When the furnace stops working or the AC gives out, getting it handled quickly matters more than anything else. Al's A/C & Heating takes HVAC calls in Winnebago for repairs, full system replacements, seasonal maintenance, and emergency service. When you call, you reach someone who knows the trade and can scope the job on the phone, so the first conversation is a useful one. You get a rate on the phone, a confirmation of what the visit covers, and a technician headed your way.
Winnebago is a small town, and the homes here reflect that. Older houses on their original equipment, additions that never got properly connected to the duct system, systems that have not had a maintenance visit in years. We handle all of it, from a single repair call to a complete furnace and AC replacement. Call (779) 363-9289 to get a quote. We are open every day from 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM.
Pricing for HVAC work is not a flat number, and we do not pretend otherwise. What the visit costs depends on what the system turns out to need, how accessible the equipment is, and whether a repair is the right answer or whether replacing aging equipment makes more practical sense. Those are the things that move the number, and we explain each of them before anything is scheduled.
When you call, we go over what the system is doing and give you a rate on the phone for the diagnostic visit. Once the technician has looked at the equipment, you get a clear explanation of what was found and what it will take to fix it. If the repair cost is close to what a replacement would run, we say so. You decide what happens next. Nothing is started until you have the price in front of you and have agreed to move forward.
Not every HVAC call looks the same, and the situation that leads to a call tells us a lot about what kind of work is actually needed.
A furnace that will not fire or an AC that will not cool is the call that cannot wait. We diagnose the fault first, confirm the price, and get the repair done. Most common faults trace back to a handful of components: igniters, capacitors, contactors, blower motors, and refrigerant levels. We check each systematically rather than guessing, and the system is tested and readings checked before sign-off. Same-day service is available when scheduling allows.
Uneven temperatures, a room that never quite reaches the set point, a system that runs longer than it should, or energy bills that have climbed without any change in how the home is used. These are signs of a developing problem rather than a sudden failure. A diagnostic visit identifies where the system is losing ground, whether that is a duct leak, a dirty coil, a refrigerant issue, or a control problem. Catching it before it becomes a full breakdown is almost always less costly.
In a small town like Winnebago, it is common to find homes still running the furnace and central air system they were built with. When a system is old enough that repairs are coming more frequently and efficiency has dropped noticeably, a full replacement is often the more practical path. We handle the complete job: removing the old equipment, sizing the replacement correctly for the home, and installing the new unit to manufacturer specifications. Code-compliant HVAC work on every job is not a preference, it is how the work gets done. The full breakdown of what a replacement involves is on the service page.
Getting your comfort problem handled starts with a quick call. When you reach us, we take down the details and confirm what the visit covers before anything is booked. Same-day appointments are often available for repair calls, and scheduling a few days out is straightforward for maintenance and planned work.
For a home with no heat or no cooling at all, we treat that as urgent. Emergency calls are answered every day within our published hours, 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM. You get a real person, a confirmed visit, and a technician who arrives ready to diagnose and repair.
For rental properties and homes where a tenant needs to stay comfortable, we work around the situation. The scope is explained, the price is confirmed, and the work is carried out by qualified HVAC technicians who know what they are looking at when they walk in the door. Give us a call and we will take care of it.
Some spaces in a home or a small commercial building simply do not have ductwork, and running it is not always practical. A sunroom, a finished basement, a garage conversion, or an addition that was never connected to the main system are all situations where a ductless mini-split delivers reliable heating and cooling without the cost and disruption of new duct runs.
A mini-split system places an air handler in the space that needs it and connects to an outdoor unit. It handles both heating and cooling from a single installation, and modern cold-climate models perform well through the kinds of winters this region sees. For homes with zoning needs, multiple air handlers can be connected to one outdoor unit, giving independent temperature control in different areas of the house. We handle the full installation and can talk through whether a ductless setup fits the situation when you call.
A thermostat that is not reading correctly or not communicating properly with the system can make an otherwise functional furnace or AC behave erratically. We replace standard thermostats, install programmable models, and set up smart controls that allow scheduling and remote adjustment. Compatibility with the existing heating and cooling equipment is confirmed before installation, and zoning controls are an option for homes where different areas need independent management.
Small commercial buildings in the area often rely on rooftop package units for both heating and cooling. When one of those units goes down, the impact on the building is immediate. We handle rooftop unit repair and service, including refrigerant, electrical controls, blower and heat exchanger components, and full unit replacement when the equipment has reached the end of its useful life. The process is the same as any other job: diagnosis first, price confirmed, work performed by qualified HVAC technicians.
When some rooms are consistently too hot or too cold while others are comfortable, the duct distribution is usually the place to look. Registers that are partially closed, ducts that were never balanced after an addition, or a blower that is not moving enough air through the system can all cause uneven results. Rebalancing the airflow through the registers and checking the duct system for leaks or restrictions addresses the root cause rather than just adjusting the thermostat and hoping for the best.
A heat exchanger inspection is part of a thorough furnace service visit and is not something to skip. A cracked heat exchanger allows combustion gases to mix with the air circulating through the home, which is a safety concern regardless of how well the furnace is heating. We inspect the heat exchanger as part of every furnace diagnostic and maintenance visit, and if a problem is found, we explain what it means and what the options are before any work proceeds.
We cover Winnebago and the communities nearby throughout Winnebago County. That includes Westlake Village, Pecatonica, Byron, Stillman Valley, and the broader area in between. If you are in a surrounding community and want to confirm we cover your address, the fastest way to find out is a phone call.
One number. One call. One HVAC tech at your door.
If you would rather read than call, our guide to heating and cooling has the detail.
Call us as early as possible if the date needs to change. We will work with you to find a replacement slot. Giving us as much notice as you can helps us fill the original time and get you rescheduled without a long wait.
A diagnostic and maintenance visit is the right first step. We inspect the equipment, check the heat exchanger, test the controls, and go through the full system to see where it stands. From there we can tell you what the system needs now, what it is likely to need in the near future, and whether continued repair makes sense or whether replacement is the more practical answer. The price for that visit is confirmed on the phone before anything is booked.
It depends on what has failed and what the system can safely do without the missing component. In some cases we can get the equipment running in a limited way while a part is sourced. We explain what is possible on the visit and confirm whether a temporary arrangement is safe before we leave the system running.
We confirm that on the call when the appointment is booked. If a property manager, agent, or tenant is arranging the visit on behalf of an owner, we make sure the billing and authorization details are clear before we schedule anything. Before anything is scheduled, the question of who is responsible for the invoice is confirmed and on the record.
Scheduling works the same way regardless of where you are in our service area. Same-day service is often available for repair calls, and we confirm availability when you call. You get a real person on the phone who can tell you what the schedule looks like and what the earliest opening is.
A system that has become less efficient works harder and runs longer to reach the same temperature, and that shows up directly in the energy bill. Common causes include dirty coils, low refrigerant, a failing blower, and leaking ductwork. A diagnostic or maintenance visit can identify what changed and what it takes to bring the system back to efficient operation.
Yes. Keeping pets in a separate room during the visit is the safest arrangement for the animal and the technician. Equipment being serviced or installed involves electrical components, refrigerant lines, and tools that are not safe around animals that might wander into the work area. We appreciate the help and it keeps the visit moving smoothly.
It does, and the more specific the better. A banging noise on startup points somewhere different than a squeal during operation or a rattle that only happens when the blower runs at full speed. When you call, walk us through what you are hearing, when it happens, and how long it has been going on. That information helps us come prepared.
It is. Intermittent faults are often early signs of a component that is starting to fail, and catching them before the system quits entirely is almost always less disruptive and less costly. Describing what the system does when the problem shows up, even if it seems minor, gives the technician a useful starting point for the diagnostic.
Yes. We work with managing agents and property managers who schedule service for properties they oversee. When you call, let us know who the invoice should go to and how access to the property will be arranged. We confirm those details before the visit so there are no gaps on the day.
In many cases yes, particularly for property managers or landlords with several units close together. Call us and describe what you need serviced and where the properties are located. We will work out the scheduling on the call and let you know what can be combined into a single day.
Al's A/C & Heating takes HVAC calls in Winnebago every day from 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Call (779) 363-9289 for a quote, and you get a rate on the phone before anything is scheduled. There are no forms to fill out and no waiting for a callback before somebody looks at the system.
Call today. Scheduled tomorrow. Comfortable by the weekend.
We also take work in: Machesney Park, Cherry Valley, Rockton, Freeport. There is more on our list of communities.
Heating and cooling work covers a wide range of jobs, and knowing which service fits your situation makes scheduling easier. The table below lays out what we handle, who each service is best suited for, and a practical note to help you plan. If you have questions about a specific job or want to talk through your options, call for a quote and we will walk you through it.
| HVAC Service | What It Covers | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ductwork Repair & Sealing |
| homes with uneven temperatures, higher energy use, or a system that runs longer than it should | Leaky ducts waste conditioned air before it reaches the rooms it is meant to serve. Sealing gaps restores airflow and reduces the load on the main unit. |
| Emergency HVAC Service |
| any situation where a heating or cooling system has failed and waiting is not an option | Emergency calls are answered every day from 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM. You get a diagnosis before any work starts, not a guess. |
| Furnace & AC System Replacement |
| Winnebago homeowners whose furnace and central air system are both nearing the end of their useful life | Winnebago winters are long enough that furnace reliability is not optional. Pairing a furnace and AC replacement lets both systems be sized to the home at the same time. |
| Heat Pump Repair & Service |
| homes running a heat pump as the primary heating and cooling source | Heat pumps work both seasons, so faults can appear in summer or winter. The system is tested and readings checked before sign-off. |
| Whole-Home Dehumidification & Humidity Control |
| Winnebago homes that feel sticky or uncomfortable even when the AC is running during humid summer months | High indoor humidity makes a space feel warmer than it is and strains the cooling system. A whole-home unit handles moisture as part of the system, not as a standalone fix. |
| Indoor Air Quality & Air Filtration |
| households concerned about air quality, allergens, or how the home breathes day to day | Whole-home filtration works through the existing air handler, treating air moving through the system rather than just one room. |
| Thermostat & Smart-Control Installation |
| homeowners with an outdated or malfunctioning thermostat, or those wanting remote scheduling and control | Compatibility with the existing heating and cooling equipment is confirmed before installation. Zoning controls can also be discussed if different areas of the home need independent temperature management. |
| AC Repair & Service |
| homeowners and property managers with a struggling or failed air conditioner | Most common faults are identified on the first visit. Same-day service is available when scheduling allows. |
| Full System Installation & ReplacementMost Popular |
| homeowners replacing aging or failed HVAC equipment in a home or rental property | Replacing both the furnace and AC at the same time avoids sizing mismatches and is often the more practical path when both systems are aging. |
| Seasonal Maintenance & Tune-Ups |
| homeowners who want to catch developing problems before the heating or cooling season begins | Pre-season scheduling, before the first hot week of summer or the first cold snap of fall, is the best time to avoid an emergency call at peak demand. |
| Heat Pump Installation |
| homes adding a heat pump for the first time, including additions and rooms needing independent comfort control | Cold-climate heat pump models now perform well in northern Illinois winters. Ductless mini-splits are a clean option where no existing ductwork is available. |
| Heating & Furnace Repair |
| any home or building that has lost heat or is heating unevenly | Calls are answered every day from 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM, including weekends, so a Saturday morning no-heat situation does not have to wait. |
Every job is different, and the right answer for your home or building depends on the equipment, the situation, and what you are trying to solve. Call for a quote and we will talk through it with you: (779) 363-9289.
(779) 363-9289