Northbrook · Downtown Northbrook · Techny · Northbrook Court
Heating and cooling repair in Northbrook, IL
Furnaces, central air, heat pumps and rooftop units, for Northbrook houses from the 1950s to today, townhomes, condos and the shops and offices on Lake Cook Rd. Family-owned since 1952, with the owner, Rob, still on the calls.
- Licensed, NATE-certified technicians
- Family owned since 1952
- Price agreed before any work starts
All services · 24 in 4 groups
Every heating and cooling service we offer in Northbrook
24 services in four groups, from a furnace that won't light to a restaurant's make-up air unit.
Heating: furnaces, boilers and heat pumps
A furnace that won't light, a boiler losing pressure, a unit that short-cycles. Diagnosis comes first, and replacement only if the unit is genuinely done.
Furnace and heater repair
Ignition, flame sensors, inducer motors and limit switches, found and fixed on the first visit where the part is on the van.
Boiler service
Hot-water and steam boilers in vintage two-flats and converted lofts: pressure, circulators, zone valves, venting.
Furnace installation and replacement
Sized to the unit, not the brochure. In a high-rise, routed around building rules on venting and access.
Heater maintenance
An autumn tune-up before the first cold snap: burners, heat exchanger check, filters, safeties.
Heat pumps
Repair and installation, including cold-climate units for townhomes moving off gas.
Hybrid heating systems
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace, switching over on the coldest days.
HVAC maintenance plans
Scheduled heating and cooling visits for buildings that want them on the calendar.
- See all heating services
Cooling
Air quality
Partnered with the Best in the Business
About City & Suburban
Who you're actually calling?
One family. Second generation. Since 1952. City & Suburban is run from 1225 N Cleaver St, Chicago, 15.5 miles south-east of Northbrook's nearest edge. Rob, the owner, still runs the calls and does the diagnosis on the jobs that need it.
1225 N Cleaver St, ChicagoOwner
RobOwner-operator. He runs the calls himself, so the person who quotes is the person accountable.
Family owned
195274 years, family owned, now in its second generation.
Permit record
0Permits on record. Chicago doesn't permit HVAC repair, which is most of what we do.
Working hours
24/7Working hours. Call any time.
Family-owned
Why family-owned matters on a Northbrook job
- 01You talk to the person who owns the outcome, not a dispatcher reading from a price book.
- 02The office books you in, and reviewers name the people who did it.
- 03Nobody is on commission, so "your furnace is done" means it's done.
- 04Your request isn't sold on to three other contractors.
How we work
The owner on the call
Rob still runs the calls and does the diagnosis on the jobs that need it.
Repair first
If the unit has years left, we say so and repair it.
The price before the work
You hear the price before any work starts.
Google reviews · all 204 read
What customers say about value
We don't publish a price book, because the price depends on the fault. Here is what our 204 Google reviews say instead, counted by what reviewers chose to mention.
- 90name Rob, or say they dealt with the owner directly44%
- 59mention a fast response, a same-day visit or arriving on time29%
- 43call the price fair, reasonable or competitive21%
- 29mention honesty, trust or no pressure to upsell14%
Counted by keyword matching across all 204 Google reviews (export of 31 Aug 2026), so the numbers are approximate. 202 of the 204 are five stars.
Why Chicago homeowners keep calling the same family
I called City & Suburban Heating to have my furnaces cleaned. They told me that Rob was going out of town for a week. I asked he could come before he left, and he came two days after my call. I had forgotten to buy a furnace filter for one of the furnaces, but luckily he had it in his truck. He is very reliable and does a great job.
Read moreTwo-furnace cleaningHighly recommend this service. Responsive, reliable, and reasonable pricing. Twice in the past few years, Rob has fixed our aging furnace but this frigid Friday night it kicked the bucket for good. Saturday morning the guys were at our house putting up a new one. Excellent customer service, punctuality, and clear explanations. C&S Heating look for solutions to fix vs selling you unnecessary spare parts.
Read moreFurnace replacementVery quick response and was clear on the issue and solution! Rob came out to our place to assess the issue on our furnace and fixed it within a same day! He was transparent on the status of the furnace and provided the solution of the issue im having right away. Definitely found a local business who I can rely on that will come back for sure!
Read moreSame-day furnace repairGreat experience. I called them for my second opinion. Fast, friendly and efficient service. I was told my unit is near end of life but the prices I was quoted are great and they will definitely be hearing from me again when it's time. Use this company. Update: had my ac, furnace, and water heater replaced yesterday. Not sure I could be happier.
Read moreSecond opinion
We'd love to hear about your experience – write a review
- 5 Star Service
- Transparent Pricing
- Financing
- Certified Professional
- Top Quality Work
The process · 6 steps
What happens when you call
From the first call to a warm apartment, in six steps
01/ 06
01 You call, Rob listens
Tell us the make of the furnace or condenser and what it's doing. A good description often narrows it down on the phone.
02 Pick a time
We're available 24/7. If your building has rules on access, like elevator or work hours, tell us and we book around them.
03 On-site diagnosis
The technician finds the actual fault: ignition, pressure, refrigerant, airflow or controls.
04 Honest price, repair first
You hear the price before any work. If the unit has years left, we say so and repair it.
05 We fix it
Repairs done on the spot where the part is on the van. Installs are scheduled and quoted separately.
06 Good to go
The system is tested through a full cycle before we leave, and you know what to watch for.
Swipe or use the arrows to see all 6 steps
Scope & price · 6 factors
The same repair costs differently in a 1960s house, a townhome and an office
We don't publish a price book, and we're not going to invent one here. What we can show you is what moves the number.
How we price
- The person who diagnoses is the person who quotes.
- You hear the price before any work starts.
- No flat-rate price book, no commissioned adviser.
- Where the unit has years left, the quote is for a repair.
"What does a new furnace cost?"
$6,807Chicago median
Median reported value of 81 central-furnace replacement permits in Chicago over 24 months. That's the whole project's construction value, not a quote. Yours depends on the factors below.
Factor · why it changes the work
- 01
Two systems, two floors
Larger Northbrook houses can run a furnace and AC for each floor, so a repair starts with finding which system has failed.
- 02
Heat pumps in newer homes
Newer houses and townhomes may run heat pumps, which heat and cool. The repair depends on which half has failed.
- 03
Townhome associations
In townhome and condo associations, the rules on outdoor units and access shape when and how the work is done.
- 04
Basement or attic units
Furnaces sit in basements, but some newer houses put a second unit in the attic, which changes the access.
- 05
Stores and offices
Shops on Lake Cook Rd and offices on Sanders Rd run rooftop units, so roof access and business hours set the work.
- 06
Repair or replace
The biggest swing of all. Where the unit has years left, we say so.
How to choose · 5 checks
Five questions that sort Northbrook HVAC companies
Ask them of anyone you call, including us.
5 kinds of HVAC company
Who you'll meet, and what limits each of them
Service businesses can't be compared on features. They differ in how they're run, and that decides who answers the phone and how the price is set.
- Where we fit
Family-owned, since 1952
- Who you talk to
- The owner, Rob, or someone who works directly with him
- How the price is set
- A price for the actual fault, agreed before any work starts
- Fits best when
- Condo, house, loft and restaurant work where you want one accountable person
- 02
National franchise
- Who you talk to
- A call centre, then the technician dispatched
- How the price is set
- Often a flat-rate price book, sometimes with membership plans
- Fits best when
- Standard repairs where speed of dispatch matters most
- 03
One-van independent
- Who you talk to
- The owner, who is also the only technician
- How the price is set
- Their own quote, often good value
- Fits best when
- Small jobs that can wait. One person means a January no-heat call can take days
- 04
Lead marketplace
- Who you talk to
- A website that passes your request to several contractors
- How the price is set
- Whatever each contractor who calls back quotes
- Fits best when
- You want several quotes fast and don't mind not choosing who calls
- 05
Large mechanical contractor
- Who you talk to
- A project manager or estimator
- How the price is set
- Bids against drawings and specifications
- Fits best when
- Tower central plants, base-building systems and new construction
Where we fit, honestly
City & Suburban is a family-owned Chicago company. In Northbrook we're the right call for condo, house, loft and restaurant heating and cooling: repairs, boilers, furnaces, central air and make-up air. Tower central plants and new-build mechanical systems are for the big mechanical contractors, and we'll tell you so.
Northbrook, district by district · 4 districts
Deerfield to Glenview, Wheeling to Northfield
District edges are approximate, because sources draw them differently.
- Township
- Northfield Township
- ZIP codes
- 60062
- Our shop
- 1225 N Cleaver St, Chicago
- Permits
- The Village of Northbrook, which sets its own rules. Chicago's permit file doesn't cover Northbrook
01Downtown Northbrook
Shops, restaurants and the Metra station along Shermer Rd, near Village Hall.
What the HVAC work looks like
Rooftop units for shops, furnaces in the houses nearby.
02Techny
Annexed in 1989, south of Voltz Rd, home to Techny Towers and Techny Prairie Park.
What the HVAC work looks like
Furnaces and central air in newer houses.
03Northbrook Court
The 1976 mall and the stores and offices along Lake Cook Rd and Skokie Blvd.
What the HVAC work looks like
Rooftop units and make-up air in stores and offices.
04Sanders Road
Office parks and strip centers along Sanders Rd, near the Tri-State.
What the HVAC work looks like
Rooftop units, with furnaces in the houses nearby.
Start here · 4 building types
What heats and cools your Northbrook building
Find your building and see what heats and cools it.
- HOUSE
1950s-70s house
What heats and cools it
A furnace with central air, usually in the basement. The condenser sits beside the house.
- NEWER BUILD
Newer two-story house
What heats and cools it
Often two furnaces and two AC systems, one per floor, sometimes with a unit in the attic.
- TOWNHOME
Townhome or condo
What heats and cools it
A furnace or heat pump per unit, with central air. The association sets rules for outdoor units.
- COMMERCIAL
Shop or office
What heats and cools it
Rooftop units for the stores and offices on Lake Cook Rd, Skokie Blvd and Sanders Rd.
Nearby · 5 neighborhoods
Neighborhoods next to Northbrook
We work across Chicago and the suburbs. Each neighborhood has its own page, written for its buildings.
Deerfield
Houses and townhomes to the north, across the line into Lake County.
Highland Park
Older houses and lakefront homes to the north-east, in Lake County.
Northfield
Larger houses on wooded lots to the south-east.
Glenview
Post-war and newer houses to the south, past Techny.
Wheeling
Townhomes, apartments and industrial parks to the west, past the Tri-State.
The permit record, honestly · Northbrook
Why there's no permit chart for Northbrook
Northbrook is outside Chicago, so the City's permit file stops at its border. Here is what we can honestly say about permits there.
Northbrook HVAC permits
The Village of Northbrook issues its own building permits and doesn't publish them as open data, so there's no count to chart for Northbrook.
The honest context
0Permits on record for City & Suburban. We said we'd be honest.
1,539Firms that pull HVAC permits citywide, across 4,888 permits in 24 months.
Outside Chicago, each suburb sets its own permit rules, mostly for installs and replacements. Either way, a permit file measures construction, not service. So when a company waves a permit count at you, ask how much of their work is repair.
FAQs · 5 questions
Northbrook HVAC, answered
Didn't find your question?
Call (773) 238-3838Since 1952Family owned, licensed, NATE-certified
01Is the furnace in my 1960s house worth repairing, or does it need replacing?
Often it's worth repairing. We diagnose first, and where the furnace has years left, we say so. Replacement is quoted only when the repair stops making sense.
02Do you come out to Northbrook from Chicago?
Yes. Northbrook is on our service area list, about 16 miles north-west of the shop at 1225 N Cleaver St, and Rob runs the calls from there.
03Can you service both systems in a two-zone house?
Yes. Furnace and air conditioning repair and maintenance are on our list of services. Tell us which floor isn't heating or cooling, and we start there.
04Does HVAC work in Northbrook need a permit?
It depends on the job. The Village of Northbrook takes mechanical permit applications for heating and cooling work, mostly installs and replacements. Ask whoever quotes an install who pulls the permit.
05What are your hours?
Our working hours are 24/7. Call (773) 238-3838.
Your next step
No heat, no cooling, or just a question?
Have the make of your furnace or condenser to hand, and tell us what it's doing. If the house has two systems, tell us which floor has the problem.
- 4.98204 Google reviews
- 1952Family owned, second generation
- 24/7Working hours
- RobThe owner, on the calls
Have these ready when you call
Call (773) 238-3838- 01The make of your furnace, boiler or condenser, from the label on the unit
- 02What it's doing: no heat, no cooling, a noise, a smell, short-cycling
- 03In a high-rise: your building's work hours and how to book the freight elevator
- 04For a condo: your association's contact if they need a certificate of insurance
- 05A photo of the unit's data plate and the thermostat screen
- 06For a restaurant: your service hours, so we can work around them