FAQ

Get the answers you need about your home's heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. From troubleshooting common issues to understanding our maintenance plans, we provide the expert clarity Palatine homeowners deserve to keep their properties running smoothly. If you have a question not covered here, our team is always available to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions Answered by Experts Who Know Home Comfort

Five Star Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical has been serving Palatine and the northwest suburbs for nearly 40 years. Below you will find answers to the questions homeowners ask us most often about our heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services.

Yes. Five Star Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical offers 24/7 emergency service for heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical issues. Whether your furnace stops working overnight or a pipe bursts on a weekend, our team is available around the clock to respond fast and protect your home.

For urgent repairs, we prioritize same-day or next-day service whenever possible. Routine maintenance and installation appointments can typically be scheduled within a few business days. Our team communicates arrival windows clearly so you know when to expect us.

Yes. Every Five Star technician is fully licensed and insured in the state of Illinois. Our team also participates in ongoing factory training through Trane and Mitsubishi certification programs, so you can trust that the person in your home meets the highest professional standards.

Financing is available on qualifying equipment and installation projects. We work with lending partners to provide flexible payment options that make it easier to invest in a new system without putting it off. Ask our team for current financing offers during your consultation.

Our Priority Planned Service membership is an annual maintenance plan that covers your heating and cooling systems. Members receive two tune-ups per year, priority scheduling, no service call charge on covered repairs, and 15% off repair labor. It is one of the best ways to stay ahead of breakdowns and keep your equipment running efficiently.

Five Star serves Palatine and the surrounding northwest suburbs, including Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, and Des Plaines. If you are not sure whether your area is covered, give us a call at (847) 250-6610 and we will be happy to help.

Cooling FAQ

Summer comfort is not something you should have to worry about. Five Star Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical provides expert air conditioning service throughout Palatine and the northwest suburbs. Here are answers to the cooling questions our customers ask most.

Once a year, ideally in the spring before the heat hits. Regular maintenance keeps your system running efficiently, extends its lifespan, and helps you avoid costly mid-summer breakdowns.

Common causes include a dirty filter, low refrigerant, or a failing compressor. If your AC is running nonstop without reaching your set temperature, give us a call. We offer 24/7 emergency service throughout Palatine and the northwest suburbs.

Sizing depends on more than square footage. Ceiling height, insulation, and window placement all factor in, which is why our technicians perform a proper load calculation rather than guessing. The right size keeps your home comfortable and your energy bills in check.

If your system is over 10 to 12 years old and facing a major repair, replacement often makes more financial sense. A new high-efficiency unit can noticeably lower your monthly utility costs, and we offer financing to make the upgrade easier.

Heating FAQ

Five Star Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical has kept northwest suburb homes warm for nearly 40 years. Below are answers to the heating questions we hear most from Palatine area homeowners.

Start by checking your thermostat settings, filter, and circuit breaker. If those aren’t the issue, call us right away. Five Star offers 24/7 emergency heating service across Palatine and the surrounding northwest suburbs.

Most gas furnaces last 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance. If yours is getting up there in age and needing frequent repairs, it may be time to start planning for a replacement.

Uneven heating is usually caused by leaky ductwork, blocked vents, or a system that was never properly balanced. Our technicians can diagnose the root cause and recommend the right fix.

Five Star’s Priority Planned Service membership includes annual maintenance, priority scheduling, no service charge on repairs, and 15% off repair costs. It’s the most cost-effective way to keep your heating system running safely all winter.

Plumbing FAQ

When plumbing problems come up, Palatine homeowners have counted on Five Star for close to four decades. Here are answers to the questions our customers ask us most about their home’s plumbing.

Burst pipes, active flooding, sewer backups, and sudden loss of water pressure all qualify. Shut off your main water valve if you can, then call us. Five Star is available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies throughout Palatine and the northwest suburbs.

Recurring clogs usually point to a deeper issue like grease buildup, tree root intrusion, or a partial blockage further down the line. A camera inspection lets us see exactly what’s going on so we can fix it properly rather than just treating the symptom.

Watch for unexplained spikes in your water bill, the sound of running water when nothing is on, or soft spots in your flooring. If your water meter is moving when all fixtures are off, you likely have a leak that needs attention.

If your water heater is 8 to 12 years old and showing signs of trouble like rust, inconsistent temperatures, or visible corrosion, replacement is often the smarter call. Newer models are significantly more energy efficient, which adds up to real savings over time.

Electrical FAQ

Electrical concerns deserve straight answers from people you can trust. Five Star has been serving Palatine and the northwest suburbs for nearly 40 years, and below you’ll find answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.

If your breakers trip regularly, your lights flicker, or your panel is 25 or more years old, it’s time for a professional evaluation. An outdated panel may not safely handle the demands of a modern home and is one of the leading causes of electrical fires.

Simple swaps like replacing an outlet cover are generally fine, but anything involving wiring, your panel, or new circuits should be handled by a licensed electrician. Improper wiring is a serious fire hazard, and unpermitted work can cause problems when you sell your home.

Repeated tripping usually points to moisture in the outlet, a wiring fault, or a failing receptacle. It can also be triggered by a faulty appliance on the same circuit. A licensed electrician can track down the cause and fix it safely.

Frequently tripped breakers, burning smells near outlets, dimming lights when appliances kick on, and two-prong ungrounded outlets throughout the home are all red flags. These issues can be a genuine safety risk, and a professional inspection will tell you exactly where things stand.

Indoor Air Quality FAQ

Most homeowners don’t think about indoor air quality until something feels off. Five Star has been helping Palatine area families breathe easier for nearly 40 years, and below are answers to the questions we get asked most on the subject.

Common signs include excessive dust buildup, musty or stale odors, frequent allergy or asthma flare-ups, or dry and irritated skin. If your family seems to feel better when you’re away from home, that’s often a telling indicator worth investigating.

The right solution depends on your specific problem, whether that’s excess humidity, airborne particles, or chemical pollutants. Options like whole-home air purifiers, UV germicidal lights, humidifiers, and ventilators each target different issues, and our team can help identify what your home actually needs.

Too little humidity can cause dry skin, irritated sinuses, and static electricity, while too much creates the perfect environment for mold and dust mites. Keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50% year-round is the sweet spot, and a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier makes that easy to maintain.

Absolutely. A clogged or low-quality filter can’t trap dust, pet dander, and other particles effectively, allowing them to recirculate through your home. Replacing your filter every one to three months and upgrading to a higher MERV-rated filter is one of the simplest things you can do to breathe easier at home.