How to Choose the Right HVAC Contractor in Chicago

Choosing the wrong HVAC contractor can cost you thousands of dollars, either through overpriced work, unnecessary repairs, or shoddy installation that fails in a few years. After more than 60 years in the heating and cooling business in Chicago, I have seen every type of contractor out there. I have fixed the mistakes of the bad ones, and I have respected the work of the few good ones. I can tell you what separates them.

Verify the License

In Illinois, HVAC contractors need proper licensing and certification. Ask for a license number and verify it. Our license number is #4204040, and we are proud to share it. Any contractor who hesitates when you ask for their license number is a contractor you should not hire. Also check that they carry current liability insurance and workers compensation coverage. If an unlicensed, uninsured contractor gets hurt on your property or damages your home, you could be liable.

Check Their History

How long has the company been in business? Longevity matters in this industry. Fly by night HVAC companies pop up every spring and disappear every fall. They take your money for a furnace installation, and when something goes wrong three months later, their phone number is disconnected. Burris and Sons has been in business since 1917. Three generations of our family have served this community. We are not going anywhere.

Ask About Experience With Your Specific System

Not all HVAC systems are the same. A technician who works exclusively on new construction may not know how to service the vintage boiler in your 1920s Chicago bungalow. Ask the contractor specifically about their experience with your type of system. Chicago's South Side has a unique mix of old and new heating systems: steam radiators, hot water boilers, forced air furnaces, and everything in between. You need a contractor who has worked on all of them.

Get Multiple Estimates (But Do Not Choose the Cheapest)

For any major job, installation, replacement, or significant repair, get at least two or three estimates. But do not automatically choose the lowest price. The cheapest estimate often means the contractor is cutting corners on equipment quality, installation standards, or both. A furnace installed incorrectly will cost you more in repairs and energy waste over its lifetime than the money you saved on the initial installation.

Look for the estimate that is thorough and detailed. It should specify the exact equipment being installed, the warranty terms, what the labor covers, and a timeline for completion. A one line estimate that just says "furnace replacement: $3,500" should raise red flags.

Beware the Upsell

The big franchise companies have sales targets. Their technicians are trained to upsell you on equipment and services you may not need. They will tell you that your furnace is "dangerous" and needs to be replaced immediately, even when a simple repair would fix the problem and give you several more years of safe operation.

This is what I do: I am not a salesman. I am a repairman. When I come to your home, I diagnose the actual problem, I explain it to you in plain language, and I give you your options. If a repair makes sense, I tell you. If replacement makes sense, I tell you. I do not make commission on equipment sales, so I have no incentive to push a new system on you.

Ask for References

A good contractor should be happy to provide references from previous customers. Better yet, check their reviews on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau. Look for patterns in the reviews. One or two negative reviews are normal for any business. But if multiple reviewers mention the same problem, like technicians showing up late, surprise charges, or unresolved issues, take that seriously.

24/7 Availability Matters

Your furnace does not choose to break down during convenient hours. Chicago temperatures can drop to dangerous levels overnight. You need an HVAC contractor who offers real 24/7 emergency service, not one that just has an after hours answering machine that nobody checks until Monday morning. When you call Burris and Sons at 2 AM, a real person answers, and we dispatch service as quickly as possible.

Local Beats National

A local, family owned HVAC company has a reputation to maintain in its own community. We live here. We shop at the same stores you do. Our kids went to school in these neighborhoods. When I do work on your home, my family's name is attached to it. That means something. National franchises send whoever is available. They may send a different technician every time, one who has never seen your system before and has to start from scratch.

What It Comes Down To

The right HVAC contractor is licensed, insured, experienced, honest about pricing, responsive in emergencies, and part of your community. If that sounds like what you are looking for, call Burris and Sons at 773-375-4123. We have been Chicago's South Side heating, cooling, and plumbing experts since 1917.