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Are you noticing changes in your space when it comes to temperature control or odor? Is the air musty? Do you hear noises coming from your ducts? If any of these are familiar to you, your ducts may be causing problems with your HVAC system.

Poor airflow

Do you notice a change in temperature in your space? If your ducts are leaking, air going through your HVAC system may not be getting to where you need it to go. If you take a closer look at your registers, you may notice that there is little air blowing from the vents. The air may feel stuffy or stale because of the lack of circulation.

Hot and Cold Spots

Do you notice that the temperature throughout your space is inconsistent? A hole in your air duct could lead to rooms feeling that they are different temperatures. Leaky ducts are a common cause of HVAC related problems.

Smells

Do you notice an unpleasant smell while your HVAC unit is on? These may not actually be coming from your central HVAC unit, but instead from the ductwork. If moisture builds up in your ducts, it can turn to mold and mildew. In addition, it is also possible that rodent deposits could also be causing unpleasant smells throughout your home.

Poor Air quality

Unpleasant odors aren’t the only problem that could be creeping inside of your ductwork. Allergens and contaminated air can also be taking over your breathing space. Outdoor pollution such as dust, pet dander, pollen. And VPCs could also be making its way into different rooms in your home through your registers.

Debris in filters

Clogged filters can be the reason for many different HVAC problems. If your ducts are filled with debris and particles, your filters may be clogging faster than they should be. This will lead to air quality and temperature issues.

Loud HVAC system

While air quality and temperature inconsistency can be a pain, a noisy HVAC system is the one that can keep you up at night. It is common for your ducts to wear down as the years go on and create cracks and leaks. If air finds its way through these cracks, it can produce a whistling sound. If you notice popping sounds, it is often a result of air pressure problems.

Prevention is Key

There are many steps you can take to prevent pet dander build up in your home before it becomes an issue.

One simple tip is to bathe or brush your pets regularly. This gets to the root of the problem (see what I did there?) before it builds up within your home.

Sweep often. Sweeping often will help gather settled dander that could eventually end up in your ducts.

Consider using a HEPA air cleaner. The pet dander that you can’t gather up from sweeping might be floating in the air. A HEPA air cleaner attached to your central heating or air conditioning can help remove the pet allergens from the air easily.

Maintenance is a must

Regular maintenance of your homes HVAC system is key. A big part of maintaining good air quality in your home depends on a well-running HVAC system. This, of course, becomes more important when you add pets into the equation. Dander and pet hair can accumulate in your ductwork or air filter and without regular cleaning will build up.

#1 Air conditioners sole purpose is to cool air

When we think of the words air conditioner, we automatically think of cooling air. Air conditioners typically have more functions, and instead of just cooling air, they also work to reduce humidity in the air as well. Overall improving the air quality in your home. Remember, they’re not called “air coolers”.

#2 If you have an air conditioner, you don’t need a fan.

While it’s true, you don’t NEED a fan, it actually can do its part in circulating the cool air around your space. Setting up your fans strategically can reduce your energy usage in your home by making it so your A/C has to run less often.

#3 All you have to do is turn on your A/C and sit back and relax.

In a perfect world, yes this is true, and for the most part, it is. That being said, it is important to do basic maintenance. Ensuring that your filter is clean will make you feel at peace knowing that you are not blowing any contaminants throughout your ductwork and essentially your home. We recommend checking your air filter monthly and changing it whenever it appears dirty.

#4 Professional HVAC maintenance is unnecessary

We know that it is easy to forget about regular HVAC maintenance and upkeep but we highly recommend your system to be serviced at least once a year by a professional HVAC technician. Even if you regularly clean your filter and check the system, even the smallest problem unattended for a long period of time can reduce the life of your system as well as create costly fixes later on. Preventative maintenance is the key to long-term cost savings and making sure your air quality is perfect for you, and your family.

Unmaintained HVAC

Do you remember the last time you had maintenance done on your homes air conditioning?

An unmaintained HVAC system can be one of the contributing factors to increased cooling costs. Without regular check-ups, small issues that can easily be fixed can get the attention that they need right away before they become larger, more costly issues.

Improper Thermostat Regulation

Nowadays with new technology, it is easier to control your home’s thermostat while you’re away from home, but for those who don’t have that technology, it’s important to think about proper regulation for your thermostat. Plan accordingly and set your thermostat to lower temperatures if you’re going to be away from home for long stretches or for when you’re asleep. It might not seem that it will make a large difference, but for each degree that you increase the thermostat you can save up to 5% in energy costs.

Poor Quality Insulation

Depending on the climate where you live, homes in warmer climates tend to have improper or no insulation. This not only includes the typical insulation in walls, but also floors, attics, and windows. All of which can help prevent loss of cool air, water damage, and reduce the number of allergens in your home.

Smart lighting

It seems simple, but for so many, it is still not a habit to turn off the lights while leaving a room. This saves energy but also increases the lifespan of the light bulb. Double cost savings? I think so.

Seal your Doors and Windows

If your HVAC system is running and you have windows or doors open, air is escaping making your HVAC unit work twice as hard to maintain the correct temperature. It is important to also check for leaks and ensure that windows have proper sealing.

Use a ceiling fan

Consider using your ceiling fan to help cool down. It can produce a similar cooling effect and uses far less energy than your HVAC system. For some, the best way to do this is to use the air conditioner to get to the temperature you want and then switch to the ceiling fans to continue circulating the cool air.

Check your air filters monthly

Reduce your energy output from your HVAC system and improve air quality all at once.

Mindful Laundry

Something as simple as using cold water to wash your clothes can cut down on the amount of energy required to do laundry by 90% in some cases. Pro tip: hang drying your clothes can limit any shrinking and wrinkles that may arise in the drying process in a machine.