The New Year is commonly seen as a fresh start and a time to set goals. Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to exercise more, diet and save money. If you’re one of those people planning on saving more in the New Year, you may want to start by taking a look at your utility bill as a way to cut costs in 2020. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, families can cut their energy bill by as much as 20% or 30% by doing proper equipment maintenance. Many homeowners turn to air duct cleaning to help save money on their energy bills.
How to save with air duct cleaning
Many everyday activities you do within your home can contaminate the air with unseen pollutants such as chemicals, dust and dander. A heating and cooling system functions much like the lungs of a building, circulating the air throughout the home. Over time, this recirculation can cause a buildup of contaminants within the ductwork. Dirty systems, especially dirty coils, use up to 30% more energy to heat or cool the home. Meanwhile, dirty filters block airflow through the system, causing it to work harder to achieve the desired temperature.
Having your home’s air ducts thoroughly cleaned can allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean systems typically have a longer lifespan and operate more effectively than dirty systems, leading to lower utility bills.
How professional air duct cleaning works
Servicing your furnace and air conditioning unit regularly and replacing filters can go a long way toward maintaining clean air ducts. However, filters can’t catch everything. The most effective method of cleaning air ducts and a ventilation system is through source removal — the process to remove built-up dirt and debris. This requires a professional contractor to place the system under negative pressure using a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, brushes, air whips and compressed air nozzles are inserted into the air ducts to remove any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel through the air ducts and into the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home. The result: cleaner, fresher indoor air and a more efficient system, leading to a reduced energy bill.
Why hire a NADCA member?
Get a head start on your New Year’s resolution and hire an air duct cleaner you can trust. Use the Find a Professional Directory to locate a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) near you. NADCA members have advanced training and follow a higher standard in cleaning. This means they will have your HVAC system running more efficiently and saving you money in no time.
(Reprinted with permission from NADCA.com)
