Learn
Chicago homes
Heating and cooling in Chicago comes with its own weather, its own rules and its own kinds of houses. These pages cover what is particular to the city.
In this section
- Chicago's climate
Degree days, average temperatures and what they ask of your equipment
- Chicago's heat and cooling rules
The Heat Ordinance, cooling rules, reporting and tenants' remedies
- Condos, landlords and renters
Who looks after the shared boiler, the unit's furnace and a renter's heat
- Chicago's older homes
Bungalows and older homes, and the heat they were built with
- Permits and licenses
When work needs a permit and which licenses Chicago contractors hold
- Utility programs and help
Rebates, energy assessments, bill help and free weatherization
Other sections
- Heating and cooling systems
What each piece of equipment does, and how to tell which kind you have.
- How it works
The few ideas behind every system: heat, air, fuel, ratings and size.
- Care through the year
What to check before winter, before summer and in between.
- Safety
Gas, carbon monoxide, venting, warning signs, asbestos, lead and mold.
- Choosing and paying for work
Repair or replace, hiring well, what affects cost and how to pay.