I need to get my ducks cleaned – what?!

NoOoOo, not your ducks, your ducts!
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Your air ducts are conduits that run throughout the attic space in your home. They deliver and remove air for both the AC and heating system. Each room in your home is connected to the ducts with a supply register and some rooms will also have a return register. 

A buildup of mold, fungi, bacteria, and dust in your air ducts directly affects the indoor air quality of your home.

Poor air quality can result in a decline in the overall health, comfort, and well-being of the building occupant. People who are more sensitive to their environments that have allergies or certain diseases may be impacted further by poor air quality in the home.
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Getting your air ducts cleaned when needed will help improve indoor air quality and your overall health and wellness. Clean air ducts can also result in more energy savings on your monthly bills depending on how clogged they were before cleaning. 

A general rule of thumb is every 3 to 5 years, but this depends on several factors, like:
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• Number of smokers in the household.
• Number of pets that live in the home shedding hair and dander.
• A recent renovation or remodeling projects.
• Location of your home.
• Prior to occupancy of a new home.
• Residents that have underlying health conditions that may benefit from a reduction in indoor air pollutants.
• How often the air filter is changed.
• How often the HVAC system is maintained.
• Water or other damage that may have affected your HVAC system.

 
Depending on how these factors may affect you and your home will determine how often your ducts need to be cleaned. Some homes can go longer than 5 years before needing a good duct cleaning. 

Make sure you are taking care of your home and HVAC system properly. This includes:

• Vacuuming and dusting your home regularly.
• Changing your air filters routinely.
• Finding and sealing leaks in your air ducts that might attract dust to come in from your attic area.
• Upgrading to new duct work if your home is older or your duct work is in poor condition.
• Signing up for an affordable HVAC maintenance plan where your system will get professionally tuned and inspected twice per year.

An air duct system should be cleaned by a reputable professional. The air duct system will be placed under negative pressure using a specialized duct cleaning system that functions like a vacuum cleaner.
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While the vacuum draws air through the duct work, a rotating brush head is inserted into the ducts through the registers of each room which dislodges any debris and gets sucked into the vacuum, leaving the system like new again. 

Costs for duct cleaning vary depending on how many HVAC units your home has, whether you own a one or two story and how large your home is.
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Country Air specializes in whole home air duct cleaning and provides free quotes. Give us a call today at 281-356-8564 and we’ll be happy to answer any more questions you have about duct cleaning and provide you with a free quote at no obligation to you. 

​The relentless Texas heat is here which means HVAC replacement season is in full swing. Investing in an HVAC system is a big decision, and you don’t want to pick the wrong one for your home – so how do you know which system is the right one?  

First, get familiar with the following equipment and efficiency ratings:
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The table below shows efficiency ratings for good, better and best heating and cooling equipment.

• SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and provides an annual measure of the efficiency of the air conditioner. Higher numbers use less energy.
• AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Higher numbers use less energy.
• HSPF means Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. Higher numbers use less energy.

 
There are 3 types of ratings that you should be aware of [1]:
 

1. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – This is the rating used to measure the efficiency of heat pumps and air conditioners. Higher ratings indicate that the system uses less energy. Brands with the highest efficiency are rated at 22+. Air conditioners and heat pumps with a rating of 14 and above have Energy Stars affixed.
2. Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) – This is the standard measurement that is used to indicate the level of efficiency of oil-fired and gas furnaces. A high rating is an indication of greater heating efficiency. For example, a 60% AFUE rating indicates that the furnace converts up to 60% of the fuel (gas or oil) to heat your home. The remaining 40% goes out the flue. Choose a furnace with an AFUE rating of not less than 78%. The most efficient furnaces are rated at 98.5%.
3. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) – This measurement gauges the energy efficiency of heat pumps. A higher HSPF rating indicates that your heat pump uses less energy, meaning it is more efficient to run. The most efficient heat pumps are rated at 13+. Heat pumps with a rating of 8.2 and above have Energy Stars affixed to highlight their efficiency.

Why it’s important to have the right sized system.
 
Now that you understand the types of equipment and their efficiency ratings you can look at what size equipment is right for your home.
 
One of the biggest mistakes people make when selecting an HVAC system on their own is they tend to get a larger system than what they need which can lead to multiple problems.
 
Humidity is a key factor when talking about cooling a home – which Houston has plenty of. A cooling system that is too big will cool down the temperature in your home quickly, but it will not run long enough to remove the amount of humidity necessary from the air. This will result in your air feeling cool but clammy, yuck. To get rid of the clamminess, you'll end up turning down the thermostat even more which makes the unit run longer and increases the energy bill. Other disastrous results can occur from not ridding your home properly of humidity like mold and mildew growth along with other moisture related damage.
 
A properly sized unit will run just long enough to remove the necessary amount of humidity from the air allowing you to sit comfortable in your home at a higher thermostat setting which ultimately saves you money on your energy bill.

Hiring a professional.
 
Country Air will take the headache out of choosing the perfect HVAC system for your home. Our experts will work with your budget as well as the needs of your home to find the perfect fit. We offer free estimates, second opinions and financing options on HVAC replacement. Call us with your list of questions today and we’ll be happy to get you back to cool comfort fast in your home. 281-356-8564
 
 
Sources:
[1] https://www.servicechampions.net/blog/how-to-select-the-right-hvac-system-for-your-house/