Plumbing and HVAC services in Chicago
Eight services across two trades. Each page sets out the symptoms, exactly what's included, what costs extra, what drives the price, and the Chicago-specific issues that tend to catch people out.
Eight services, two trades
We run plumbing and HVAC under one roof, which matters more than it sounds — a lot of Chicago complaints sit right on the boundary between them.
Plumbing Plumbing
Sump Pump & Battery Backup Systems
The one piece of equipment standing between a Chicago basement and a very bad afternoon.
Read more →Sewer Backup & Flood Control Systems
Backwater valves, overhead sewer conversions, and honest talk about which one your house actually needs.
Read more →Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
Repair when it's already split, thawing when it hasn't yet, and insulation so next January is quieter.
Read more →Lead Service Line Replacement
Chicago has more lead service lines than any city in the country. Here's how to find out if yours is one.
Read more →Heating & Cooling Heating & Cooling
Central Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
Diagnosis before replacement, correct sizing, and a straight answer on refrigerant.
Read more →Furnace & Heating Repair
No-heat calls, short cycling, and the safety checks that matter on a gas furnace in a Chicago winter.
Read more →Seasonal HVAC Maintenance & Tune-Ups
The spring and fall visits that catch the part that would otherwise fail on the coldest night of the year.
Read more →Thermostats, Zoning & Controls
When one floor is freezing and another is roasting, the equipment usually isn't the problem.
Read more →How the two trades differ
| Plumbing (water side) | Heating & cooling (air side) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical trigger | Something is wet, blocked, or not delivering water | Something is too hot, too cold, or not moving air |
| First diagnostic | Pressure test, meter check, or camera | Electrical, airflow, pressures, or distribution check |
| Common false alarm | A wet ceiling that's actually AC condensate | A cold room that's a vent, not a boiler |
| Building involvement | Risers, stacks, and building sewer are usually the building's | Common shafts, building boilers, and facade equipment are usually the building's |
| Permits | Chicago licenses plumbing separately; sewer and service line work is permitted | Permits for equipment replacement where required |
General patterns for Chicago homes. Your municipality and the city plumbing code are the authority on permitting and responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you split services into water and air?
Because they're genuinely different trades with different diagnostics, even though we run both. Splitting them makes it easier for you to find what you need, and it's honest about the fact that a leak call and a no-cooling call involve different equipment and different expertise.
Can one visit cover a plumbing and an HVAC issue?
Often yes, and that's one of the advantages of using a company that does both. Mention everything when you book so we can allocate the time and bring the right equipment — raising a second issue on arrival sometimes means a return trip.
Do you install equipment customers buy themselves?
For fixtures, usually yes. For heating and cooling equipment, we prefer to supply it, because warranty registration and correct sizing are tied to the installation. If you've already bought something, tell us the model and we'll say honestly whether we can install it and what the warranty implications are.
Do you offer maintenance agreements?
We don't publish a standard plan here. For buildings and commercial spaces that need scheduled service, call and describe what you're maintaining and we'll tell you what makes sense — we'd rather scope it to the property than sell a generic tier.
What isn't on this list that you still handle?
Plenty of smaller work sits inside these categories without being named — shutoff valve replacement, thermostat problems, condensate pumps, and so on. If your issue doesn't obviously match a page, call and describe it.
What don't you do at all?
Mold remediation and testing, asbestos abatement, electrical work beyond connecting our own equipment, structural and facade work, and gas utility emergency response. We run into all of these regularly and will name them rather than stretching our scope.
Not sure which side your problem sits on?
Describe the symptom. Half the value of using one company for both is that you don't have to know.