Know the housing stock
An artists' colony with pre-1940 bones
Annexed to Highland Park in 1899, Ravinia grew up as an artists' colony with its own distinct identity: wooded ravines, curvilinear streets, and homes by significant architects including John Van Bergen and Robert Seyfarth, with landscape master Jens Jensen's studio on Dean Avenue. The City's Historic Preservation Plan notes that lots in Ravinia run smaller (roughly 5,000 to 9,000 square feet) and carry bungalows and modest split-levels, with about 21% of Highland Park homes built before 1940, many of them on this side of town.
Small lots, mature trees, plaster walls, and no original ductwork define the mechanical work here. Ductless heat pumps, high-velocity small-duct systems, and carefully placed condensers keep historic homes comfortable without carving them up, and summer concert traffic around Ravinia Festival means we schedule installs with the calendar in mind.
What we fix most in Ravinia
No ductwork by design
Many pre-1940 Ravinia homes heat with boilers and radiators and have no duct chases at all. Ductless mini-splits and high-velocity systems add real air conditioning without sacrificing plaster, trim, or ceiling height.
Ravine lots and drainage
Homes backing onto the ravines manage serious stormwater. Sump capacity, backflow prevention, and downspout management are not optional on these lots; we inspect all three on any plumbing visit.
Preservation-minded exterior placement
Condensers and line sets need placement that respects historic facades and small side yards. We site equipment for sound, sightlines, and service access, and we handle the permit conversation with the City of Highland Park.
2026 utility rebates for Ravinia homeowners
Verified July 2026 against each utility's published program
ComEd Home Heating & Cooling (electric)
2026 incentives on qualifying air-source heat pumps, tiered by capacity: up to $2,000 on high-efficiency ducted systems and up to $1,000 on ductless mini-splits, plus a $75 ENERGY STAR smart thermostat incentive with a heat pump install. Equipment must be installed by a ComEd Residential Trade Ally, and many contractors apply it as an instant discount.
Source: ComEd Home Heating & Cooling programNorth Shore Gas Home Energy Rebates (natural gas)
2026 rebates include $200 for a 95% AFUE furnace or $225 at 97% AFUE, up to $350 for a 95%+ AFUE hot-water boiler, up to $500 for a boiler with integrated hot water, $150 for a tankless water heater (UEF 0.95+), and $25 for a smart thermostat.
Source: North Shore Gas residential rebatesRebate details independently verified against each utility's published 2026 program: July 2026. Programs change; we confirm current amounts before you sign anything.
Services we bring to Ravinia
Ravinia questions we hear most
Can you add central air to a 1920s Ravinia bungalow?
Almost always, yes. Where duct chases do not exist, we quote ductless mini-splits or a high-velocity small-duct system. Both preserve plaster and trim; both are quoted flat-rate so you can compare honestly.
My radiators clank and heat unevenly. Repair or replace?
Often a system balance, air venting, or a modern boiler control fixes it for far less than replacement. When a boiler is genuinely done, 95%+ AFUE replacements carry up to a $350 North Shore Gas rebate in 2026.
Do you work around Ravinia Festival season?
Yes. We schedule around concert traffic and idle-free streets in summer, and our techs know the neighborhood's parking realities. Emergencies still get 24/7 dispatch.
Which utilities serve Ravinia, and what rebates apply?
Highland Park is ComEd electric and North Shore Gas territory. In 2026 that means tiered ComEd heat-pump incentives up to $2,000, and North Shore Gas rebates of $200 to $225 on high-efficiency furnaces, up to $350 on boilers, and $150 on qualifying tankless water heaters. Verified July 2026.
Is a heat pump realistic in a historic home this close to the lake?
Yes. Modern cold-climate heat pumps handle North Shore winters, especially paired with an existing boiler as backup. We run the numbers for your actual house rather than a brochure average.
Family-owned since 2008
660+ Google reviews
Upfront flat-rate pricing
24/7 emergency dispatch