West Loop · Fulton Market · Randolph Street · West Loop Gate
Heating and cooling repair in the West Loop, Chicago
Furnaces, boilers, central air, ductless systems and restaurant make-up air, for West Loop lofts, high-rise condos, townhomes and kitchens. 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 the West Loop
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, about a mile and a half north of Fulton Market. 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 West Loop 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
Rob and Carissa were soooo helpful! Rob made it out super quick for a same day AC repair, and Carissa was great staying on top of my slow-replying HOA to get the insurance info processed before Rob showed up. Prices were reasonable (very middle of the road for quotes I received), and as I heard in my neighborhood’s Facebook group I was referred from—absolutely no pushiness on trying to oversell/upgrade…
Read moreCondo AC repairI had used City and Suburban at my previous condo for furnace and a/c repairs so when my furnace stopped working at my new place I knew who to call and what to expect. They answered on the first call and scheduled an appointment that fit my schedule. Gave me a heads up and arrived on time. Rob quickly diagnosed the problem, explained what was needed, went and grabbed the…
Read moreCondo furnace repairThese folks are amazing. Timely, highly professional, quick, get things done and very courteous to boost. I had just purchased a new condo, and had several things that needed fixing, so I dealt with all sorts of repair services. City & Suburban were the only ones that explained what they would do, when they would do it and did exactly as they said without charging an absurd amount of money.
Read moreCondo repairsRob has taken great care of our HVAC systems for several years. During his most recent seasonal service it became clear it was the right time to replace the almost 20-year-old AC units. Rob put together a reasonable estimate using top of the line equipment. The install crew was friendly, professional and showed up on time. They get full marks for hauling the equipment up five flights of stairs to…
Read moreAC replacement
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 loft, a tower and a kitchen
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
Rooftop access
Condensers on loft and tower roofs mean roof hatches, ladders, and sometimes a crane for a replacement.
- 02
Building rules
High-rises want a certificate of insurance, a booked freight elevator and set working hours before anyone arrives.
- 03
The system you inherited
Steam and hot-water boilers in converted warehouses, fan coils in towers, forced air in newer mid-rises. Each is a different repair.
- 04
Concrete and exposed ceilings
Line sets and ductwork can't be hidden in a slab. In a loft they have to run where they look intentional.
- 05
Restaurant kitchens
Make-up air has to balance the hood. Work is scheduled around service on Randolph and in Fulton Market.
- 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 West Loop 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 the West Loop 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.
The West Loop, district by district · 4 districts
Grand Ave to I-290, Ashland to the river
District edges are approximate, because sources draw them differently.
- Community area
- Near West Side (28)
- ZIP codes
- 60607, 60661, 60606
- City wards
- 27, 34, 42
- Our shop
- 1225 N Cleaver St, Chicago
- Permits
- City of Chicago Department of Buildings. HVAC repair, diagnosis and maintenance need no permit
01Fulton Market
Former cold-storage and meatpacking buildings, now offices, hotels and restaurants.
What the HVAC work looks like
Rooftop units, make-up air, steam in older lofts.
02Randolph Street
Restaurant Row, between Halsted and Racine.
What the HVAC work looks like
Kitchen make-up air, dining-room cooling, after-hours visits.
03West Loop Gate
High-rise apartments and offices around Union Station and Ogilvie.
What the HVAC work looks like
Fan coils, in-unit air handlers, building-managed access.
04Greektown
Halsted south of Madison: restaurants with condos above.
What the HVAC work looks like
Restaurant make-up air below, condo heating and cooling above.
Start here · 4 building types
What heats and cools your West Loop building
Find your building and see what heats and cools it.
- LOFT
Converted warehouse loft
What heats and cools it
Steam or hot-water radiators, or split systems added later. Exposed ceilings decide where ducts go.
- TOWER
High-rise condo
What heats and cools it
In-unit fan coils or air handlers on a building loop. Management approval and elevator booking first.
- MID-RISE
Condo or townhome
What heats and cools it
Forced-air furnaces with roof or balcony condensers, and newer heat pumps in recent builds.
- COMMERCIAL
Restaurant or office
What heats and cools it
Rooftop units, make-up air and exhaust. Scheduled around service and opening hours.
Nearby · 5 neighborhoods
Neighborhoods next to the West Loop
We work across Chicago and the suburbs. Each neighborhood has its own page, written for its buildings.
West Town
Two-flats, workers' cottages and converted lofts north of Grand Ave.
River North
Timber lofts and condo towers across the river to the north-east.
The Loop
Office and residential towers east of the river, with access booked through management.
Little Italy and UIC
Greystones, rowhouses and newer condos south of the Eisenhower, around Taylor St.
Near West Side
Greystones and newer townhomes west of Ashland Ave, around the United Center.
The permit record, honestly · West Loop
Why you won't find us in the City's permit file
Chicago doesn't require a permit to repair, diagnose or maintain heating and cooling, which is most of what we do. This is what the City's permit file does show for the West Loop, and where it comes from.
Data sourceCity of Chicago building permits (dataset ydr8-5enu), 13 Oct 2024 to 14 Oct 2026, inside the West Loop boundary on this page: 1,971 permits, of which 45 mention HVAC equipment. Shown as counts, never by address.
West Loop HVAC permits, 24 months
45West Loop permits in 24 months that even mention HVAC equipment.
A permit can name more than one kind of equipment, so the rows can add up to more than 45.
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.
Chicago doesn't require a permit to repair, diagnose or maintain heating and cooling, which is most of what we do. The 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
West Loop HVAC, answered
Didn't find your question?
Call (773) 238-3838Since 1952Family owned, licensed, NATE-certified
01Do I need a new furnace, or can mine be repaired?
Often it can be repaired. We diagnose first, and where the unit has years left, we say so. Replacement is quoted only when the repair stops making sense.
02Do you work in West Loop high-rises?
Yes. Before a visit, high-rises usually want a certificate of insurance, a booked freight elevator and set working hours, so we book around your building's elevator and work hours. In towers that's often in-unit fan coils or air handlers on a building loop.
03Can you service the steam boiler in my loft?
Yes. We service hot-water and steam boilers in vintage two-flats and converted lofts: pressure, circulators, zone valves and venting.
04Does HVAC repair in Chicago need a permit?
No. Chicago doesn't require a permit to repair, diagnose or maintain heating and cooling. Permits cover installs and construction, so a company's permit count says little about its repair work.
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, boiler or condenser to hand, and tell us what it's doing. In a high-rise, mention your building's work hours.
- 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