If your air ducts are dirty, you may wonder whether or not it’s worth it to get an air duct cleaning. There are a lot of conflicting reports out there, with some people saying that air duct cleaning is unnecessary while others advise that you have it done every 3-5 years. The fact of the matter is that there haven’t been enough studies done to truly make a definitive statement one way or the other on whether air duct cleaning really makes a difference. Generally speaking, however, the Environmental Protection Agency states that you have your air ducts cleaned on an ‘as needed’ basis. 

Here is what you need to know about the circumstances around which you should have your air ducts cleaned, as well as what you need to take into account when looking for an air duct cleaner.

Do You Really Need To Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

As of the time of this article, there isn’t enough research one way or the other to state whether or not air duct cleaning is something you should have done regularly. However, there are some circumstances in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends air duct cleaning.

The EPA recommends that you have your air ducts cleaned if:

• Your ducts are clogged with dust and debris, as well as if said particles are being released into your home.
• Your ducts have an infestation of either vermin or insects.
• There is substantial mold growth in your ducts. The EPA notes that when it comes to mold growth in your ducts, the mold growth will reoccur if the conditions that allowed it to grow in the first place are not rectified. 

Some homeowners like to schedule regular air duct cleaning because they simply like having clean air ducts, and it makes sense to clean your ducts the same way you would clean the rest of your home. 

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Air Ducts?

This depends. Some people can go years without needing air duct cleaning. If you are needing to schedule frequent air duct cleaning, there is likely an underlying issue that you will need to address. 

For instance, as mentioned above, if you struggle with mold growth in your air ducts, this is because you have a moisture problem. Until the moisture problem is resolved, you will continue to need cleaning to get rid of the recurring mold growth. 

If you struggle with clogged filters, this is likely a sign that you need to replace your air filters more frequently. In most cases, the amount of dust that gets into your duct work is within a safe range. However, as previously mentioned, if it is allowed to build up, this can cause the particles to be released into your home, which can have adverse effects on your indoor air quality. 

If you have vermin in your air ducts, you’ll definitely want an air duct cleaning to remove any droppings, dander, and the like. You’ll need to uncover how they got in there in the first place in order to prevent a future infestation. 

So, Does Air Duct Cleaning Make A Difference?

Yes, it definitely can. If you’re ever worried about whether you need to have your air ducts cleaned, you should hire a certified professional to evaluate your situation. They will be able to determine your problem and provide you with effective air duct cleaning solutions that shouldn’t damage your air ducts.

How To Find An Air Duct Cleaning Professional

Unfortunately, the air duct cleaning industry is full of scammers and people looking to capitalize on your concern for your home’s healthy environment. As such, it can be challenging to find an air duct cleaning professional who you can trust to make a difference.

Some of the warning signs of a bad duct cleaner include:

• A shockingly low price. Professional services should come with professional prices. If a duct cleaner quotes you something like $50, they’ll likely be dishonest with you and try to sell you on all these other services to get you to pay more.
• They claim to be EPA-certified. The EPA does not certify any duct cleaning, nor does it recommend it, except for in the cases listed above, which should include your HVAC system as a whole.

Some of the signs of a trustworthy duct cleaner include:

• Providing you with complete and knowledgeable answers to your questions.
• They have relevant licensing.
• They have not had complaints lodged against them.
• Previous customers have not had issues with their HVAC system after the service.
• They provide you with a written estimate of their service at a price that makes sense.
• They inspect your system before cleaning.
• They take care to protect your ductwork.
• They follow NADCA’s standards for air duct cleaning.

R & D Heating And Air provides professional air duct cleaning services. If you think you may need air duct cleaning, please don’t hesitate to contact us today for an estimate. 

Fall is just around the corner, which means that it’s time to start thinking about your furnace, even if you’re still relying on your air conditioner on the daily. You probably know that you need to get your furnace serviced at least once a year, but chances are, you want to know just when you should have it serviced. Should it be after the weather is warm enough that you don’t need it anymore or should it be when you’re thinking about using it again?

The truth is that there’s no bad time to get your furnace serviced. However, with pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween candy making their appearance, it’s always a good idea to ensure that your furnace is in good working order before you need to start using it again. That’s why the end of summer or the beginning of fall make for good times to get your furnace serviced. The last thing you want is to turn on the heating only for it not to work properly and to be stuck in sweaters and blankets until it can be fixed.

Here is what you need to know about how often you need to get your furnace serviced, as well as the various issues that can arise if you do not have your furnace serviced. Let’s get into it!

How Often Should You Get Your Furnace Serviced?

You should get your furnace serviced before the weather takes a turn for the cold and frigid. You want to ensure that your furnace is ready to be put to work again. Many homeowners may wonder if annual tune-ups are really necessary as they strive to save money wherever they can and avoid unnecessary expenses. Your furnace tune-up is very much a necessary expense, though. If your furnace is not regularly serviced, it can need more frequent repairs and have a shortened lifespan.

Annual tune-ups are an essential part of keeping your furnace in good working condition. Additionally, many warranties state that if your furnace sustains any damage that is the result of a lack of maintenance, the damage will not be covered. In order to keep your home comfortable and to help your furnace last as long as possible, ensure that you have it serviced each year.

Some experts suggest that you get your furnace serviced in both the spring and the fall for optimal performance. Your technician will be able to advise you on the best course of action for your furnace.

What Happens If You Don’t Get Your Furnace Serviced?

Nothing good, that’s for sure. If you don’t have your furnace serviced, then easily preventable problems can turn into expensive repairs. Many calls that technicians get about how someone’s furnace is not heating their home result from a lack of maintenance. Failing to properly maintain your furnace is among the most common causes of breakdowns.

Some of the issues that can occur if you do not get your furnace serviced regularly include:

• Higher risk of system breakdown.
• Decreased system lifespan.
• Worsened heating/no heating.
• Voided warranty.
• Decreased energy efficiency.

The Benefits Of Regular Furnace Tune-Ups

When you keep your furnace maintained, you can rest assured that you’re doing everything in your power to keep it in good condition and to keep yourself and the rest of those in your household warm in the upcoming winter months.

When you regularly maintain your furnace you can enjoy:

• Decreased risk of system breakdown.
• Preserved system lifespan.
• Keeping your warranty.
• Increased energy efficiency.
• Heat.

Is There A Bad Time To Get Your Furnace Serviced?

While getting your furnace serviced in the late summer or early fall allows you to rest assured that it will work in the few short weeks you’ll be relying on it again, there’s no bad time to get your furnace serviced. You can have your furnace serviced in the middle of the summer or in the winter. What matters most is that it happens.

While it is easier for you if your furnace is serviced before you’ll need it, as long as you keep it maintained and have it serviced annually, you’re doing your part to keep it in good condition.

Do You Need To Get Your Furnace Serviced?

R & D Heating And Air is here to help! We provide furnace maintenance, tune-ups, and repairs, as well as many other HVAC services. To schedule your furnace tune-up or to learn more about any of our other services, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

As climate change worsens, summers get hotter and hotter. Here in Utah, it’s a desert state, so it’s normal for us to experience hot summers. However, with temperatures regularly in the 90s and spiking to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a record number of days, this extreme heat causes all sorts of problems, including worsened air quality. Extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality in a number of different ways. Here’s what you need to know about the various ways extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality and what you can do to lessen its impact. 

#1. Air Quality Is Worse In Urban Areas

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that urban areas are most susceptible to poor air quality, due to issues such as increased pollution, location, and “heat islands”. If you live in a city, extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality significantly. 

This is because in urban areas, there often isn’t as much vegetation as in more rural spaces. It gets lost in expansion, paving surfaces, and building new buildings. This combined with the fact that buildings and narrow streets decrease airflow leads to heat getting trapped. These urban heat islands can be significantly hotter than areas with trees and more vegetation and airflow. 

Urban areas also have worsened air quality because of elevated ground-level ozone formation, aka more smog. With higher temperatures, people use more energy in an effort to remain cool, which in turn, increases smog levels, leading to all-around worsened air quality. 

#2. Less Rain = More Pollution

Another way extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality is because when it’s brutally hot out, there’s less rain and wind. This causes polluted air to linger, when rain and wind would otherwise have ventilated the area. As previously mentioned, ozone and pollutant levels rise during extreme heat, which is why heat advisories and air quality advisories often go hand in hand.

Many people try to do whatever they can to cool their homes down. For those with poor air conditioning, this could mean propping windows open in order to increase airflow. This worsens your indoor air quality. 

#3. Smoke And Dust Infiltrate Your Home

Extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality by increasing the risk of wildfires and dust storms. The drier it is, the easier it is for fires to start, especially during the summer months, when people set off fireworks, park their cars over dry vegetation, go camping in the mountains, and more. This worsens outdoor air quality, which in turn, worsens your indoor air quality. 

Smoke and dust, in general, are always concerns for air quality, but this is especially true when it comes to extreme heat. The higher the temperature, the more likely it is that your area can experience more severe and more frequent wildfires. 

#4. Increased Mold Risk

Yet another way extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality is by raising the temperature inside your home. This, coupled with how extreme heat can worsen storms, creates a hot, humid, damp environment, which is ideal for mold to grow in. Mold can create all sorts of problems, from damages to your home to health risks, such as respiratory issues, due to how it worsens your indoor air quality. 

With mold, there also comes the risk of other biological contaminants, such as dust mites and bacteria. All of these can worsen your indoor air quality, making it so that not only do you have the heat to contend with, but also more difficulty breathing and even more of a risk to your health. 

#5. Power Outages Worsen Indoor Air Quality

Extreme heat puts quite a bit of strain on your air conditioning system in general. However, when it takes out the power as a whole, extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality by instantly reducing airflow throughout your home. This makes it easy for pollutants to linger. Many people turn to portable generators in these circumstances, but the carbon monoxide from improper use can cause illness and even death. 

How To Preserve Your Indoor Air Quality In Extreme Heat

As you can see, there are many different ways extreme heat impacts your air quality. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality, even when it’s extremely hot out. These steps include:

• Monitor the humidity levels. A humid environment is one that mold loves. Dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and fans can all help to reduce humidity.
• Seal any leaks and cracks. Hot air and exterior pollutants can infiltrate your home through any gaps, so ensure to seal any that you find.
• Keep the windows and doors closed. Opening them allows for pollution to enter your home. To ventilate your home, consider using fans and keeping your air conditioner in good condition.
• Service your air conditioner. The best way to keep yourself and to lessen how much extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality is to keep your air conditioner in good condition with regular cleaning and maintenance. 

R & D Heating And Air provides professional air conditioning and indoor air quality services. We can lessen how much extreme heat impacts your indoor air quality by keeping your systems in good working order. To learn more about how we can help or to schedule a service, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!