Furnace
Definition to come.
Where it comes up
- Gas furnaces
How a gas furnace heats, what AFUE means and the signs worth a closer look
- Older furnaces
Gravity and coal-era furnaces, gas conversions and how to judge a furnace's age
- Steam heat
How steam boilers and radiators work, air vents, banging and boiler rules
- Hot-water heat
How hot-water boilers and radiators work, bleeding, pressure and efficiency
- Central air conditioning
The parts of a split system, what is normal and the signs of trouble
- Heat pumps
How a heat pump heats and cools, and how it copes with Chicago cold
- Thermostats and zoning
Programmable and smart thermostats, placement, zoning and batteries
- Home ventilation
Fresh air, bathroom and kitchen fans, range hoods, and ERVs and HRVs
- Indoor humidity
The right humidity range, humidifiers in winter, dehumidifiers in summer
- Air filters and air cleaners
Furnace filters, MERV ratings, changing filters and what air cleaners can do
- Gas water heaters
Gas water heater types, burning air, venting and the signs of backdrafting
- Your home's system as a whole
How heating, cooling, air and controls fit together in one home
- How gas appliances burn and vent
Combustion air, flues, vent categories and condensing furnaces
- Airflow and ducts
Supply and return, static pressure, leaky ducts and when duct cleaning helps
- Efficiency ratings
What AFUE, SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 mean and how to read them
- Sizing heating and cooling
Why size matters, load calculations and short cycling
- Before the heating season
The fall check-up, the filter and humidifier, alarms, vents, boilers and heat pumps
- Before the cooling season
The AC check-up, coils and drains, the outdoor unit, mini-splits and room units
- Care all year round
Filters, humidity, exhaust fans, dryer vents, open registers and regular upkeep
- What you notice and what it can mean
No heat, short cycling, noises, smells, water, ice and high bills, and what they can mean
- 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
- 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
- Natural gas safety
The added smell, gas detectors, your gas pipes and yearly appliance checks
- Carbon monoxide
What CO is, its symptoms, the alarm law, placement and testing
- Venting and chimneys
How exhaust leaves the house, backdrafting, tests and signs to notice
- Warning signs
Signs a system may be unsafe, and when to stop and have it checked
- Moisture and mold
Where mold grows, how to keep it dry, and when to call a professional
- Repair or replace
Age, repairs and bills, R-22 systems, efficiency, sizing and what to ask
- Hiring a contractor
Estimates, contracts, licenses and your rights when you hire someone for HVAC work
- What affects the cost
Size, efficiency, ducts, permits and refrigerant: what moves the cost of HVAC work