HVAC emergency in Chicago? Call Bernie's Heating & A/C Service now! Same-day service available for all heating and cooling emergencies.
When your furnace stops working at 2am in January, you need a mechanic—not a salesperson. We fix what's broken. No commission techs means no pressure to replace what can be repaired.
Most HVAC companies pay techs on commission. Guess what they recommend? A new furnace. Every time. We pay our techs hourly, so they diagnose honestly and fix what's actually broken.
Our techs make the same hourly rate whether they fix your flame sensor for $ or sell you a $$$ furnace. They have zero incentive to upsell. That's intentional.
Most companies today train "parts changers," not mechanics. Our guys use multimeters, check pressures, test voltages. We find the root cause instead of guessing.
Got a 20-year-old furnace? Other companies will condemn it to sell a replacement. We'll fix it if it makes sense for your budget. Sometimes a $ repair buys you 3 more years.
We see the same issues over and over in Chicago homes. Here's what's probably wrong with your furnace—and what it truly costs to fix.
$ repair
The hot surface igniter cracks after 10-15 years. You'll hear the furnace try to start but no flame. Common on all brands. 30-minute fix.
$ service
Furnace lights for 5 seconds, then shuts off? That's a dirty flame sensor. Most techs replace it for $. We clean it for a lot less.
$$ repair
Noisy motor, weak airflow, or capacitor failure. Chicago bungalows with dusty basements kill blower motors. We stock common replacements.
$–$$ repair
Furnace won't start, LED shows pressure switch error. Usually a clogged condensate drain or bad inducer motor. We diagnose which.
$$$ warranty labor
Most heat exchangers have 20-year or lifetime warranty. We replace the part under warranty instead of selling you a whole new furnace.
$–$$ fix
Bad wiring, dead batteries, WiFi disconnects. Half the "broken furnaces" we diagnose are actually thermostat issues. Easy fix.
Chicago's not like the suburbs. Old homes, tight basements, weird layouts. We've seen it all.
Low basement ceilings, furnace crammed next to the water heater. Ductwork held together with duct tape from the 1970s. We're used to it. We bring extra drop lights because your basement has one 40-watt bulb.
Two furnaces in a 3x6 closet. The second-floor tenant's furnace is blocking the first-floor unit. We've done surgical repairs where other companies said "impossible."
Converted from coal to gas in the 1950s. Original radiators. Steam pipes. Boilers disguised as furnaces. We know the difference and fix both.
For downtown locations (Loop, River North, Streeterville, Gold Coast, etc.):
Deposit confirmed when booking
The deposit covers our time finding parking, feeding meters, and dealing with downtown logistics. It's waived if you provide parking.
We're not trying to gouge you—downtown service calls take 45 minutes of parking roulette before we even knock on your door. Most customers understand.
Every Chicago neighborhood has different housing stock and different furnace problems. We've worked in all of them.
Frame houses, drafty attics. Short-cycling furnaces are common because of airflow issues. We know how to adjust pressure switches for your home.
Mix of old and renovated. We've replaced a lot of heat exchangers in renovated greystones where contractors installed the wrong size furnace.
Solid brick bungalows, reliable older furnaces. When other companies condemn them, we fix them. Your 1995 Carrier has 10 more years if maintained.
Two-flats with tiny basements. Tight working conditions don't scare us. We've swapped furnaces in closets where you can't stand up straight.
Renovated victorians with high-end Carrier Infinity systems. We service the premium stuff too—and we're more honest than the dealer network.
Hard-working families who need heat, not a sales pitch. We waive the diagnostic fee if you fix it with us. Honest work for honest people.
Most no-heat calls are caused by a dirty flame sensor (15-minute fix), dead igniter ($ repair), or thermostat issues. We diagnose the actual problem instead of just selling you a new furnace. Our techs aren't on commission, so they have no reason to upsell.
Common repairs: Flame sensor cleaning ($), igniter replacement ($), blower motor ($$), pressure switch ($–$$), thermostat ($–$$). Heat exchanger replacement under warranty: $$$ (labor). We give upfront pricing before we start work.
If your furnace is under 15 years old and the repair is under $$ fix it. If it's 20+ years old and needs a $$$ + repair, replacement makes more sense. Cracked heat exchanger? Check your warranty first - most are covered for 20 years or lifetime. We'll give you honest advice either way.
Any downtown deposit or parking-related charge is confirmed when booking and documented in the written estimate. Providing parking may affect that charge.
Cold air from vents usually means the flame sensor is dirty (easy fix), the igniter failed (common repair), or you have a thermostat set to 'fan on' instead of 'auto'. We troubleshoot the root cause, not just throw parts at it.
No sales pitch. No commission upsells. Just honest diagnosis and fair pricing from a Chicago company that's been fixing furnaces since 1992.