All About Air Duct Cleaning

Air Duct Cleaning

2014-05-27T16:06:00.001-05:00

Everyone has dreams to keep their homes clean and spotless. A clean surrounding is known to be healthy. You must always put into consideration the health of those leaving with you. Every corner and crack within the house must be checked so as to uphold total cleanliness. Apart from putting the human health into consideration, household appliances must also be considered. With proper ventilation and air circulation certain health disorders are ruled out. Air duct cleaning must be employed in order to ensure that there is an absolute cleanliness within the home. There are countless advantages of using air duct cleaning.

The household air conditioning and heating appliances calls for regular cleaning because of their ability to attract dust and pollutants that may affect the respiratory health. The appliances on the other hand are in danger of overheating when they are dust clogged. They may also fail to work efficiently. Some of the benefits of air duct cleaning are highlighted below.

Reduced costs
There is an estimate by the American Environmental Protection Agency that by cleaning out around 40% of the dust in these systems; heating and air conditioning, can lower the energy consumption rate by 20%.
Enhanced durability and life span
Household systems breakdown as a result of poor or lack of proper maintenance. When dust clogs in the cooling system of the appliances, there are high chances of overheating. It has been estimated that around 90% of the systems breakdown as a result of absence of air duct cleaning maintenance.
Indoor air quality
The quality of the air produced by the home cooling or heating systems depends on their cleanliness. For instance, an appliance with dust, allergens or pollutants on their vents or ducts could release these particles easily into the house hence affecting the air quality.
Prevention from allergies
Air duct cleaning ensures that the air released form air conditioning appliances is clean and uncontaminated. Proper cleaning and maintaining of these appliances would be the best way to rule out allergic attacks and respiratory problems from home.
Cleaner smell
When there is a buildup of dust and molds in the ducts, there are chances that the air released would be unpleasant.

As seen above, there are many advantages of air duct cleaning. To save energy, increase the appliance life span, improve air quality and smell and above all the human health is not threatened. The expense of buying new spare parts during breakdown or seeking medical attention would outrun the maintainer’s cost therefore, it is important to regularly carry out air duct cleaning process. It is recommended to contact professionals on these field since they know how to go about.

This information about air duct cleaning has been brought to you by:
Duct Cleaning Twin Cities
260 Clarence St, St Paul, MN 55106
(612) 412-1867
More information can be found on their website: http://ductcleaningtwincities.com/2008/03/twin-cities-air-duct-cleaning-procedure-2/

Obtaining Benefits Of Duct Cleaning Today

2013-02-25T04:30:00.003-06:00

There are many questions revolving around whether or not you should have your air ducts cleaned today. Some of the expected benefits of duct cleaning are not currently shown to be actual facts. When you are considering duct cleaning, you might want to look at the facts before making your final decision.

First it is important to consider that one of the expected benefits of duct cleaning would be to have cleaner air in your Minneapolis, MN home, however this has not been shown to be an actual fact. Most of the particles that are found inside the air ducts are clinging to the sides of the ducts and not actually airborne. Therefore, duct cleaning might actually add to the dust in your home rather than make the air cleaner, especially if you hire a sub-par duct cleaner. There are times however when this type of service is absolutely necessary. Learning about these times will be very important.

When you are inspecting the air ducts in your home or office in Minneapolis, you should be on the look out for mold growth in or order the openings or inside the pathway. This is a sign that moisture has gotten into the pathway and is contaminated with bacteria. These bacteria can lead to significant health problems for many people.

Removing these bacteria help to improve the air quality inside your home. Therefore this is considered a benefit to the service. Mold growth is a significant problem that should be dealt with swiftly. It isn't always necessary to have the work performed just to remove dust and dirt however.

Choosing a duct cleaner who is able to provide quality service at a reasonable price need not be difficult. Since the process is still relatively unknown, many vent cleaning firms are not considered to be experts in the field. As a result, you might find that there are few that advertise this service. Making sure that the job is done properly will be very important but difficult to gauge.

Additional Duct Cleaning Resources:
DuctCleaningTwinCities.com

Allergy Relief

2011-10-07T12:09:00.001-05:00

Millions of people are now suffering from allergy, and many of them only get marginal relief from drugs but it is not suitable way because it is cause of many side affect. So, IF you are not any serious condition you should find Natural remedies, however, here you will get many remedies and many practical cases.
Usually people get seasonal allergies. The estimated about 50 million people suffer from all types of allergies. Many kinds of treatments relieve sneezing and itching, In a recent meeting an American meeting informed that medications do not work. Plus, pharmaceutical remedies are really expensive and comes frequently taking many side effect. When you understand what’s happening at the time of allergy attacking, treating them commonly seems like plain natural sense.

Allergy also cause of food many people cannot digest all types fish, eggs, meats or vegetables. Dust may cause of allergy. So allergy effected persons should avoid dust and every sufferer know which food causes allergy for him and he should avoid these foods. Even many types of drink cause allergy. An allergy may cause of several reaction. Green Tea: If you have your green tea 2 to 3 times in a day you may get magical result in quick time and it also prevent allergy to return. Some allergy can be removed by having honey regularly.

Why not try allergy relief home remedies which are proven safety and not very cost effective

Now natural treatment is growing day by day and it is now hugely accepted among people. Having no side effect is the cause of great popularity. The product that you take regularly and you happy,i think that is the most useful medicine for you. Just you be sure you are not getting any physical side effect. Millions of people are now suffering from allergy, and many of them only get marginal relief from drugs but it is not suitable way because it is cause of many side affect. So, IF you are not any serious condition you should find Natural remedies, however, here you will get many remedies and many practical cases.

Usually, people get seasonal allergies. The estimated about 50 million people suffer from all types of allergies. Many kinds of treatments relieve sneezing and itching, In a recent meeting an American meeting informed that medications do not work. Plus, pharmaceutical remedies are really expensive and comes frequently taking many side effect. When you understand what’s happening at the time of allergy attacking, treating them commonly seems like plain natural sense.

Allergies are also caused by food, since many people cannot digest fish, eggs, meats or vegetables. Dust may also be the cause of allergies. So, allergy effected persons should avoid dust and every sufferer knows which food causes allergy for him and he should avoid these foods. Even many types of drinks cause allergy problems. An allergy may cause several reactions.

Some Allergy Solutions

Green Tea : If you have your green tea 2 to 3 times in a day you may get magical result in quick time and it also prevent allergy to return. Some allergy can be removed by having honey regularly. While duct cleaning doesn't cure allergies, it may help prevent them. Talk to your allergist about your specific conditions to see if cleaning the heating vents in your home might provide some much needed relief. How about mattress cleaning? You spend a 1/3 of your time in bed, and since dust mites feed on dead skin and moisture (sweat), your allergies may stem from the feces they leave behind in your bed.

Why Is It So Dangerous To Ignore Duct Cleaning?

2011-09-09T08:18:00.003-05:00

The huge problem most people have is that they do not take duct cleaning seriously enough and yet the consequences can be pretty grave. Ducts are used mainly in ventilation, heating, and air conditioning. They are designed to both deliver and remove air. Now more often than not you will find the inside of these air ducts contaminated with large deposits of dust and sometimes even mold. You should know that mold can carry some deadly strains of diseases, some of which are difficult to respond to a wide range of the usual medication. All this can be seriously hazardous to the health of the people breathing in the air that passes through that duct system (often called ductwork).

What Are The Signs And Indicators To Look For That Would Suggest The Problem Is Coming From Your Ductwork?

One of the first signs is that when cleaning your house you will notice that you always need to sweep and dust your furniture more than usual. And even when you do this you start noticing that there is still some dust floating around the room that you have just cleaned. This would be a serious wake up call for you to have a duct cleaning company clean your air ducts or at the very least take a careful look at it.

Another tell tale sign that something is terribly wrong with your air system is when you start to experience constant headaches after and during sleep. Or you could start to suddenly suffer from nasal congestion and other sinus problems. And especially if you have not had these kinds of problems in the recent past chances are that your illness is being caused by air ducts that are clogged up or not working properly.

Alternatively your illness may not look like the type to link to your air duct right away but you notice that you are getting sick way too often. Or maybe there is an occurrence of more allergies than usual in you. In other cases this is the kind of thing that should set off alarm bells ringing in your brain.

For Your Furnace To Work Properly, You Need Adequate Airflow

In many instances the signs are as clear as day and yet folks still choose to ignore them or attribute them to something else. For instance rooms that have little or no air flowing through them from the vents Or when you turn on the furnace or air conditioner you suddenly get a stale odor in the room. Air duct cleaning is a highly specialized skill and it is advisable for you to look for organizations and companies that have been at it for a quite a while and with a good track record. Otherwise you will find that you have to call people to clean your ducts way too often. This usually suggests that the cleaning may not have been done well the first time round.

Just remember that ducts are the kind of places that are hidden and difficult for somebody to supervise exactly what has been done and which corners of aging dust have been left intact by the cleaners. This is why paying the professionals the extra premium they may want is something you should consider to avoid serious health problems for you and your workers or loved ones in future.

Benefits Of A-Coil Cleaning

2010-07-20T06:53:00.002-05:00

One way that you can help improve the performance of your air conditioner system that is fast and easy is to clean it regularly. Good air conditioning will only happen if your air conditioners are taken care of properly and cleaned each season. Cleaning and maintenance is necessary for central or single split AC.
Maintaining an AC system correctly means you must clean it right and often enough to ensure it works correctly and assists with prevention of the emission of microorganisms and bacteria. You need to clean your ac prior to the beginning of summer. The general idea for cleaning is the same for split air and central air conditioners.
It is necessary to clean both the indoor and outdoor components when sanitizing individual or split systems. When you clean the inside parts, you're ensuring that all germs and micro bacteria that have accumulated in the AC are gone. Many allergies and skin related problems will be eliminated by removing the bacteria from the air.
How much time one must spend on cleaning is dependent upon how you use the AC. If you have been using the air-conditioner a lot, then it would require greater cleaning. To ensure that all dust is properly removed the cleaning of the outdoor unit must be done with a blower. Additionally, one must ensure the fan is functioning correctly and that condensation is occurring the way that it should be. The air filter found on the indoor machine can be washed thoroughly using detergent and water and after it is dry it can be put back on. This sort of cleaning will prevent more dust from accumulating inside the fins as well. Your air conditioner will emit cooler and cleaner air when the vents are cleaned.
Central air conditioners need thorough cleaning since their external unit is exposed on the roof and accumulates a lot of dust which can mess up the parts and create problems in cooling. The indoor units of central air conditioners need to be cleaned in the same way as spilt systems so that dust and micro bacteria is cleared away. Central A/C systems have an a-coil which gets very dirty, very fast. It should be cleaned annually if the system is used a lot. Here are some pictures of a dirty a-coil.
Correctly cleaning and maintaining AC systems may help with prevention of many issues associated with your well being, and your family will also be protected from various types of dust allergens.
This article was brought to you by the people at DuctCleaningTwinCities.com, the Minneapolis duct cleaning professionals. They are located at: 260 Clarence St, St Paul, MN 55106. They will answer all your A/C cleaning questions directly by calling: (612) 412-1867.

Advantages of Duct Cleaning

2009-09-17T11:27:00.003-05:00

Perhaps the most neglected areas in our house are heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and as a matter of fact these are the areas that need most of our attention. For most of the people if the equipment is installed well and in good working condition it means all is well. Unfortunately, this is not the case in most of cases. Ducts are the harboring places for a plethora of contaminating particles and microbes and if not cleaned on regular basis can pose hazards to the well being of you and your family.

To understand the benefits of duct cleaning and maintenance let us have a look at how these ducts work in your heating, cooling and ventilation systems and how these are prone to the attack of contamination that in return may be a big threat to efficiency of your system, your monthly expenses and your and your family health.

All systems are composed of ducts that are performing two basic functions; supply and return. Former ducts, as the name indicate supply fresh air to the home and the later ones absorb the old polluted air from your surroundings. This polluted air contains all possible germs and microbes that are present in your surroundings; bacteria, pollen grains, allergens, mold and mildews, per dander, rodent droppings, dust and dirt and even mites. As the system grows old these keep accumulating on the coils or ducts making it more important to be cleaned on regular basis.

Mainly there are three causes that are reason enough to add duct cleaning in your regular to-do lists every season:

Enhanced Efficiency: From above illustration you can easily understand that how your system can work efficiently in the presence of heaps of dust and pollutants on the ducts. In fact dirty ducts cause not only to slow down your system but also are the main reason for most of system failures. A clean duct system not only lessens running time but also works efficiently without causing any trouble.
Lower Energy Utilization: A machine can’t complain about the undue strain but will keep working even when not maintained well. It causes more energy utilization to perform with same efficiency which ultimately comes up in the form of high utility bills. A clean duct system not only increases the life of your system but also is pocket friendly.
Health: Home is the shelter that everybody loves to spend time in. But imagine how it is going to spoil your health if the air you breathe in is not pure. According to a survey indoors are more polluted as compared to outdoors. Polluted and impure air can prove lethal to those having respiratory diseases and as a matter of fact it is the reason behind many respiratory diseases along with allergies. A regular duct cleaning is the way to go if you prefer the wealth of health over few dollars every season.

Do You Suffer From Allergies?
I would recommend reading "Does Air Duct Cleaning Help Allergy Sufferers?" to learn more about allergies and it's relationship to routine duct cleaning. Are you ready to get your duct work cleaned? If you live in the Twin cities, MN area, call 612-234-4117 for Minneapolis Duct Cleaning. Outside the Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota metro area visit Duct-911 to find a duct cleaning company near you.

Duct Cleaning

2009-01-29T14:12:00.002-06:00

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Pros and Cons of Air Duct Cleaning

2008-06-19T22:56:00.003-05:00

Here is an interesting air duct cleaning article; 'Duct Cleaning Pros Cons'. This post covers the positive aspect of duct cleaning as well as the negative.

Here are just a few of the highlights about duct cleaning:

Remove the "source" which might be causing the problem
Breathe cleaner air
Health benefits, especially for allergy sufferers

Here are the "cons" of duct cleaning:

Deceptive price schemes
Scams which deceive homeowners
Partial cleaning

After reading 'Duct Cleaning Pros Cons' you might also want to read '20 Tips on Hiring a Duct Cleaner'

Energy Saving Tips - Heating & Cooling System

2008-03-07T05:49:00.004-06:00

Energy Saving Tips Regarding Your Home Heating and Cooling System

Furnace Filter - Keeping your furnace filter clean will help keep your house more comfortable and it will allow your furnace and air conditioner to work more efficiently. Changing your furnace filter is something you can do yourself, or ask our technicians to do it for you when we are out.
Duct Cleaning - It is crucial to understand that your air duct system was never designed to be filled with dust, toys, pet hair, construction debris, etc. Over time, as you run your furnace and draw indoor air through the system, your ducts will get contaminated. Think of your cold air return as a giant vacuum cleaner. Whenever your furnace or A/C runs, it is "sucking" dirty indoor air through your home heating and cooling system. Besides being "unclean", it also restricts air-flow, making your furnace and a/c work harder, costing you money.
Equipment Maintenance - Have a heating professional service your home's heating and cooling equipment annually for optimum efficiency and comfort and to help eliminate the unforeseen breakdown.
Lower your thermostat - The Department of Energy says that setting the thermostat 5 degrees lower for 8 hours can save up to 5%. This can be accomplished by manually adjusting your thermostat or with the use of a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can be purchased at your local hardware store.

Fireplace Damper - When you are not using your fireplace, make sure you have the damper in the closed position. An open damper is just like having a window or door open; allowing heated or cooled air to escape the house.
Limit the use of your fireplace - When you open the damper in your fireplace, you are allowing heat to escape through the fireplace chimney. Experts agree that a typical fireplace loses more heat than is generated. This is especially true in colder climates. As the smoke climbs up through the chimney, your heat follows right behind. Consider installing a fireplace insert which will make better use of the heat generated in your fireplace.
New Furnace / Air Conditioner - Replace your existing system with a newer high efficiency system and lower your fuel bills, increase your comfort and have peace of mind with new equipment with a 5 year or 10 year parts and labor warranty. This system may qualify for federal tax credits and or local utility rebates. (Check with your accountant or local utility to verify your eligibility). Click here for a New Furnace Quote or an A/C Installation Quote
Hybrid System - Install an add on electric heat pump to a natural gas, propane or oil furnace to create a more efficient dual fuel (hybrid) system. This system may qualify for federal tax credits and or local utility rebates. (Check with your accountant or local utility to verify your eligibility)
Humidifier - A humidifier will make the winter air feel warmer, similar to how a humid day in the summer feels warmer, this will allow you to lower your thermostat setting and reduce your energy usage.
Duct Sealing - Sealing your ductwork will not only reduce your energy usage, but it will allow more airflow to reach your registers where you need it in your rooms.
Seal House air leaks - Check for air leaks around windows, doors, and through electrical outlets. Install weather-stripping around doors and windows, and foam gaskets behind electrical faceplates. Check for adequate insulation in your attic, crawl space and walls. Department of Energy recommendation.

Additional Money Saving Tips Regarding Your Furnace, Air Conditioner and more

For even more ideas on how to save money on heating and cooling expenses, read; "10 Ways to Help Lower Your Utility Bill".

On the House Home Improvement Forum - Endless Dust

2007-12-23T21:31:00.000-06:00

Just thought I would share a thread I found concerning dust and air duct cleaning. A homeowner was complaining about all the dust in her home and another homeowner recommended having her furnace and air ducts cleaned. - If only every homeowner new all the benefits of air duct cleaning!

Duct Cleaning Schedule for Christmas and New Years

2007-12-22T08:58:00.000-06:00

Duct-911.com will be closed Tuesday 12/25/2007 to observe the birth of Jesus Christ. Both Duct-911.com and CleanMyFurnace.com will reopen for duct cleaning Wednesday the 26th and will be closed again New Years Day.

We would like to extend a heartfelt Merry Christmas and a Happy (and prosperous) New Year to all. 2007 Has been en extremely fun, exciting and prosperous year for our companies and we are very excited about what's in store for us in 2008. If this year can be used as a measurement, next year should be incredible!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
and a
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Chimney Cleaing - Cleaning the Chimney Stack on a Coffee Bean Roaster

2007-12-18T17:08:00.000-06:00

We had fun last week cleaning the stack on a coffee bean roaster. Even though it was very simple, it still was very fun. According to the owner, John R of Northwoods Roasterie, a coffee shop located in Lindstrom, MN, the coffee bean roaster must be cleaned annually to satisfy the manufacturers warranty requirements.

The process was really no different then cleaning a house chimney. One of our guys was on top of the roof with a rotobrush, the other was positioned with vacuum in hand by the chimney stack of the coffee bean roaster. Since it was a straight shot, and a short chimney, the process was very quick. In one years time their hadn't accumulated much soot (creosote) in the chimney.

John explained that since his coffee shop is only one year old and he is still building his clientele, his chimney wasn't as dirty as what it will be next year. He explained that a coffee shop that roasted 800 or 900 pounds of coffee per day would perhaps need it cleaned more frequently.

5 Tips on Hiring an Air Duct Cleaner

2007-12-04T23:14:00.000-06:00

When hiring a duct cleaner there are certain steps you can take to make sure you hire the very best duct cleaning company for your situation. To name just a few:

Ask for a detailed description of the duct cleaning service they will provide for you.
Get an approximate estimate for your project. Ideally, they will be able to give you a quote over the phone.
Dos the price include tax?
Are they able to provide other services related to duct cleaning like chimney cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, furnace cleaning, etc.
Let them tell you as much as possible about their duct cleaning company and the services they provide. This way you can determine if they match your criteria.

These are just 5 of the 20 Tips on Hiring a Duct Cleaner article found on the website.

Are You Looking for a HVAC Contractor?

2007-11-17T20:35:00.000-06:00

The heating season is here and it's definitely time to start thinking about your HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. It seems like everyone I've been talking to is thinking about air duct cleaning, furnace filters, furnace tune-ups or buying a new heating and cooling system. Of course, I work in the business, but even so, people are certainly thinking about their heating system.

Now is a great time to get your air ducts cleaned and your furnace tuned-up. For as little as $189, you can have a professional air duct cleaner use a rotobrush to scrub your ducts clean. Generally speaking, air duct cleaners are trained and equipped to do more than just clean duct work. They typically do an excellent job of giving your furnace the much needed annual tune-up.

We subscribe to numerous HVAC magazines, and are constantly reminded of the importance of annual furnace tune-ups. If only we could get the word out to more homeowners about the importance of having your heating system checked out on a yearly basis.

Babies and Children More Vulnerable to Indoor Air Pollution

2007-11-10T05:57:00.000-06:00

Children are more exposed to air, water pollution and pesticides because pound-for-pound, children breathe in more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults.

Their bodies are growing and developing more rapidly, so chemicals that can harm their physical development can do maximum damage at this critical time.

Children also play on the floor, where allergens, such as dust, dirt, pet hair and other heavier-than-air chemicals settle and collect.

Then there's natural behavior: Putting everything in the mouth is a crucial part of normal development, the way a baby learns about the world.

For $189 ($99 for the air sweep and vacuum method) you can have all your air ducts thoroughly brushed clean using the roto-brush method. If you are concerned about your family's health, and would like to find out how you can have clean air ducts, call the pros at Duct-911.com today for more information: 651-653-4704.

Duct-911.com Partners with New York & Atlanta Air Duct Cleaners

2007-10-19T06:40:00.000-05:00

In an ongoing effort to bring high quality and low priced air duct cleaning to homeowners all across the USA, Duct-911.com has now partnered with companies from Staten Island, New York and Atlanta, Georgia.

In New York you will now be able to get whole-house air duct cleaning from D&H Air Duct Cleaning for $99! They cover more than just the Staten Island area, they also work much of NYC and NJ. To setup an appointment to have your air ducts professionally cleaned call 718-475-5662.

In Atlanta you can get the same low price of $99 from Dr. Air Duct. Servicing all of the Atlanta metro area, like our New York air duct cleaning partner, they also clean dryer vents and are certified chimney sweeps. You can arrange an appointment with them if you call: 404-348-0111.

If you are from another area not yet serviced by Duct-911.com, please be patient. They are rapidly expanding and hope to have established relationships with air duct cleaners in your area soon. So, be bookmark their site and check back often!

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Air Duct Cleaning

2007-10-17T23:50:00.000-05:00

As long as the allergy season is here and people are thinking air duct cleaning and furnace tune-ups, I thought an article about dryer vent cleaning might be useful information for homeowners as well

Cleaning your Dryer Vent
DIY Product reviews

This annual or semi-annual cleaning is easy to forget about, but is very important. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission over 15,000 fires and 19 deaths are related to dryer venting each year. In addition to the danger of a clogged dryer vent is a huge energy loss. A clear vent will allow moisture to escape better and the clothes will dry faster.

Inside the dryer clear any visible lint with a long handled brush or vacuum attachment. Clean the lint trap after the each load to reduce the lint build up.

On the venting leading outside of the house be sure to inspect a few different areas. First, make sure the venting to not kinked or bent. This would also be a good time to replace plastic or foil venting with a stronger solid or semi-ridig metal. Next, look at the exit on the outside of the house. Bird screens are notorious for collecting link and reducing air flow. Finally, if you have a long vent you need to it cleaned also. Professional air duct cleaning services or a chimney sweep can do this. You can also clean it with a shop-vac or an electric leaf blower. Remove the out side vent cover so the entire 4-inch vent is exposed. Move the dryer so you can get to vent with the equipment. Attach the end of the blower on the vent and seal it with a clamp of duct tape. Make sure the vac is set on blow not suck. Use the lowest setting to start and let it do the work. You will be amazed by the amount of link you will find it you grass.

There are some cleaning kits that use an auger brush and a drill to clean long runs, but they are expensive and could damage your venting without you seeing it. Solid and semi-ridig ducting can tear or separate it poked hard enough with a metal stick.

Heating and Cooling Tips from the Maryland Public Services Commission

2007-09-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

Heating/Cooling Systems

If your home is heated or cooled by an electric heat pump, following these tips can help reduce your electric bill:

• Clean or change filters monthly; keep return air grilles and room registers clean.

• Make sure ductwork is properly sealed and insulated to prevent leakage, especially around the return. Check ductwork in attics and crawl spaces.

• Keep plants, shrubs, and other obstacles at least two feet away from the heat pump; keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice in the winter.

• Make sure your furnace has a pre-season check-up for efficiency and safety; ensure that a trained service technician checks your unit at least once every three years.

• When replacing your heating system, consider a multi-fuel furnace.

Remember—don’t turn off your heating and/or cooling system when you are not at home. Instead, turn the thermostat up or down a few degrees. Turning the system off means that is has to work twice as hard to get the rooms up to temperature; this uses more electricity. Turning back your thermostat by just a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer can help save energy. Changing the thermostat frequently can also increase your energy costs. Instead, consider buying a programmable or adaptive recovery thermostat.

Ceiling and fl oor fans spread cool and warm air throughout a room and can assist your heating or cooling system and help keep your energy bill down. However, electric space heaters should be used sparingly, as these units can increase your energy use and your electric bill.

Looking for Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials?

2007-09-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Oftentimes we prefer to do business with companies that have more than just great ads and "catchy" slogans. Now days, most people prefer to do business with companies on a word-of-mouth basis. Here are two websites in the air duct cleaning industry that have testimonial after testimonial. Both websites have air duct cleaning testimonials and also heating and cooling installation testimonials:

CleanMyFurnace.com - Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials - Minneapolis and St. Paul
Duct-911.com - Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials - Nationwide (coming soon)

The latter company has just recently expanded their air duct cleaning services nationwide. For now they only have Minnesota air duct cleaning testimonials, but with the great service they provide, they will soon have scores of testimonials about air duct cleaning.

Shopping for a High Efficiency Natural Gas Furnace?

2007-08-27T21:21:00.000-05:00

The thought of snow, cold and blowing winds lead to thoughts of warm blankets, furnaces and glowing fires. Most of us take our home heating and air conditioning system for granted. Until it breaks, that is. Then all we can think about is immediate relief.

The size of your home will dictate the size of the furnace needed. The two most common household furnaces are combustion and condensation.

How Furnaces Work:
Utilizing gravity to allow the warmer air in the top of a building to slowly displace the cooler air downwards through a complex series of vents and ductwork passages, air conditioning and heating installation engineers must design a system that utilizes both gravity and forced air to move warmer or cooler air to wherever its needed for comfort. At the furnace, cool air passes into the furnace, usually through an air filter, through the blower, then through the heat exchanger of the furnace, whence it is blown throughout the building.

High Efficiency Furnaces
There are several types of furnaces available but I recommend a High Efficiency furnace. Unless you have a particular need for another heat source ( Electric Furnaces , Mini-Duct Systems, Corn Stoves, Wood Stoves, etc.), generally speaking, the High Efficiency furnace is the way to go. High Efficiency furnaces are convenient, affordable, quiet, and of course very efficient.

Two-speed units and variable-capacity high efficiency furnaces generally operate at lower noise levels, run for longer periods of time, give better circulation and maintain a more consistent temperature in the house. Professionals believe that high efficiency natural gas furnaces are the perfect fit for any home.

Buying a High Efficiency Furnace
A free estimate for the purchase and installation of a new heating and air conditioning system is available through most HVAC dealers. Here are a few pointers when shopping for a New Furnace and A/C unit:

- Check Angies list for reputable HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) companies in your area if you dont already have an HVAC company you are working with and trust.
- If replacing a furnace, do not simply go with a model that is similar to the old one.
- Request a load calculation before choosing the furnace for your home. Your Heating and Cooling Contractor will provide this for you which will in turn help you make better buying decisions.
- A new high efficiency furnace will help keep you from receiving higher and higher energy bills every month.
- Choosing a brand of furnace that has a history of quality and reliability can be less costly in the long run.
- Determine the level of efficiency that will save you the most money.

Shop around, become familiar with the various brands of furnaces and get a few quotes to insure you get the best price.

Are You Due for a New Furnace?

2007-08-19T22:51:00.000-05:00

Here is an excerpt of an article with tips regarding buying a furnace in Minnesota.

Buying a furnace in Minnesota

With a little research, buying a new furnace does not need to be difficult. Here are a few suggestions which Duct-911.com recommends when shopping for a New Heating and Cooling System:

- Choose a heating and cooling system that has the best costs with the features you feel are most important.
- When buying a new furnace, you might want to consider installing a humidifier at the same time. Proper humidity reduces heating costs by stopping wood shrinkage, which reduces cold air infiltration around door and window frames. In turn, you'll feel warm at lower temperatures.
- Choosing a brand of furnace that has a history of quality and reliability can be less costly in the long run.
- When purchasing a furnace consider the furnace noise level. Unfortunately, all furnaces do not come with a standard rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and air conditioners.

10 Ways to Help Lower Your Utility Bill

2007-07-28T19:26:00.000-05:00

Here are 6 of the 10 energy saving tips as mentioned by James Bickers, an independent writer for the Courier-Journal. While the Mr. Bickers mentions cleaning the coils on the back of the refrigerator, he fails to mention the coils inside the air ducts.

As stated on the Duct-911.com website; "Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment. (energystar.gov)". Also, CleanMyFurnace.com, a Minnesota air duct cleaning company quotes the EPA saying; "A build up of .042 (1/20) inches of dirt on the heating or cooling coil can result in a decrease in efficiency of 21%".

At any rate, this article offers a few good pointers which homeowners can use to save money on their electric bill and we applaud him for it. Below are 6 of the 10 energy saving tips mentioned in the article:

2. Install a programmable thermostat. Abby Buford of Lowe's said a properly used and installed ENERGY STAR-compliant thermostat saves a homeowner up to $100 a year.

3. Raise the temperature. Got your new thermostat installed? It's time to use it. Even on the hottest days, try increasing the temperature by a degree or two, gradually acclimating yourself to the change. Consumer Reports estimates that for every degree you raise your cooling system, you'll cut about 3 percent off your energy bill. And learn about the programmable functions too -- have it automatically adjust upward by a few degrees overnights and when the house is empty.

5. Use your ceiling fans. While you're inching that thermostat up, use the noble ceiling fan to stay cool. They're very energy-efficient: David Schiff, book editor for Consumer Reports, said the average fan uses about as much electricity as a 100-watt bulb -- and it can take some of the load off the air conditioner. "You can use it for pennies a day, and you can probably nudge the AC up by about four degrees," he said.

6. Use a clothesline. Yes, a clothesline. Sure, some of your neighbors might look at you askance; the progressive ones will admire you. Electric dryers use a whopping amount of energy, and their work can just as easily be accomplished by Mother Nature on a sunny day. Plus, your clothes will last longer. "The stuff that's in your lint trap is really just your clothes falling apart," said Schiff.

7. Clean your refrigerator coils. Take off the grill at the bottom of your fridge. Chances are, you'll see some serious dust build-up on the coils behind. This area should be cleaned at least once a year, using a special tapered brush available at any hardware store. The result is a fridge whose motor won't have to run as often.

10. Keep your air conditioner clean and exposed. The A/C unit has to do something with the heat it draws out of your environment -- and while it's tempting to landscape around the big unit in your backyard, doing so will make it work harder to release that heat. Keep the area around the unit clean and open, with at least 2 feet of empty space all around.

If you would like to read this article in full Click Here

Installing an A/C System Everyone is Cool With Takes a Pro

2007-07-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

It Takes a Pro to Put In an AC System Everyone's Cool With
By Tim Carter
Saturday July 21, 2007
WashingtonPost.com

Q: DEAR TIM: The air conditioning in my home has never seemed to work well.
My recent promotion and transfer has me moving to home that is in the early stages of construction. What can I do to ensure that the new home has a central air-conditioning system that keeps all rooms comfortable no matter the outdoor temperature? Is it possible to have all rooms nearly the same temperature? My existing home's second floor feels like an oven.-- Julie

A: DEAR JULIE: I can think of many reasons why the central air conditioning in your existing home does not cool properly. Some of the problems might have been corrected with a simple service call from an expert at air-conditioning troubleshooting. It's also possible that you have had serious air-conditioning-system design flaws that would have cost thousands of dollars to correct.
The central air-conditioning system, plus the heating system, is one of the most important parts of a home, after a sound roof and indoor plumbing. The systems create an artificial climate.
It is realistic to expect this climate to be the same in each room. In my home, each room, no matter the outdoor temperature or time of day (this is very important), can be within one or two degrees of any other room. That keeps my family and me comfortable.
It is unrealistic to expect your home to be a certain temperature no matter what the outdoor temperature is. In other words, if the outdoor temperature is 115 degrees, I would not expect you to be able to cool your home to 72 degrees without considerable discomfort on days when the temperature is, say, 85.
Central air-conditioning systems are designed to operate in a given range of temperatures. For example, the range in your part of the country may be 20 degrees. This means there is only a 20-degree difference between the outdoor temperature and the lowest temperature the system can maintain indoors. It is possible to create a wider temperature spread, but oversizing an air-conditioning system can result in short-cycling when the air conditioner has little work to do.
If an oversize air-conditioning system short-cycles, or has to drop the temperature only a few degrees, it does not run long enough to remove humidity from the air. When this happens, the temperature inside the home gets to the desired level, but you feel cold and clammy. Properly designed central air-conditioning systems run for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, which allows them to extract humidity as the air flows across the cooling coils in the air handler.
The key to getting a central air-conditioning system to work properly is to have a professional size the equipment and install a duct system that delivers the right quantity of air to each room of the house. Each room must also have a return-air duct that vacuums hot air from the ceiling and returns it to the central system to be cooled once more.
A professional air-conditioning technician can analyze your new-home plans with computer software to determine the heat gain and loss for each room. This same exercise can be done on existing homes. With this data, the technician can ensure that the proper size equipment is bought and that the ductwork is sized correctly.
Tim Carter can be contacted via his Web site, http://www.askthebuilder.com/printer_Submit_Question.shtml

Eco-Friendly Blog Offers Some Great Energy Saving Tips

2007-07-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

For some very helpful, money saving, energy conscious tips you might want to visit the
eco-friendly blog called Keetsa! They recommend doing things like; changing furnace filters, installing programmable thermostats, closing the drapes during the day while you are away and much more.
In addition to eco-friendly/energy saving tips, they also have information ranging from solar power to "green" transportation. Even though they didn't specifically mention air duct cleaning, I am sure they soon will post a blog about air duct cleaning. After all, dirty air ducts reduce air flow and make your furnace work that much harder.

Indoor Air Pollution - EPA Calls it an Urgent Environmental Problem

2007-07-13T23:34:00.000-05:00

Poor indoor air quality could affect your respiratory health

Published - July, 12, 2007
Kate S. Peabody
kpeabody@pnj.com

Just last week, you dusted off the mahogany desk in your home office, but days later, your work area is again layered with powdered grime.

Experts say this could be the result of poor indoor air quality. Left unchecked over time, it could adversely affect your respiratory health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is one of the five most urgent environmental problems in the United States. But many people are unaware of the health risks lurking in their homes.

And if you are an asthma or allergy sufferer, you could be a little more vulnerable, according to Stephen Metzler, environmental supervisor for the Escambia County Health Department, Environmental Health Division.

And dust is not the only airborne irritant that causes problems — pollen, mold, mildew and tobacco smoke are some of the other culprits...

...Gulf Breeze resident David Stukey, an allergy sufferer, knows about the discomfort poor air quality can cause for people with respiratory problems, and has taken measures regularly to keep the air in his home relatively allergen-free.

In the early spring, Stukey, 33, hired a professional team to clean his ventilation system.

"They came in, cleaned my air duct system and my filter," Stukey said. "The result was that the air in my home was noticeable clearer."...