Importance of cleaning your air ducts after home improvement

Have you ever thought…”I’m tired from all the improvement i just made to my house, why waste precious time and energy cleaning something like air ducts…?”
Ok, that thought may seem slightly exaggerated, but sadly enough, most homeowners either do not understand the importance of clean air ducts or they simply forget to have it done, which can be especially hazardous after a home improvement project.

Having dust particles float around in your air ducts can cause damage to your system, while keeping your air ducts clean can help extend the life of your system for years. When the ducts are covered with built up dust and debris the system needs to use more power in order to force the air through. This can result in needing to prematurely replace your system due to poor maintenance, which is not something that homeowners want to hear! . Also The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that removing as little as 0.4 inches of dust from cooling system coils will reduce your energy consumption up to 21 percent,putting more money in your pocket.

Along with the money you will save on your energy bill, cleaning  your air ducts after home improvement  also helps keep you and your family healthier. This is because if any moisture gets into your system, it could easily lead to the build up of mold. Even if there is no mold, your ducts could contain dirt, dust, pollen, animal dander, or really nasty things like insect remains or rodent droppings. Also,  If people in your home have breathing problems such as asthma or allergies, all those things hanging out in your air ducts  will only worsen things, and may increase the likely hood of you contracting an air-born illness.

This is just one of those unavoidable situations  you will have to deal with as a homeowner. You could take the ‘purist’ route and cut back on your home improvements, get rid of sparky or any other animals, stop smoking (at least inside the house), and purchase the high-end air filters to improve the quality of air in your home. Although, Home Improvement & Duct Cleaningsimply making sure your air ducts are cleaned out every now and then is just one great way to improve the air quality. Also, air filters still allow tiny dust particles through and are not a truly reliable way to keep your air clean.   The good news is that home maintenance is like a car, when taken care of properly it can produce many benefits and last a very, very long time.

To wrap it up, let’s review why regular air duct cleaning really is worth your time and energy

  • It produces a much finer quality of air
  • Extends the life of your system
  • Prevents illness
  • Recommended by most doctors
  • Kills pathogens
  • Great way to truly rid your house of any dust or debris after that great home improvement project,it really isn’t finished until you finish cleaning up right?
  • Makes dusting and cleaning in the future easier since your system can work more efficiently to help you

plus

  • cleaner smell in your house
  • you’ll impress your neighbors with how well you take care of your home
  • best of all, you can keep sparky around!

This post brought to you by our friends at: Maryland home improvement

How Do Air Conditioners Create Cool Air?

Air Conditioner RepairIf you have ever looked at your air conditioner and wondered how it functions than continue reading below. All up to date air conditioning units work in broadly the same way, whether they are small domestic or large industrial units.

The compressor, evaporator and condenser together make up the air conditioner. A chemical compound called Freon is used in air conditioners, the same which is used in refrigerators. This Freon enters the compressor as a cold gas where the molecules get compressed together. This subsequently leads to increased temperature and pressure.

Next, the gas enters the condenser and this will then cool down the gas and transforms it to a high-pressure fluid. A tube or expansion valve then carries the fluid into the evaporator. The amount of liquid entering the evaporator is regulated by a pressure lowering valve causing the fluid to evaporate into a gas. The gas passes through coils absorbing the higher temperatures from within the house. The air conditioner will be shut off after a process the thermostat must undergo goes on over and over again.

Most residences feature central air conditioning these days. The fundamentals of the process are based on this. Unlike small window systems, here, only the evaporator is placed inside your home while the condenser and compressor stay outside. By attaching the cooling system to the home’s ventilation system, the whole home will receive the benefit of air conditioning instead of only one area.

Nevertheless, when you have a central air conditioning system, you might have observed that the temperatures inside a few rooms vary from the others. Many a times, the difficulty was observed in the air conditioner only. You will need to get an HVAC, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, expert servicing the system at least one time per year to ensure that the unit is functioning properly. You also have to ensure that you change the filter systems in the air conditioner once a month. When the filters are clean this will prevent overworking and also keep clean air inside the house.

You may even want to know the effects of constantly running your air conditioner. Proper maintenance of the unit will create more efficiency and less usage. However, there are alternative paths to refrain from overusing your system and at the same time save the environment.

Is it time you had your air conditioner inspected? If so, visit this page: A/C Repair Minneapolis
Need a quote on: Air Conditioner Repair in Minneapolis?

Duct Cleaning Pros Cons

In this post I will try to give an unbiased view regarding the pros and cons of duct cleaning. Having been involved in the duct cleaning industry for so many years it might be a little difficult though, due to the fact that I have heard so many positive reports.

Duct Cleaning, the Pros and Cons

First the Pros:

  • Source Removal – If you get rid of the “source”, you will get rid of the problem.
  • Clean Air – It only stands to reason; if your ducts are clean the furnace and air conditioner won’t blow it around your home.
  • Health Benefits – Ask any allergist, or allergy sufferer.
  • Very Affordable – For as little as $99 you could have all the air ducts in your home cleaned.
    Fast and Efficient – With two duct cleaners, the process should take less than an hour for a typical home with just one furnace.
  • No Haggling Over Prices – Unlike other domestic services, duct cleaning should be easy to bid over the phone. Nowadays, most duct cleaning companies will give you a price quote over the phone.

Now the Cons:

  • Duct Cleaning Cost – How clean is “clean”? Duct cleaning prices range from $69 – $1,000. This creates a lot of confusion, because the typical homeowner can’t inspect the work.
  • Discount Duct Cleaning – Beware of any company offering $10 off, or $50 off. What is the real duct cleaning cost? Ask $10 off of what price?
  • Per Vent Pricing – Most homeowners are unaware that their home may have 15-30 vents. Even at $10 per vent, this ads up fast.
  • Duct Cleaning Scams – As in any business, duct cleaning companies will pop up from time to time and try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
  • Incomplete Cleaning Methods – Look for companies that will give you a “Whole House Price”. You should be able to provide basic information about your heating and cooling system over the phone and get a price quote. If the duct cleaning company wants to come out to your home to give you a bid, hang onto your wallet!

I hope this post has given you a little insight into the pros and cons of duct cleaning. Remember to always check with consumer watch-dog groups and do a little homework before you hire any contractor to do any type of work in your home. You might also want to read the article 20 Tips on Hiring a Duct Cleaner, published on the CleanMyfurnace.com website. Or, you can always give us a call at 612-412-1867, or mail in your questin to: DuctCleaningTwinCities.com, 40 South 7th Street, Suite 212-144D, Minneapolis, MN 55402.