You Don't Really Need to Clean Your Ducts Every Year

Don't presume that you need heating and cooling ducts cleaned unless you actually have excessive dust and debris or mold in them. Unless you have a problem, cleaning the ducts is not likely to better air quality.

Is duct cleaning necessary?

Many wonder if they should have their heating and cooling ducts cleaned so they tin improve their home'due south indoor air quality. But there hasn't been any hard evidence to show that duct cleaning improves indoor air quality or prevents health problems, so we don't routinely recommend it. Exceptions would exist if yous find mold growth within the ducts (first eliminate the wet that acquired the mold), the ducts have become home to rodents or insects, or the ducts are clogged past debris (usually from a remodeling project). To bank check for these problems, take off the register covers and shine a light down the duct as far as yous can encounter.

In that location are plenty of furnace maintenance tasks you can practise yourself. Nosotros'll show you how hither.

How to make clean ductwork

This is a job best left to the professionals. If you decide to accept the ducts cleaned, exist prepared to spend $350 to $1,000 for a thorough chore that includes cleaning the entire heating and cooling system. Be wary of companies that offer "specials" for $100 or less, since they usually don't practice a consummate job. And accept earlier and after looks at your ducts to brand sure you encounter a difference.

You may non demand to clean your heating and cooling ducts every yr, just dryer ducts should be ignored. Find out how frequently you lot should clean your dryer duct hither.

Side by side, check out 8 myths about saving free energy at home:

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Myth #1: Close the vents in rooms you don't apply

Usually this does non salve energy. The way a residential heating and cooling system is designed, the air handler (or blower) moves a certain amount of air no matter what vents are opened or closed. Then, endmost registers may reduce the full amount of air moved by the blower, which reduces its efficiency. Wondering if information technology's time for a new furnace? Our experts offer advice to assistance you decide.

Myth #2: Replacing old windows is the all-time way to save on free energy bills

False. Replacing windows is very expensive. While it's true that new windows are more energy efficient and they make your home more comfortable and can raise the resale value, they won't pay for themselves in energy savings. In fact, they tend to save the least free energy per dollar invested because they are so expensive. Photo: Courtesy of Jeld-Wen

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Myth #three: Ceiling fans cool the room

It feels like fans absurd the room, but really, they don't. What they practise cool is your pare, every bit long as the air temperature is beneath 90° F. Ceiling fans make you lot feel more comfy, so you may require less air conditioning, but they don't cool the air itself. In fact, the ceiling fan motor actually generates oestrus! Got a wobbly ceiling fan that'southward driving y'all crazy? Here's how to fix it.

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Myth #four: During heating season, turning down the thermostat at night and when you're out of the house doesn't really salvage much energy

Not true! Utility companies have done studies that show v to viii percent energy savings when the thermostat was turned back v to viii degrees at night and during the day when no i was dwelling. Cheque out these inexpensive ways to theft-proof your home.

Myth #5: When it's cold exterior, heavy defunction or drapes help save energy

Usually, this is not true. While you may feel fewer drafts when you're about the window, the air between the cold window and the fabric cools and falls faster than the air in the rest of the room. So, if you similar the expect of cozy, heavy window coverings, consider information technology an aesthetic option and non an energy-saving measure. Photo: Courtesy of Brielle

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Myth #6: Plough something off and information technology stops using electricity

Easy enough, correct? Except it doesn't really work that way. The problem is "vampire" electricity apply, which is when something is plugged in and when y'all switch to "off" it continues to describe electricity to ability their latent systems and sensors. This is true for microwaves, TVs, space heaters, coffeemakers, phone chargers, computers and more than. Whenever possible, information technology's best to pull the plug to save energy. Here's how to save $100 or more by finding and fixing energy vampires.

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Myth #vii: The college upward yous turn the thermostat, the faster your house will heat up

Nope! Information technology but doesn't work that way. Jacking up the thermostat wastes energy. Set your thermostat at the temperature at which yous're comfortable and exit it in that location. Cheque out our DIYers guide to heating repairs.

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Myth #8: Utilize electric space heaters to make some rooms warmer

This do volition actually price you more than! The electricity required to burn up those space heaters comes at a high price. It's more than efficient to leave doors to the rooms open up and evenly heat the space.    

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Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/is-duct-cleaning-necessary/

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