Why Your Furnace Smells Like It’s Burning When You First Turn It On

It’s time to switch off summer air conditioning and turn on the heat. When you do, your home fills with a distinct odor. Sometimes, that odor is harmless and is simply the smell of dander, dust, and pollen that’s settled on baseboards or registers since you last ran your heat. Sometimes, however, the smell indicates … Continued

It’s next to impossible to predict how the weather will change from one week to the next. Chicago summers move from glorious days with cooling Lake Michigan breezes to sweltering, humid days that feel like you’re trapped in a steam shower. When it’s hot and humid, your home’s air conditioning system is everything.  As your … Continued

The variety of homes and rentals in Chicago comes with unique challenges for heating and cooling. From the high-rise condos in the Loop to brick bungalows in Portage Park, managing your home energy costs is both important and difficult thanks to the extreme weather conditions like summer’s trapped heat and humidity and winter’s frigid temperatures … Continued

In Chicago, July’s long days aren’t just hot. They’re also incredibly sticky. You walk outside and feel like you’ve stepped into a steam shower. As thermal winds blow across Lake Michigan and are heated by the intense sun, the city fills with hot, moist air. When it’s 90 out, it’s not so much the temperature … Continued

Every two to seven years, El Niño hits. Warmer-than-normal Pacific Ocean temperatures trigger this weather pattern that brings more rain and extreme storms. It also brings hotter temperatures from June to September, which, when paired with rain, means high humidity. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is predicting an 80% chance of an El Niño starting … Continued

There’s a universal truth in Chicago. Spring arrives when it wants, and it may or may not stick around tomorrow. Midwest weather is fickle, as proven by the past few months.  In March, Chicagoans saw nightly lows in the 40s and 50s. Suddenly, on March 16 and 17th, the low temperature plummeted back into the … Continued