Tag: cleaning

Remember the Air Ducts During Spring Cleaning!

A man in gloves and a mask servicing ductwork, highlighting HVAC maintenance for Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

A Duct Cleaning Guide for Fresher Air 

Spring cleaning is a popular tradition because it is the perfect excuse to shake off the inactivity of winter and make some progress around the home. Whether that means decluttering storage areas or beginning a new landscaping plan, spring cleaning allows homeowners to make their spaces more livable. 

Along with spring comes allergies, so in many homes, a significant amount of spring-cleaning energy is exerted to lessen the severity of allergies. A homeowner can schedule professional air duct cleaning this spring to help stave off allergy symptoms. Here is a quick guide about duct cleaning to improve indoor air quality. 

Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning 

ductsHaving air ducts cleaned routinely has several benefits. It improves the indoor air quality in a home, which reduces health risks associated with breathing in dusty, contaminated air. Additionally, cleaning the air ducts can increase the HVAC system's efficiency and lower energy costs by allowing more efficient airflow throughout the home. Finally, a well-maintained air duct system can help extend the life of HVAC equipment and ensure it operates correctly for years. All these benefits make air duct cleaning important to maintaining a healthy and comfortable living environment. 

Professionals have the necessary knowledge and tools to perform the job effectively and efficiently. They can also inspect the system for debris or mold buildup, check for other issues, such as clogged vents or cracked ductwork, and fix them before the problem worsens. A professional HVAC contractor can also advise homeowners on the best way to maintain their system going forward, helping them to keep it running at peak performance.

Signs the Ductwork is Dirty 

How can a homeowner tell their air ducts are dirty and need cleaning? Pay attention to signs like: 

  • Poor airflow around the home
  • High heating or cooling costs 
  • Foul smells from the ducts
  • Mold and mildew growth
  • A buildup of dust around air vents
  • High levels of dust around the home
  • Air filters that don’t last as long as they should 

How to Keep Air Ducts Clean 

filterAir duct cleaning greatly improves indoor air quality and removes contaminants from the air ducts to lessen the effects of allergies. However, there is more that homeowners can do between professional air duct cleanings to help keep their homes and ducts cleaner and their families healthier. In the spirit of spring cleaning and indoor air quality, homeowners can also: 

  • Change air filters at least every three months.
  • Remember to schedule HVAC maintenance.
  • Vacuum and dust regularly.
  • Install a whole-home air purifier or an air cleaner.

Doing these things not only keeps the home cleaner and healthier and improves indoor air quality but will also prolong the positive effects of air duct cleaning. 

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. has over two decades of experience serving Daytona Beach and the surrounding areas. They provide transparent pricing options, financing options, and a maintenance membership plan. Call them today for air duct cleaning services in Daytona Beach, FL.

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The Importance of Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning

The Dangers of Clogged Dryer Vents

Homeownership is the smartest decision someone can make regarding their long-term financial health. But, protecting the investment of a home can be one of the most stressful things a person can do. A house has so many things that can go wrong that on some days, it’s hard to believe anyone can sit around and relax in their abode. 

One of the concerns for every homeowner is fire safety. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are necessary for every home, but they don’t do anything to prevent fires. Searching out and eliminating the potential source of fires is the best way a homeowner can protect their house. 

Clogged dryer vents are one of the top causes of fires in homes across the US. This short article can help homeowners understand why clogged dryer vents are so dangerous and why professional dryer vent cleaning is so safe and beneficial. 

Prevent Fires and Other Safety Issues

fire Nearly 3,000 dryer fires are reported yearly, causing around $35 million in property damages. Why? Dryers are designed to drive moisture from fabrics quickly and efficiently. They have powerful gas burners or electrical heating elements that produce tremendous amounts of heat. When high levels of heat are allowed to build up inside the ductwork or drum of the dryer, fires are often the result. 

The secret to fighting dryer fires is ensuring that the conditions never become right for one to occur. This means cleaning the filter for every load to prevent lint accumulation inside the dryer. In addition to cleaning the filter, yearly inspection and cleaning of the dryer vent will prevent the conditions for a dryer fire by allowing for easy airflow. 

Protect Clothes and Fabrics

cloggedThe hot conditions and tumbling of clothing inside a dryer create a terrible environment for clothing. Clothing and fabrics that are dried for long periods always wear out much faster than fabrics that aren’t. Dryer manufacturers know this, and they design their machines to minimize this. However, they can’t control the cleanliness of dryer ducts. 

When dryer ducts are dirty, they can’t allow air to flow freely. This creates a restriction that requires longer cycles to complete the drying process. Longer drying cycles mean more damage to clothing and fabrics. So, to protect clothing and the home, dryer vent cleaning is beneficial. 

Lower Bills 

Another consequence of poor airflow through dryer vents is higher operating costs. Apart from the air conditioner, the dryer is probably the appliance that uses the most gas or electricity to accomplish its task, making every minute that a dryer isn’t working efficiently another minute of wasted utilities. 

Homeowners can save money from dryer vent cleaning by not needing to replace clothing as often and by lowering their utility bills simply by ensuring their dryer can work efficiently. 

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. has two decades of experience serving the community of Daytona Beach, FL, and the surrounding areas. They provide transparent pricing, financing, and a membership plan. Call them today for dryer vent cleaning in Daytona Beach, FL. 

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Remember the AC Coils During Spring Cleaning

A Clean AC is a Cool AC!

Summertime is on the way, and this means increased cooling costs. With the high heat and humidity of summer, air conditioners have a lot of work to keep homes cool. Thankfully, there are things that homeowners can do to save a little on cooling costs.

The best thing homeowners can do to save on cooling costs and get the AC ready for summer is to schedule maintenance early in the season and make sure coil cleaning is part of the checklist. Don’t know what coil cleaning is? Here is a guide from local AC professionals to get homeowners started. 

Why Do Evaporator Coils Get Dirty?

coils

Clean evaporator coils are essential to the operation of an air conditioner. They supply the cooling power of the entire AC system. During a cooling cycle, all of the air in the home will be passed over this coil multiple times. That means everything in the air has the potential to get stuck on the coils and rob the system of efficiency. 

Air filters are in place on every air conditioner to prevent grime from depositing on the evaporator coil. When filters are replaced regularly, dust buildup on the coils is minimized. When filters are improperly installed or allowed to stay in service for too long, buildup will result, and the way to restore the lost cooling power is by cleaning the evaporator coil and changing the air filter. 

How are Condenser Coils Cared For?

coilThe condenser coil is the other half of the closed loop that provides cooling power for an air conditioner. The condenser coil is part of the outside unit that blows out hot air as the system cycles. Just like the evaporator coil, uninterrupted airflow is what makes it work. Over time, evaporator coils become blocked by dust, vegetation, and pollen. In addition to a buildup on the condenser coil, airflow can also be blocked by bent fins that are part of the coil. 

When condenser coils are cleaned, blockages are removed with powerful cleaners and a hose. The technician will also repair the bent fins that obstruct airflow during the service. The free movement of air in the cleaned and maintained coil will add noticeable cooling power to the unit during the summer. 

Coil Cleaning and Maintenance 

Coil cleaning is recommended every year as part of normal AC maintenance. Even when air filters are regularly changed and condenser coils are protected, normal buildup on the coils can rob efficiency that costs homeowners extra money on cooling bills. Scheduling AC maintenance is as easy as finding a good local AC contractor to give the entire system a tune-up. 

AC maintenance and coil cleaning only takes an hour or two and is often offered as part of a membership program that allows homeowners to pay for the service over the course of the year. The benefits of AC maintenance and coil cleaning are: 

  • Fewer repairs during the summer
  • Decreased energy usage
  • Money savings
  • More comfortable home 
  • Increased longevity of equipment 

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. have been dedicated to keeping the residents of Daytona Beach comfortable in their homes since 2002. They provide their clients with personalized solutions and financing options. They also offer a membership program that includes AC maintenance and exclusive discounts. Call them today for air conditioning services in South Daytona, FL.

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Don't Forget Duct Cleaning as Part of Spring Cleaning Checklists

Why is Duct Cleaning So Important? 

April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring? Allergies. As trees bud, and plants grow, they release huge amounts of pollen that can make spring miserable for those with allergies. 

One of the greatest tips for those with allergies is maintaining good indoor air quality, which starts with a good spring cleaning. This spring, take some advice from air quality professionals and remove the allergens clogging up the air ducts during spring cleaning projects. 

duct cleaning

Reasons to Schedule Air Duct Cleaning

As the air conditioner runs, the air in the home is cycled multiple times through ductwork. Over time, the interior walls of ductwork can become fouled with dust and allergens. When dust and allergens form clumps, they collect moisture to make an environment susceptible to mold growth. 

As air flows through dirty ductwork, it will pick up dust, allergens, and mold spores. When distributed around the home, they will greatly contribute to allergy and respiratory symptoms. During a duct cleaning, the inside of ductwork is scrubbed, and years of buildup are removed. The result is ductwork that safely distributes air around the home that is healthy to breathe. 

dust

Signs That Air Ducts are Dirty

Air duct cleaning isn’t a service that many have done themselves, so most people don’t understand the signs that ductwork is dirty. Luckily, there are plenty of signs that it’s time to clean the air ducts. Signs can include:
  • It’s been more than three years since the last cleaning
  • Occupants of the home suffer from symptoms of poor lung health like asthma, allergies, or chronic sinus problems
  • Low-grade fevers or headaches are common
  • Musty odors are prevalent in multiple places around the house
  • Dust hangs in the air and builds up on flat surfaces around the home
  • Inconsistent airflow to various parts of the house

Getting air ducts cleaned can greatly improve the quality of life for everyone in a home. 

Keeping Ducts Clean All Year Long

Once the air ducts are cleaned, many homeowners want to know what they can do to make their improved air quality last for as long as possible. Since most air duct cleaners only recommend cleanings every 3 to 5 years, homeowners can take several steps to maximize the effectiveness of each duct cleaning. 

The principle behind maintaining clean ducts is cleanliness around the house. That’s why spring cleaning is so important. To maximize duct cleaning and maintain good indoor air quality, do things like:

  • Use high-quality air filters
  • Replace air filters every three months
  • Dust regularly
  • Wash bedding and curtains
  • Vacuum weekly with HEPA filter vacuum cleaners
  • Open windows on days when the wind is low and outdoor air quality high

About Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc.

Jerry Brittingham A/C & Heat, Inc. has been dedicated to keeping its neighbors in Daytona Beach, FL, comfortable since 2002. They offer transparent pricing, membership plans, and financing. Call them today for indoor air quality services in South Daytona, FL.

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