It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of buying your first home, but being a first-time homebuyer comes some unfamiliar territory. As a new homeowner, it’s important to understand the functionalities of your HVAC system to help you better determine when something is not working as it should be.
“The HVAC system is the largest source of energy within a home, so it’s important to keep the units properly cleaned and maintained in order to avoid increased costs and energy usage,” says Bill Benito, NADCA. “A dirty air conveyance system will restrict air flow at the coil and the blower, and also within the duct system. In many cases, a good cleaning of the cooling coil and the system components will increase air flow and make for a more efficient HVAC system. As a result, you’ll likely see significant savings on your energy bill.”
Did you know?
On average, 40 pounds of dust is generated each year in 1,500 square foot homes.
The amount of dust that gathers in a home depends on several different components, including the HVAC system design, the location of the system (attic, basement, or crawlspace), along with the family habits. Are pets living in the home? Are smokers? Children? All of these factors can contribute to the amount of dust and dirt that is generated within a home.
Approximately 4,200 dust mites can live within just one ounce of dust.
Indoor air is actually not always cleaner than outdoor air. Contaminants inside of the home (like dirt, dust and animal dander) can be circulated during cleaning when ineffective or substandard cleaning devices are used. If the dust is not contained during routine vacuuming, it can be distributed around the living space, where it will eventually just resettle.
Having your HVAC system professionally cleaned in springtime typically costs less than at any other time of year.
Although spring months are spent preparing for cooling season, many homeowners wait until the summer to have their systems cleaned. As a result, there are very long waiting lists for scheduling appointments. In addition, many companies will provide discounts during the spring to encourage homeowners to schedule their maintenance and cleaning before the units are needed for air conditioning during the summer.
NADCA defines a complete and proper cleaning to include the inside of the air ducts from where the air enters the return duct, through the air handler (blowers, coil and heat exchange), to the exit, where the air is released to condition the home.
