Heating And Air Conditioning – Now Is The Time To Get Help!
The end of the year is near – that means air conditioners are shut down and furnaces are fired up. Before you shut your system down for the year, stop and think about how well it served your family this summer – did your home stay cool consistently? Did you have electricity bills that were beyond what you're used to? Here, you'll find a few things to consider as you make the transition from warm season to cold.
Bring in an HVAC Professional
Before you fire your furnace up for the season, you need to have it cleaned and inspected for safety issues. Without this inspection, the furnace could leak toxic fumes into the home, run inefficiently or not work at all when you need it to.
While you have the HVAC tech there checking over the furnace, request an inspection of the air conditioning system. Tell him or her what you'd experienced over the summer and they'll take a look and make any recommendations they feel would be necessary. This time of year, you might find that you're offered a great deal on an air conditioning replacement, making it a better investment. Sometimes, those older models consume more energy each month than you'd pay on an installment plan on a brand-new replacement system.
Clear the Vents
How long has it been since you've removed the vent covers from the floors and walls to clean them and vacuum out the ductwork behind them? Now is a great time to do it. All of the dirt and moisture that's built up in the ductwork over the past several months will become airborne as the heat kicks on and warms up the surfaces inside the ductwork. Once the surface is warm, some of the stickier debris will soften and break free, becoming airborne and possibly toxic.
Do your best to clean the ductwork with your vacuum. Every year, contact a professional air duct cleaning company to come out and perform a complete cleaning of the system. Not only does this help protect you from airborne contaminants, but it also helps the system perform optimally. Leaks will be caught and there will be less resistance in the ductwork to keep the heat from flowing through freely.
Talk with your local heating and air conditioning professional. He or she will help you choose the best course of action to take to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer without breaking the bank.
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