HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical Blog Hillside, IL

Plan Ahead for Your Rooftop Unit Installations and Replacements

April 4th, 2022

Packaged rooftop HVAC units are the basis of most heating and cooling systems in commercial buildings, from small businesses to major high-rises. Handling the installation and replacement of rooftop units in Chicago, IL is a big part of what we do, and we want to make sure that our customers receive the best service possible.

However, there are ongoing disruptions in the global supply chain that have created difficulties for contractors to maintain current supplies of important equipment such as commercial/industrial rooftop units. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has waned in the US, it’s still prevalent in many other countries that are part of the supply chain. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and the continuing war in Eastern Europe has further worsened the supply chain issue.

The upshot of all this is that we’re currently experiencing a delay with installations for rooftop units. The delay for installing these units can be from 12 to 30 weeks. We’ll do all we can to accommodate our customers, but we recommend that businesses plan ahead and assess their needs on a longer timeline.

Why Trust Us With Your Commercial Pipelining

March 21st, 2022

Pipelining—the plumbing term, not the computing term—is a way to repair or replace broken and aging pipes. Rather than removing damaged sections of a pipe, pipelining does the repairs from the inside of the pipe, creating a new pipe (the “lining”) within the older part and sealing along it to close off leaks and create a new, stronger pipe. Pipelining can repair small sections, or it can line the entire length of a pipe to effectively replace it with a new one.

When it comes to pipelining in Chicago, IL, you can find various commercial contractors who will do the job of fixing your commercial pipes. But at Althoff Industries, we have several advantages that make us a top-notch choice. For starters, we have more than 60 years of history serving businesses of all sizes and types in Chicagoland. We understand what businesses need when it comes to plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated and provide true 24-hour service. We aren’t here just to fix problems—we are here to offer solutions.

But it goes farther than that. We use the best available technology for all jobs. When it comes to pipelining, we use NuFlow technology.

How Long Will Your Commercial Heating Systems Last?

March 7th, 2022

The heating equipment for a business facility accounts for a significant amount of the annual budget, especially in a place like Chicago with its severe winters. If you own or operate a business in Chicagoland, you’ll want to get the longest possible service life from all the heating systems: replacement systems are costly.

So how many years can you expect from your commercial heating systems? We’ll look into this more below, as well as how you can help your company’s heating systems last as long as possible.

How Long Will Your Commercial Heating System Last?

February 21st, 2022

When you invest in heating systems for your commercial space, whether rooftop HVAC units, a commercial furnace, or a commercial boiler, you’ll want to get as many years as possible from them. But how many years can you realistically expect?

Although we can’t give you single definite answer about the service lives of your equipment in a blog post, we can offer guidelines and advice to ensure you get the best service from your vital HVAC equipment.

Does Your Facility Require a Sewage Ejector Pump?

February 7th, 2022

The proper removal of wastewater from a facility to the municipal sewer system is essential for a commercial company to remain operational. Building and health codes have stringent requirements to ensure a safe, hygienic environment. If you own or operate a commercial facility in Chicagoland, you won’t have to think too much about the sewer system for the building as long as you have reliable commercial plumbing experts to provide routine maintenance, repairs, and replacements as necessary

If you are building a new facility or making major retrofits to an older one, you’ll have to make several key decisions about the sewage system as well as other wastewater-related devices, such as a sump pump. One of those decisions is finding out whether your facility needs the help of a sewage ejector pump.

The Importance of Proper Sizing for Your Commercial Heating Equipment

January 24th, 2022

When handling the commercial heating needs of a facility, our technicians have to take many factors into consideration. These factors are more extensive than for residential homes, although many are the same on a more extensive scope. One of the most important challenges for proper commercial heating installation and replacement is properly sizing the equipment to match the space.

Unfortunately, poor sizing for commercial HVAC equipment is a common problem our technicians encounter when doing repairs or maintenance. Not all commercial HVAC contractors make the same level of effort in sizing equipment, sometimes taking shortcuts and using “guesstimates” when it comes to judging how powerful a heating system a facility needs. This is why we encourage you to always work with the best people offering commercial HVAC in Naperville, IL—the difference in proper sizing alone is tremendous.

Signs Your Commercial Exhaust System Is Malfunctioning

January 10th, 2022

Any commercial facility requires some level of exhaust for proper air circulation. For some businesses, a powerful exhaust system is one of the biggest necessities for regular operation. Restaurants and commercial kitchens require exhaust systems that must meet code requirements.

Handling exhaust system repair in Chicago, IL is one of the many jobs we do for local businesses. We encourage you to sign up for regular maintenance service with our team so we can help you pinpoint major issues such as exhaust malfunctions before they pose a threat to regular operations. Maintenance also goes a long way toward preventing problems in the first place. However, sometimes exhaust system problems will catch you by surprise. In these cases, the best tool available to you is noticing early something is wrong so you can call us—we offer 24-hour emergency service to keep businesses working!

What are some of the ways to tell the vital exhaust system in your commercial kitchen, restaurant, or other facility needs repairs? We’ve listed some common signs below.

Warnings of Failing Commercial Heating Equipment

December 27th, 2021

Losing any amount of heating capacity in your commercial facility during a Chicago winter can have an enormously negative impact on operations and your bottom line. Whether you have a retail store or a manufacturing plant, losing heat can bring work and business to a standstill.

Fortunately, most commercial heating equipment is modular, and unless there’s a power outage, you’re unlikely to experience a full heating loss for your facility when one of the heaters fails. If you have a building automation system (which we install and service), you’ll receive warnings about equipment losing efficiency so you can identify a need to call for service or even a new commercial heating installation in Chicago, IL.

Can Your Rooftop Units Manage Winter Snow?

December 13th, 2021

For many decades, the most common type of commercial heating system in Chicagoland has been the packaged rooftop unit. These HVAC systems provide both cooling and heating and have many advantages, such as freeing up space inside the building, easy access for technicians without disrupting the workspace, and keeping noisy equipment far away from employees, customers, etc.

But because Chicago receives snow during the winter, you might wonder if this is a serious problem for your business’ rooftop units. Althoff has a long history of working with commercial heating solutions for all types of commercial facilities, and we want to address concerns business owners like you may have about their rooftop units vs. the snow.

Ways to Tell Your Business Needs Lighting Upgrades

November 15th, 2021

Lighting is essential for any type of industrial or commercial facility, but it is also a part of these facilities that owners and managers can easily overlook when they are considering important upgrades and expansions. Quality lighting increases productivity, helps appeal to customers in retail spaces, lowers energy costs, and allows for more flexibility for business growth.

If you’re wondering whether your business needs to have new interior or exterior lighting, we’ve listed several ways to tell. When in doubt, you can consult with us about what changes you may need.