It’s officially a fall, and that means that winter is right around the corner, bringing with it the cold weather that makes all of us here in sunny Southern California stop using our air conditioners and instead opt for the more neglected heater.
Like all utilities, though, running the heater comes at a cost – typically higher utility bills. For most of us, this is a price we’re more than willing to pay, seeing as how we won’t need to wear a half dozen layers of clothes just to stay warm in our own home come Christmas time. However, did you know that your utility bills could be going up higher than they need to? An under-maintenance residential heating system takes more energy, typically gas, to heat your home than a clean system. This is typically due to the actual furnace needing some small repairs or part replacements, as well as dirty air ducts throughout your home.
We’ve said it before, and we’re going to say it again (and this probably won’t be the last time), having clean air ducts is pretty important. Over time, your air ducts accumulate their own little collection of unpleasantries, including dirt, various house debris, and even bugs, rodents, and mold. The more nasty stuff that’s in your air ducts, the less efficiently the whole system operates, causing them to have to work harder, and thus eat up more energy, and increase your utility bills in the process.
Aside from the whole increased utility bill thing, there’s also the issue of your health. Is it good for you to be breathing in small particles of whatever’s in your air ducts? The simple answer is no. The last thing you’d want is to have the air in your home keeping you under the weather during the cold season. Do you and your family a favor by getting your air ducts cleaned this fall, while there’s still time before winter. While you’re at it, have one of our highly trained and knowledgeable staff have a look at your heating furnace, just to make sure it’s up to par, provide any necessary heating system maintenance, and help make sure your system is not costing you more than it should on your monthly bills.
