Insulation
Definition to come.
Where it comes up
- Older furnaces
Gravity and coal-era furnaces, gas conversions and how to judge a furnace's age
- Window and wall air conditioners
Window, through-the-wall and PTAC units: sizing, power and care
- Home ventilation
Fresh air, bathroom and kitchen fans, range hoods, and ERVs and HRVs
- Your home's system as a whole
How heating, cooling, air and controls fit together in one home
- Airflow and ducts
Supply and return, static pressure, leaky ducts and when duct cleaning helps
- Sizing heating and cooling
Why size matters, load calculations and short cycling
- 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
- Utility programs and help
Rebates, energy assessments, bill help and free weatherization
- Asbestos and lead
Old insulation, lead paint, and the rules for who may disturb them
- 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
- What affects the cost
Size, efficiency, ducts, permits and refrigerant: what moves the cost of HVAC work
- Which trade to call
Plumbers, electricians, roofers and more: who handles what around your HVAC