HVAC Service Blog By Johansen & Anderson Inc

Why a Cracked Heat Exchanger Repair Can’t Wait

January 8th, 2024

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Your gas furnace has a lot of different components. Some have purposes related to functionality: they help with the generation of heat. Some have purposes related to safety: they prevent things from going dangerously wrong. Your heat exchanger does both. It is critical to the function of the furnace, and it is also critical to your safety.

Sometimes, people postpone having furnace repairs done. If their home just isn’t getting quite toasty enough, or the heat doesn’t seem like it’s evenly distributed, they might feel like it’s not an urgent enough concern to address immediately. If you suspect that your heat exchanger is cracked, you absolutely must get it repaired right away. Here’s what you need to know.

Should I Repair or Replace My Water Heater?

December 25th, 2023

Water heater problems are a huge inconvenience! Whether you’re experiencing basement puddles or cold showers, you can’t just let the problem keep getting worse.

But it can be hard to tell exactly what needs to be done. How can you tell whether you should have your water heater repaired or replaced? Here are some key things you should know that can help with your decision.

A Healthier You in the New Year: Air Filtration Systems

December 11th, 2023

According to the National Institutes of Health, the most common category of New Year’s resolutions is those related to physical health and well-being. However, exercise and dietary change can be time-consuming and frustrating. How about a resolution about breathing? You do that all the time anyway. What if you could do that in a healthier way?

During the winter, the air in your home is easily contaminated and not easily aired out. Contaminants and germs can build up and cause illness. What can you do to make the air you breathe healthier? Let’s talk about the wide variety of air filtration systems and how they can help.

Boiler Repairs That Can’t Wait

November 27th, 2023

There are so many reasons why boilers are an ideal home heating system. They’re long-lasting and very effective, providing more even heat than most systems. And one of the best things is that they don’t generally need repairs as often as furnaces or other heaters.

But even the almighty boiler occasionally experiences a problem. The important thing is to recognize that a problem is happening and get repairs promptly before a small issue becomes a big one. How do you know when your boiler is having a problem so you won’t neglect an urgent repair need? We’ve got some information for you.

Is Your Water Heater Ready for the Holidays?

November 13th, 2023

Happy holiday season! Fall and winter are about to bring you all the best holiday gatherings of the year. You’ll be washing your hands a hundred times while making those big holiday meals, and then washing what seems like a hundred holiday dirty dishes. Your guests will be washing their hands, too, and also taking showers.

Holidays cause major increases in hot water usage, and they’re also a time when you don’t want to have to call a plumber. Is your water heater ready?

Why You Need a Professional for Commercial HVAC Repair

October 16th, 2023

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Owning a building, commercial property, or business is a lot of pressure. Any time something goes wrong, the responsibility for it is entirely on your shoulders. When you’re pressed for time or money and you have tenants or employees making urgent complaints about being too hot or too cold, it’s tempting to take shortcuts.

Should you attempt to DIY a repair on your commercial HVAC system, or hire a general property manager or handyperson to do the work? Your repairs need to be done by a qualified HVAC technician, and not one who only has residential experience. You need a commercial HVAC expert. Here’s why.

Should I Get a Ductless Mini Split?

October 2nd, 2023

Autumn is the perfect time of year to evaluate how your AC performed during the heat of the summer and consider whether it’s time to make a change. As you look into the available options, you might realize you don’t know much about ductless mini splits. The more you know, the better able you’ll be to make a choice you’ll be happy with for years to come.

We’d like to give you a primer on ductless mini splits. Consider the benefits, the reasons some people choose them, and whether one would be right for you.

Heat Pump or a Furnace: Which Is Better for Illinois?

September 18th, 2023

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It’s about to get chilly out there again, folks. How happy are you with your heating system? Did it do a fantastic job last winter? Is it still relatively new? Or do you have some concerns? If your heater is getting older, would need repair in order to get running again, or just isn’t performing efficiently, it’s time to consider what you might want to replace it with.

You’ve surely heard that heat pumps are incredibly efficient. But do they work in our climate in Illinois? Or would a furnace be better?

Why Boilers Are Still Popular for Home Heating

September 4th, 2023

There are many options for how to heat your home these days. Forced air heat can be provided by a furnace that uses gas, propane, heating oil, or electricity to heat air that’s conducted through the same ductwork your central air conditioner uses. Heat pumps can warm your home, not by generating heat but by transferring it from one place to another.

It might seem like boilers are a very old-fashioned way to heat a home, and you might imagine ornate, antique radiators when you think of them. Modern boilers are not quite the same as the old-fashioned ones, and they’re still a popular choice for home heating. Here’s why.

How to Combat Wildfire Smoke in Illinois

August 21st, 2023

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Despite how far we are from the areas of Canada that have burned with wildfires this summer, we’ve been significantly impacted by it. The smoke has created such poor air quality at times that it’s been dangerous for people with sensitive respiratory systems or underlying health conditions, not to mention unpleasant for everyone. And according to experts, the conditions that led to this situation are only going to get worse. To avoid breathing the smoke, people were told to stay indoors. But is that any better? Can you really escape wildfire smoke by staying inside your home? How can you be sure your indoor air quality is healthy? Here’s our best recommendation.