Your furnace is short-cycling, the back bedroom never gets warm, and the last guy who looked at it handed you a brochure instead of an answer. You don't need a fancy program — you need a plan that actually gets done. Ultimate HVAC Inc. replaces and upgrades heating systems for homeowners and small commercial buildings across Skokie and Cook County. When you call, you get Chano Garcia and his family. No call center, no subcontractors, no "press 1 for service." We're available 24/7, and we do same-day service.
What heating system replacement involves
A replacement is mostly a measuring job, not a shopping job. We start by figuring out what the building actually needs — square footage, window count, insulation, how the ductwork or piping is laid out, and where the heat is currently going missing. Most undersized and oversized systems in Skokie got that way because nobody measured. An oversized furnace short-cycles, wears out early, and leaves cold rooms behind. That's the boring fundamental that decides whether you like your new system or not.
From there, the work depends on what you have. A forced-air swap means pulling the old furnace, adapting the plenum and return, resetting the gas line and venting to current spec, wiring the thermostat, and checking static pressure across the new blower. A boiler replacement means draining the system, cutting out the old unit, re-piping the near-boiler connections, purging air from the loops, and balancing the radiators or baseboards. Sometimes the honest answer is that the equipment is fine but the ductwork is choking it — undersized returns, crushed trunk lines, leaking joints. We'll tell you that instead of selling you a bigger box. We also handle full AC and furnace installation when it makes sense to do both at once and share the labor.
Why Ultimate HVAC Inc. for heating system replacement
- You talk to the family that does the work. Chano Garcia and his family run this — no dispatch center, no subcontracted crews showing up in unmarked vans.
- Available 24/7, Monday through Sunday, including emergency calls. If your heat dies on a Sunday night in February, that's exactly when we work.
- Same-day service and firm appointment times. You get a window you can plan your day around, not "sometime Tuesday."
- Free second opinions. If another Skokie contractor told you the system is done, let us look before you spend the money.
- Transparent pricing — the numbers are on our website and you're welcome to cross-check them against the quote we hand you.
- Sizing and airflow first. We do a load calculation and a static pressure check before we recommend equipment, because a correctly sized unit on bad ductwork still gives you cold rooms.
- Financing available and online scheduling, so a replacement doesn't have to wait for payday or a phone tag game.
Our heating system replacement process
- Call or book online. You get a real person and a firm appointment time — not a callback promise.
- On-site survey. We measure the space, count and inspect the supply and return runs or the piping loops, look at venting and gas supply, and check what the current system is actually delivering. This is where we look at layouts together and figure out what the building needs.
- Straight recommendation, in writing. Equipment options, what each one does differently, what ductwork or piping corrections come with it, and the line-item price. If your existing unit has life left, we say so.
- Schedule the install. Firm date, firm arrival window. We tell you how long you'll be without heat and what we'll do about it if it's cold.
- Removal and haul-away. Old furnace or boiler comes out, work area gets protected and cleaned, old equipment leaves with us.
- Install and correct. New unit set and connected, plenum and return transitions adapted, venting and gas or water connections made to spec, ductwork leaks sealed or undersized returns opened up where needed.
- Commission and walk-through. Gas pressure, temperature rise, static pressure, and thermostat operation all verified. Then we walk you through filter changes, thermostat settings, and what normal sounds like — before we leave.
What heating system replacement typically costs
Straight answer: it's a range, and anyone who quotes you over the phone without seeing the layout is guessing. Estimates for heating system replacement in Skokie vary based on the type of system (forced-air furnace versus boiler), the BTU capacity your load calculation calls for, efficiency level, and how much correction the surrounding system needs. What drives it up: undersized or leaking ductwork, near-boiler re-piping, venting that has to be rerouted or upgraded, electrical or gas line changes, converting between system types, and tight mechanical rooms that make removal slow. What keeps it down: a straight like-for-like swap with sound ductwork and accessible connections.
Your written quote covers equipment, labor, removal and disposal of the old unit, and any duct or pipe corrections we've listed. Permits and anything discovered behind a wall get discussed before we touch it — no surprise line items after the fact. Our pricing is published on our site so you can cross-check it, we currently have a $140 seasonal offer, and financing is available. Estimates are free, and so are second opinions.
Service areas we cover
- Skokie
- Evanston
- Lincolnwood
- Morton Grove
- Niles
- Wilmette
- Glenview
- Park Ridge
- Des Plaines
- Surrounding Cook County communities
FAQ
How do I know if I should replace my furnace or just repair it?
It comes down to the cost of the repair against the remaining life and how the unit is performing day to day. If the heat exchanger is cracked, that's a replacement. If it's a control board on an otherwise sound unit, that's a repair. We'll give you both numbers and let you decide — and if someone else already told you to replace, we'll give you a free second opinion.
How long does a heating system replacement take?
A straightforward forced-air furnace swap is usually a single day. Boiler replacements and jobs involving ductwork corrections or venting changes can run longer. We tell you the realistic timeline at the survey, not after we've started.
Can you replace a boiler, not just a furnace?
Yes. Boilers are part of what we do, including the near-boiler re-piping and purging that a lot of contractors rush. Plenty of older Skokie homes are on hydronic heat and we work on them regularly.
Do I need new ductwork with a new furnace?
Not always — but if the returns are undersized or the trunk is leaking, a new furnace won't fix your cold rooms. We check static pressure before recommending equipment so you know either way.
Are you actually available at night and on weekends?
Yes. We're open 24/7, Monday through Sunday, including emergencies, and we offer same-day service.
Can I book without talking to a salesperson?
You can schedule online, and the person who shows up is from the family that runs the company. No pitch, no pressure, no handoff to a closer.
If your heat is failing or you've got a quote from another Skokie contractor you want checked, call +17734942052 or book online. We'll come measure, give you a straight written number, and set a firm date. Free estimates, free second opinions, financing available, and someone answering the phone 24/7 — Monday through Sunday.