How to Keep Your Ductwork Clean

Your home’s HVAC system works hard throughout the year. Unfortunately, this can cause it to experience problems over time, often at a time when you’d really rather it not fail on you. This is why yearly maintenance and inspections are recommended, since a little bit of attention now can save you a whole lot of problems (and money) later on. There’s more that you can do to help your HVAC system stay in good working order than just having it inspected and maintained, though. One of the big things that you can do to help is keeping your ductwork clean. This helps to prevent blocked airflow, keeps dust and other particles from being recirculated into the air, and overall reduces the strain on your HVAC unit as it tries to push air through the entire ductwork system. If you’ve never cleaned your ductwork before, here’s what you need to know to start. Cleaning Your Ductwork There are a few things that you can do to clean up your ductwork. One that’s often overlooked is actually vacuuming it out to remove built up dust, dirt, and other particles. You obviously can’t do this to the entire length of your ductwork, but removing vent covers and vacuuming around the vent area still makes a huge difference. Dust and debris tend to pile up here because some of it is trapped by the vent cover itself, and it mixes with debris and other items that might get dropped down the vent by mistake. When the air kicks on, some of this loose debris is circulated back into the house, bringing with it mildew and mold spores and a variety of other things that will either be breathed in or clog up your air filter. Vacuum it out now to help keep this from happening. Speaking of air filters, they are one of your best tools when it comes to cleaning up your ductwork. Changing them monthly keeps them in good working condition, preventing a lot of the dust, dander, and other unwanted particles from making it into your ductwork in the first place. Set a schedule to change your filter, writing it on your calendar or setting up some other reminder so that you don’t forget. Once this schedule is in place, you’ll be amazed at how much of an effect this consistency can have on the state of your ducts. Keeping It Clean Cleaning your ductwork isn’t just a one-and-done event. You’ll still need to vacuum your vents periodically and stick with your air filter schedule to keep it clean. There’s more that you can do to help keep the ductwork clean and reduce the strain on your HVAC system, though. Things like installing a dehumidifier to reduce overall indoor humidity and dusting your home on a more regular basis can make a big difference, especially in the weeks following your initial cleaning to get any loose particles that you couldn’t reach with the vacuum. Another thing that you can do to help keep your ductwork clean is to make sure that all your vents are open at least a little to facilitate air flow throughout the entire duct system. A lot of homeowners close vents in rooms that don’t see much use, but this actually increases pressure on the HVAC system and creates dead ends where dust and other particles can build up. By opening these vents at least partially, you can ensure good airflow throughout the house, and avoid situations where closed vents lead to buildup. Ductwork Cleaning and Inspection It’s already been mentioned how important HVAC inspections are, but you can actually get your ductwork professionally cleaned and inspected as well. This cleaning helps to ensure that the entire duct system is cleaned out, and the inspection ensures that there isn’t any damage or other issues that negatively affect airflow. HomeKeepr can help you find HVAC pros in your area that offer ductwork cleaning and inspection services, and best of all signing up for HomeKeepr is free! Create your free account today to get that much closer to getting that ductwork the attention it deserves.  

MORE

Summer Is the Season for Fireplace Additions

If there’s one thing that you think about during the summer, it’s… probably not getting a fireplace installed. In fact, there are probably very few home updates or additions that are further from your mind when heat indexes top 100 degrees and the sun is beating down. Just because you’re not thinking about a fireplace doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be, though. Fireplaces add a mix of beauty and function that few things can top. And as weird as it sounds, the summer might just be the perfect time to install a new fireplace or update an old fireplace that’s already in your home. There are several reasons why this might be true, so here are a few things to think about if you’re considering a fireplace addition this year. Benefits of a Fireplace There are a number of benefits to having a fireplace in your home. Not only is there something comforting and even romantic about having a live fire going, but it also gives you a good source of heat and light that is typically still accessible even if the power gets knocked out. This can be very useful during the winter, especially if you live in an area that’s prone to severe freezes or heavy snow and ice that can damage power lines. Depending on the type of fireplace you have, they can also be very eco-friendly. Wood-burning fireplaces can provide a bit of energy independence as well, allowing you to use a fuel source that you might be able to gather yourself instead of having to rely on utilities that will drive up your electric or gas bill. Even if you have a gas fireplace, though, it may still provide you with a cheaper option than some electric heat sources, and you’ll have a much greater amount of control over how much the fireplace is used. Fireplaces in the Summer? While it might seem like a strange idea to install or upgrade a fireplace in the middle of summer, there are a few reasons why this might be the best time to do so. One of the biggest is the fact that summer is the off season for fireplace installers, so you can usually get pretty quick service for installations, upgrades, and general maintenance. You’re also less likely to encounter delays because of hard-to-find components or in-demand backdrop materials being out of stock, since there won’t be nearly as much competition trying to get installations at the same time. Another great advantage to getting a fireplace installed during the summer is the fact that many installers offer sales or other specials to try and keep business moving throughout the slow season. This means that you might be able to save some serious money on your fireplace by getting the work done now, even though you won’t be able to take full advantage of it for several months. Deals and specials will vary from one installer to another, of course, but depending on what you find it could definitely be worth your while to take advantage of an off-season installation. The Fireplace You’ve Always Wanted If you want to find a great deal on a fireplace during the off season, the first thing that you need to do is find the right installer. Fortunately, HomeKeepr is here to help. Our app can connect you with fireplace installers and other pros in your area who can install a new fireplace, refurbish an existing one, or make any other remodels or additions that you might want. The best part about finding the pros you need for your fireplace project through HomeKeepr is that creating a HomeKeepr account is completely free. This means that you can sign up for your account and start using our app to connect with professionals in your area today. Act now and you can be well on your way to getting the fireplace you’ve always wanted at a price that can’t be beat.

MORE

Tips for Adding Your First A/C

The weather is heating up, and so is your house. In many areas, this summer may be yet another record-breaker, and the thought of adding an air conditioner to your climate control system has probably crossed your mind more than once. But how do you get started with such an undertaking? What should you keep in mind as you shop for a system? Your FIrst Air Conditioner: You Have Options Before you even start to look around at systems, it’s important to understand your options. Until recently, the most popular home system was a unit that integrated with your central heating system. These air conditioners use an outside condenser to cool fluid that moves through a copper tubing system, and move it back into an air handler, so the air passing over the copper coils will cool as it’s drawn into the unit through a system of ducts. While the cooling technology is absolutely sound, and the same that’s used in most air types of air conditioners, you now have different options when it comes to how this is installed. In the past, you’d need ductwork in each room of your home, including at least one duct that would suck in warm room air for the cool coil treatment. Installing a system like this for the first time can be time-consuming, messy, and sometimes very impactful to your home. Holes will have to be cut in floors, walls, or ceilings (sometimes all three) in order to accommodate a traditional system if you’ve never had ductwork in your home before. For these homes, another option exists: the ductless mini-split system. Ductless mini-splits are fairly new technology, but work the same as all air conditioners. Room air is drawn across cool coils to keep the temperature down. But unlike a traditional ducted system, a ductless mini-split is just that: ductless. Instead of holes in the floor or the walls or the ceiling, you have a unit that hangs high on the wall in several rooms (depending on your home’s configuration and your need). A few small holes are drilled through the wall for things like copper tubing for coolant. What’s a SEER Rating? When shopping for air conditioning units, it’s important to keep in mind the SEER rating of the air conditioners you’re considering. You’ll see a whole range of price points, this is largely to do with the efficiency of the units themselves, which is expressed as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). The higher the number, the less the unit will cost to run, which can absolutely make it worth paying a little extra for — to a point. Most states require at least a minimum SEER of 13 for traditional air conditioning units. Even a high-end traditional unit might not exceed 25 SEER. A ductless mini-split, on the other hand, can have ratings as high as the mid-40s. Along with being significantly more efficient at the unit itself, ductless mini splits don’t experience temperature loss via the ductwork, so they can be very inexpensive to run since the unit directly removes room air, treats it, and sends it back in without needing to force it through sometimes long and winding ducts where some of that cooling could be lost. However efficient, ductless mini-splits can also be more expensive than a traditional unit, so the cost should be balanced with the benefits, including longer-term savings, before you choose one over the other. Still Not Sure What Unit Is Right? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back. Just log into your HomeKeepr community, where your network can recommend an HVAC installer who can answer all the questions you may have about installing a brand new air conditioning system. They can explain what type of unit is best for your home, as well as the costs that will be involved from start to finish. You can even get second or third opinions, so you’re really prepared for the project ahead. Don’t worry, membership is always free! Log in today to get started.  

MORE