Archive for December, 2009

Winter is all but here, have you gotten your heater serviced yet? It should be professionally serviced every year. Take a look at our database and find a contractor nearby that can take care of that for you. Though a professional is best for servicing your system, there are a few things you can do yourself to maintain it. First off, check your thermostat. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure it’s set properly. Many programmable thermostats have several different settings. You can have one for weekdays when no one is home, one for evenings, and another for weekends. Next, replace your air filters. During the cold season, your filter should be changed at least every 2 months. Lastly, check all air vents. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture and vacuum them out at the start of the cold season so the warm air is not blocked. Anything more should be done by a professional. While making the appointment to get your heater serviced, try and remember the last time you had your ducts cleaned. If it’s been more than 5 years, you should think about getting those cleaned as well. Unless you’re a heavy indoor smoker or have had a major remodel, you only need to clean them every 5 years. Beware the cheap cleanings, they usually have many hidden costs or are not done by a certified professional. The typical cost of a duct cleaning is $400-$500. Most companies offer a free inspection so you can make sure your ducts really do need cleaning, which should include the coils, drain pans, fans and humidifiers. If just one component is missed, it will re-contaminate your whole system. Once your system is professionally serviced and ducts are cleaned, you should have a nice and comfortable winter!