HVAC emergency in Chicago? Call Bernie's Heating & A/C Service now! Same-day service available for all heating and cooling emergencies.
Last October we got a call from a guy in Albany Park. His furnace died the first cold night of the year. Turns out he hadnt had it serviced in 5 years. Igniter was shot. Could have been prevented with a simple tune-up.
Seasonal HVAC maintenance plans keep your furnace and AC running all year. We've been doing preventive maintenance in Chicago since 1992. Folks in Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, and Edgewater been on our plan for years cause they don't want to deal with surprise breakdowns. current plan pricing includes two tune-ups plus priority scheduling when the weather gets brutal.
No vague promises. Instead, here's exactly what you get with our plan. A lot of companies hide the details but we're gonna be upfront about everything.
April-May (Before Cooling Season)
September-October (Before Heating Season)
What this ACTUALY means:
During polar vortex or heat waves, non-plan customers wait 2-3 days for service. However, plan customers get same-day or next-day scheduling. That's huge when it's 10 below and your furnace is out.
Example: January 2024 polar vortex—we had 200+ emergencies per day. Folks in Jefferson Park, Irving Park, and North Center who we're on the plan got callbacks first. Everyone else had to wait.
If we find something during your tune-up:
You get 15% off parts (not labor—we're honest about that). Example: Igniter replacement normaly costs $ for parts = $ with plan discount.
You still pay for repairs—the plan just reduces the parts cost. We don't hide nothing.
The Math:
Cost: We confirm current annual plan pricing before enrollment. The real value is priority scheduling. When your furnace dies during a polar vortex like it happend to folks in Rogers Park and West Ridge last January, that's worth way more than $.
We're not gonna lie—the plan isn't a huge discount. However, here's the actual comparison so you can decide for yourself:
You get: The same tune-ups
You DON'T get: Priority scheduling, parts discount
âś“ Priority scheduling during emergencies
âś“ 15% parts discount if repair needed
âś“ We call YOU to schedule (set & forget)
Why Buy the Plan?
The small cost advantage isn't the main point. Priority scheduling during emergencies is. Maintenance customers receive priority according to the service terms confirmed when they enroll.
Real percentages from our tune-ups across Chicago since 1992. To be clear, this isn't fear-mongering—it's just data from homes in Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and all over the north side.
Found in 60%+ of furnaces
What happens: Dust buildup reduces airflow 15-25%, wastes gas, and makes your furnace work way harder then it should
What we do: Pull the blower, clean it (included in tune-up)
Cost: Included in $ tune-up (or $ plan)—we see this a lot in older homes around Andersonville
Found in 15-20% of furnaces 7+ years old
What happens: If igniter cracks during October tune-up = we catch it. However, igniter cracks in January = no heat at 2 AM and your freezing
Prevention cost: $ replacement during tune-up (plan discount = $)
Emergency cost: $ (plus your freezing and it's the middle of the night)
Found in 10% of furnaces 15+ years old
What happens: A crack = CO leak into your home. Therefore, we red-tag the furnace right away (safety issue—we don't mess around with this)
Reality: Heat exchanger can't be fixed—you need a new furnace. We found 3 of these last fall in older bungalows around Bridgeport.
Replacement cost: $$$ (but atleast you can budget for it vs an emergancy)
Found in 40%+ of ACs (small leaks)
What happens: Small leak loses 5% refrigerant per year. Catch it early = $ leak repair. However, ignore it = $$ coil replacement down the road
Prevention: We catch leaks during spring tune-up, fix em before summer hits. Seen this a lot in Hyde Park and Pilsen.
Early repair: $ vs $$ later—definately worth catching early
Found in 25% of AC units 5+ years old
What happens: Weak capacitor fails during first heat wave. AC won't start = emergency call when everyones else AC is also breaking down
Prevention cost: $ replacement during spring tune-up
Emergency cost: $ (plus no AC during heat wave—not fun in Lincoln Park in July)
Most failures don't "suddenly happen"—there brewing during the off-season. Tune-ups catch em when parts are cheap and your not desperate. We've seen this pattern over and over in homes across Old Town, Sauganash, and Edison Park.
That's the real value of preventive maintenance. Not the $ discount—the peace of mind knowing your systems been checked.
Here's what the same repair actually costs when you catch it early vs when it fails in the middle of a crisis. These are real examples from homeowners in Logan Square and across the north side:
Scenario: Failing igniter caught in October tune-up
The real win:
Scenario: Igniter fails January 15, 11 PM, 12°F outside
The hidden costs:
The Math Doesnt Tell the Whole Story
Yeah, emergency is only $ more in this example. But that don't include the frozen pipes, the missed work, or the panic at 11 PM when your kids are cold and crying. Preventive maintenance buys you peace of mind. That's what your really paying for.
Timing matters in Chicago. Schedule too late and your competing with 100,000 other homeowners for the same parts and techs. This is why folks in South Shore, Avondale, and Beverly call us early every year.
Best Time: September-October
DON'T wait for first cold snap:
November: Every furnace in Chicago fails same week. Wait times = 2-3 days. Igniter backorders = 1-2 weeks. Happened last year and folks in Garfield Ridge and Mount Greenwood were waiting forever.
Best Time: April-May
DON'T wait for first heat wave:
June-July: Every AC in Chicago fails during first 95°F week. We get 200+ calls per day. Non-plan customers in Bucktown and Ukrainian Village waited 2-3 days last summer.
Chicago-Specific: Polar Vortex 2019
January 2019: -23°F for 3 days strait. We got 200+ emergency no-heat calls per day. Maintenance plan customers in Norwood Park, Forest Glen, and all across the city got same-day priority callbacks. Non-plan customers waited 6-8 hours minimum (some waited 2 days while there house dropped to 50 degrees).
This will happen again. Chicago gets polar vortex every 3-5 years. Are you ready for the next one?
We're not gonna bait-and-switch you. Here's exactly what the plan does NOT cover—we want you to know upfront:
You still pay for parts and labor if we find something during the tune-up. You just get 15% off the parts cost. Labor rate stays the same. We're upfront about this.
You still pay the diagnostic fee if your system breaks down. But you jump the line—plan customers get priority scheduling over non-plan customers. That's the big advantage.
Manufacturer warranty is separate. The maintenance plan dosnt extend your warranty—though most warrantys require annual maintenance anyway so your covered there.
That's a separate service. We'll quote it if your ducts need cleaning, but it's not included in the tune-up. (Most ducts don't need cleaning—we won't upsell you if it's not necessary.)
Pick the plan that fits your situation. No long-term contracts—cancel anytime if you change your mind. Homeowners in Roscoe Village, Mayfair, and all over Chicago been on these plans for years.
$
per year
Best for: Homeowners with both furnace and AC who want set-it-and-forget-it peace of mind
$
per year (65+)
Discounted annual option. Must show ID at first visit. Same benefits as annual plan.
$
first year only
Introductory first-year option. Current renewal pricing is confirmed before enrollment, and you may cancel anytime.
We'll call you in September and April to schedule your tune-ups. If you want true set-it-and-forget-it, we can auto-renew your plan each year and just send a reminder email.
Your choice: We don't auto-enroll you in auto-renewal. During your first tune-up, we'll ask if you want it. You can cancel auto-renewal anytime—no penaltys, no hassle.
Or call (773) 900-6248 to enroll over the phone
Spring AC tune-up includes condenser coil cleaning, refrigerant check, capacitor testing, and motor lubrication. Fall furnace tune-up includes burner cleaning, ignition testing, heat exchanger inspection, and airflow measurement. Both include standard filter replacement and written report of findings.
The $ discount isn't the point—priority scheduling is. During polar vortex or heat waves, plan customers get same-day service while non-plan customers wait 2-3 days. Plus you get 15% off parts if we find something during the tune-up. For $ more than buying tune-ups separately, you get peace of mind.
We call you in September/October for fall furnace tune-up and April/May for spring AC tune-up. You pick the time that works for you. We schedule before peak season when parts are availible and techs aren't slammed with emergencies.
We show you the problem (photo if it's hidden), explain what happens if you don't fix it, quote the repair with your 15% plan discount, and you decide. If you approve, we fix it same visit (parts availibility permitting). You still pay for repairs—the plan just gets you 15% off parts. We don't "find" problems to upsell—we're hourly techs, not commission salespeople.
Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. If you don't want to renew next year, just tell us when we call to schedule. We're not locking you into anything. This is about earning your trust every year, not trapping you in a contract.
Probaly not. The plan is designed for homes with both systems. If you only have a furnace, just book the $ fall tune-up yourself each September. We're not pushing plans—wed rather you be honest about what you need then buy something unecessary.
Enroll in our seasonal maintenance plan today. Two tune-ups per year, priority scheduling during emergencies, 15% parts discount. current pricing confirmed before enrollment. Families across Dunning, Clearing, and Hegewisch been on this plan for years.
No contracts. Cancel anytime. We've been doing preventive maintenance for Chicago homeowners since 1992.