By Gene Baldassano, owner of Pure Comfort Heating and Cooling, HVAC technician since 2008
Chicagoland winters are hard on heating equipment. Between late October and March, a furnace in Streamwood, Schaumburg or Elgin can run for hours a day, and a single cold snap can push an older system past its limit. Most no-heat calls we answer in January could have been prevented with a little attention in the fall.
This guide covers what every homeowner in the Northwest Suburbs should know before the cold arrives: how to tell when your furnace or boiler needs help, what repairs typically cost, what a real tune-up includes, when replacement makes more sense than repair, and how to keep your family safe all season.
Quick checklist: get your heat ready before the first cold night
- Replace the air filter. A 1-inch filter usually needs changing every one to three months. A 4- or 5-inch media filter typically lasts six to twelve months.
- Test the thermostat. Switch to heat, raise the setting a few degrees and make sure the furnace starts within a few minutes. Replace thermostat batteries if it uses them.
- Clear the area around the furnace or boiler. Keep storage, paint cans and laundry at least three feet away.
- Check vents and returns. Open supply registers and make sure furniture or rugs are not blocking return grilles.
- Look at the outdoor vent pipes. High-efficiency furnaces and boilers vent through PVC pipes on the side of the house. Make sure leaves, snow drifts and nests are not blocking them.
- Test your carbon monoxide alarms. Illinois law requires a working CO alarm within 15 feet of every sleeping room in homes with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.
- Schedule a professional tune-up. The U.S. EPA recommends having a trained professional inspect, clean and tune your heating system every year.
Signs your furnace needs repair
Furnaces usually give warning signs before they fail completely. Call for service if you notice any of these:
- The furnace runs but blows cool or lukewarm air
- It turns on and off every few minutes (short cycling)
- Some rooms are much colder than others
- Loud banging, squealing, scraping or rattling noises
- A burning smell that lasts more than the first few minutes of the season
- A yellow or flickering burner flame instead of a steady blue one
- Gas bills rising with no change in your habits
- A flashing error code on the furnace control board
The most common furnace repairs we see are failed igniters, dirty flame sensors, inducer motor problems, pressure switch faults, clogged condensate drains on high-efficiency furnaces and failed control boards. Our trucks carry these parts, so many repairs are finished on the first visit.
What furnace repair costs: most repairs run between $100 and $700, with about $300 being typical. Our diagnostic is $75, or $99 on evenings, weekends and holidays. Learn more on our furnace repair page.
What a real furnace tune-up includes
Not all tune-ups are equal. A quick filter change and a glance at the burners is not maintenance. Our heating tune-up follows a 49-point checklist that covers safety, combustion, airflow, electrical components and controls, including:
- Inspecting the heat exchanger and burners
- Cleaning and testing the flame sensor and igniter
- Checking gas pressure and combustion
- Testing safety switches, limits and the inducer motor
- Checking blower operation, motor amperage and airflow
- Flushing the condensate drain on high-efficiency furnaces
- Inspecting venting and flue connections
- Testing thermostat operation and the full heating cycle
A tune-up is $99 in our main service area and $119 just outside it. If you want maintenance handled automatically every year, our Comfort Club maintenance plans start at $15 a month. See our furnace maintenance and maintenance plans pages for details.
Repair or replace? How to decide
There is no single rule, but these questions help:
- How old is the furnace? Most gas furnaces last 15 to 20 years. Past that point, major repairs become harder to justify.
- How big is the repair? A cracked heat exchanger or a failed control board on an older unit often points to replacement.
- How often has it needed repairs? Several repairs in two or three years is a strong signal.
- How efficient is it? Older furnaces often run at 80% efficiency or less. A modern high-efficiency furnace turns 95% or more of your gas into heat. According to ENERGY STAR, certified gas furnaces in the northern U.S. can be up to 18% more efficient than baseline models.
- Is the home comfortable? Hot and cold rooms, dry air and noisy operation are often fixed by a properly sized new system.
We always give you both options in writing, repair and replacement, with upfront flat-rate pricing and no high-pressure sales.
Furnace replacement: what to expect
A properly installed furnace starts with a load calculation, not a guess based on the size of the old unit. Oversized furnaces short-cycle and wear out early. Undersized furnaces cannot keep up on the coldest days. We calculate your home’s heating needs on every replacement.
Most furnace replacements in the Northwest Suburbs cost between $3,000 and $9,500 installed, depending on efficiency, staging, venting and ductwork. A complete furnace and air conditioner replacement typically runs $8,000 to $19,000. A furnace-only installation usually takes four to six hours, and a full system takes seven to ten hours.
As a Lennox Premier Dealer, we install the full Lennox furnace lineup, from dependable Merit Series models to the Dave Lennox Signature Collection. Compare every model on our Lennox furnace lineup page, or read more about furnace installation.
Single-stage, two-stage or variable-capacity? A single-stage furnace runs at full power every time. A two-stage furnace runs on a lower setting most of the winter, which is quieter and more even. A variable-capacity furnace adjusts in small steps for the most consistent comfort. For most Chicagoland homes, a two-stage furnace with a variable-speed blower is the sweet spot.
Financing: we offer 0% APR on select Lennox systems during Lennox promotions, plus longer terms with interest on projects over $2,000 for a lower monthly payment, typically with $0 down on approved credit. Details are on our financing page.
Boiler care for homes with radiators or baseboard heat
Many homes in Elgin, Palatine, Roselle and the older neighborhoods throughout the area are heated by hot-water boilers. Boiler heat is quiet and even, but it depends on several components working together: the boiler, circulator pumps, zone valves, the expansion tank and controls.
Signs your boiler needs attention:
- Some radiators or baseboard zones stay cold
- Banging, gurgling or knocking in the pipes
- Water around the boiler or a dripping relief valve
- Pressure gauge reading too high or too low
- The boiler keeps locking out or needs to be reset
An annual boiler tune-up includes checking combustion, system pressure, the expansion tank, relief valve, low-water cutoff where equipped, venting and controls. We service and install hot-water boilers from Lennox, Weil-McLain, Peerless and Crown. We do not work on steam systems. Learn more on our boiler repair, boiler maintenance and boiler comparison pages.
Heat pumps and dual fuel: a smart option for Illinois
Modern cold-climate heat pumps work well in Chicagoland, especially paired with a gas furnace in a dual-fuel system. The heat pump handles heating on mild days, and the furnace takes over automatically when temperatures drop to roughly 35 to 40 degrees. You get efficient heat for much of the season and strong, steady heat on the coldest nights. See our heat pump installation page to learn more.
Comfort upgrades worth considering this winter
- Whole-home humidifier: Winter air in Illinois gets very dry. Keeping indoor humidity around 35 to 45% feels warmer, protects wood floors and trim, and reduces static and dry skin. See our humidifier options.
- Smart thermostat: A programmable or smart thermostat lowers the temperature while you sleep or are away. Compare options on our thermostats page.
- Better air filtration: A 5-inch media filter cabinet captures far more dust and allergens than a thin filter, which matters when windows stay closed for months. See our air filtration options.
- Zoning: If upstairs and downstairs never agree on temperature, a zoning system can solve it. Learn more about HVAC zoning.
Safety first: carbon monoxide and gas smells
Every fuel-burning appliance produces carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be deadly. A cracked heat exchanger, blocked vent or poor combustion can let it into your home. Test your CO alarms monthly and replace them according to the manufacturer’s date, usually every five to ten years.
If your CO alarm sounds: get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911. If you smell gas: leave the house, do not use light switches or phones inside, and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Once the home is safe, call us to inspect and repair the equipment.
Emergency heating service, 24/7
Furnaces rarely fail on a convenient day. Our phones are answered live 24/7, holidays included, and emergency calls usually get a technician at your door within one to three hours. After-hours diagnostics are $99. Learn more about our emergency HVAC service.
Heating service across the Northwest Suburbs
Pure Comfort Heating and Cooling is based in Streamwood and serves homes within about 20 miles, including Streamwood, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Elgin, South Elgin, Roselle, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, South Barrington, Carpentersville and Algonquin. Not sure if we cover your street? See all of our service areas or just give us a call.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have my furnace serviced?
Once a year, ideally in early fall before heavy use begins. Heat pumps benefit from service twice a year because they run in both summer and winter.
How much does furnace repair cost in the Northwest Suburbs?
Most repairs cost between $100 and $700, with about $300 being typical. Our diagnostic is $75, or $99 after hours.
How long does a furnace last?
Most gas furnaces last 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance. Skipping maintenance shortens that lifespan and increases the chance of a mid-winter breakdown.
How much does a new furnace cost?
Most furnace replacements cost between $3,000 and $9,500 installed, depending on efficiency, staging and the venting or ductwork your home needs.
What temperature should I set my thermostat in winter?
Around 68 degrees while you are home and awake, lowered a few degrees while you sleep or are away, is a good balance of comfort and savings.
Do you work on boilers?
Yes. We repair, maintain and replace hot-water boiler systems, including Lennox, Weil-McLain, Peerless and Crown. We do not work on steam boilers.
Schedule your heating tune-up today
The best time to fix a furnace problem is before it leaves you without heat. Call 708-515-4822 or request service online to schedule a tune-up, repair or free replacement estimate. Pure Comfort Heating and Cooling is family-owned, licensed, bonded and insured, a Lennox Premier Dealer and a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating.