply – not replace it. Plus, we can identify the problem and get your AC back to working like new again.

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel?

September 26th, 2022

Your electrical panel plays a big part in how efficient your home is when it comes to energy use. Some people also call their electrical panel the circuit breaker. No matter what you call it, the panel serves as the central “hub” for all of your home’s electricity.

So, why would you need to upgrade your electrical panel? Well, as technology advances we have more and more needs for electricity in our homes. When your home was first designed, there was a certain amount of electrical power allotted to each room in your home. When you have more things to plug in, your electricity needs increase.

Most circuit breakers last between 25 and 40 years, so if your home is in that age range it may be time to upgrade your electrical panel. If you need an electrician in Algonquin, IL, give our team a call. We can help explain the process of upgrading your electrical panel based on your personal needs and your home’s design. In the meantime, you can read on for additional signs that it’s time for an upgrade.

AC Repair needs to Be Aware Of

September 19th, 2022

Fall is around the corner and your AC will get some much-needed rest from the stress of cooling your house through the hottest months of the year. Your AC likely runs more frequently and for longer durations when it’s the hottest outside. This can put a strain on all of the components, leading to additional wear and tear.

But when you invest in regular maintenance you can reverse some of this wear and tear, also increasing your HVAC system’s energy efficiency. If you want to schedule air conditioning service in Algonquin, IL, give our team a call. We’re highlighting below some of the most common AC repairs we address during AC maintenance appointments so you can know what to expect.

Althoff Voted “Best of the Fox” for 2022—A Clean Sweep

September 17th, 2022

We have great news: Althoff Residential has been voted 2022 Best in House & Home Services for HVAC, Plumbing AND Electrical in McHenry County in the Northwest Herald Readers’ Choice Awards. This was a clean sweep of every category we were eligible for.

Although we aren’t surprised at receiving this honor—we work hard every day to provide the best service possible to all our customers—we are immensely grateful to all of you who voted for us. We wouldn’t be here without our customers, and we’re both thankful and honored for all your votes. We promise to continue to offer the same exceptional level of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services to you in the future.

Contact Althoff Home Services today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. Chicago’s Choice Since 1961. Hand It Off to Althoff!

Sounds You Don’t Want Your AC Making

August 15th, 2022

One day our AC units may be high-tech enough to alert you of problems early on. We already have smart thermostats that help you plan ahead and with programmable settings so it’s definitely possible. But until then, we have to identify signs that something is wrong with an AC unit.

When you pay attention to warning sounds from your AC, you can stay ahead of AC repairs in Crystal Lake, IL. But what sounds are OK to hear and what sounds signal that something is wrong? While it’s normal for your AC unit to make some sounds, the six below definitely warrant a call to our team so you can avoid costly damage.

Signs You May Have a Plumbing Leak

August 1st, 2022

Leaks are probably pretty high on your list of things you don’t want to have happen. While some household problems have easy fixes, sometimes plumbing leaks don’t. This is because leaks cause a ripple effect of damage to surrounding areas. Plumbing leaks can start out so small that you don’t even notice them until they’re a big problem that requires immediate attention.

But you can avoid squishy puddles under your carpet and dark spots on your ceiling by paying attention to signs of a plumbing leak. Watch for these five signs of a leak, and then give us a call for plumbing in Crystal Lake, IL to stay ahead of water damage caused by plumbing leaks.