Problems with your HVAC system can grow into major costs if left untreated. Having proper maintenance of your heating and AC system is a great way to keep costs down in the long run and ensure everything is always running smoothly.

One of the biggest problems when it comes to HVAC maintenance is taking care of your air ducts. As an often overlooked part of the HVAC system, having dirty air ducts can lead to many unforeseen problems.

From diminished indoor air quality to damage to your HVAC system, there are many benefits of getting your air ducts cleaned. Take a look at the top five benefits and learn the basics of cleaning your home’s air ducts:

1. Prolongs the Life of Your HVAC System

Your heating and air conditioning system builds up toxins and dust with use. Having your air ducts cleaned regularly will eliminate problems that may build up over time. In fact, regular air duct cleaning may significantly improve the lifespan of your heating and air conditioning systems.

The dirtier your HVAC system becomes, the harder it must work to push air through the ducts and keep it circulating. You may have to replace compromised ducts if you do not clean them as needed, as the dirt and debris can build up. With the costly nature of having a complete HVAC system replacement, having regular air duct maintenance can significantly prolong the life of your HVAC system.

2. Improves Indoor Air Quality

When dust and debris build up in your heating and air conditioning system, it can significantly reduce indoor air quality. Having poor air quality can be dangerous and lead to breathing and respiratory problems after long exposure.

Fungi and bacteria can build up in air ducts, which can lead to allergies, discomfort, respiratory problems, and more. Air duct cleaning gets rid of pollen and impurities in the air. This improves breathing quality greatly and can improve health in the long term.

3. Saves You Money

Energy is wasted if your HVAC system has to work harder because of debris and contaminants. In fact, according to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling make up 43 percent of a typical home utility. With proper maintenance, you can cut your energy costs by 20 to 50 percent.

Replacing a complete HVAC system can become extremely costly. Regular maintenance allows your heating and air conditioning system to prolong its lifespan and save you money. When air ducts are clean and the system works without obstructions, heating, and cooling operations are much more efficient. When equipment is working efficiently, it will use less energy as it does not struggle to work. Clean air ducts will do wonders for your energy bills.

4. Allows for Easier Diagnosis of Larger Problems

Regular air duct cleanings for your heating and air conditioning system can assist a licensed professional in identifying significant problems before they escalate into catastrophic issues.

When dust and debris accumulate in your heating and cooling system, it heightens the risk of a fire, potentially leading to devastating consequences. Moreover, inspecting the ductwork allows your technician to pinpoint potential leaks and address them proactively before they become more substantial and costly concerns.

5. Protects Against Insects and Rodents

Unfortunately, insects, pests, and rodents love to make themselves cozy in HVAC systems. Air ducts can be a particularly cozy place for critters to call home. With regular air duct cleanings, you can ensure an infestation doesn’t build up. This not only brings you and your family peace of mind, but it also can have great medical benefits by preventing these insects and pests from spreading diseases and viruses.

Does Duct Cleaning Work?

Air duct cleaning is an effective way to remove harmful particles from your home. Since air ducts are more difficult to reach without the proper tools and equipment, having professionals handle the task offers many benefits.

These experts possess the specialized tools and expertise necessary to thoroughly sanitize your air ducts, ensuring the removal of dust, allergens, mold, and other contaminants that may accumulate over time. By harnessing the skills of professionals, you not only enhance indoor air quality but also promote a healthier living environment for you and your loved ones.

Reap the Benefits of Duct Cleaning Today

From saving you money and protecting your heating and cooling systems to protecting you from harmful invaders like germs and rodents, you can see that there are many benefits of cleaning your air ducts.

It is important to call a trusted professional to perform regular air duct cleanings on your HVAC system. Our team at Home Comfort Experts is here to perform thorough cleanings, so you don’t have to worry about any harm from the ducts you rely on daily.

Contact us today to learn about the ways we can help you. We serve Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan from our 12 locations. Give us a call at (574) 319-9247 and schedule an appointment to have your air ducts professionally cleaned and sanitized.

MISHAWAKA/FORT WAYNE/PLYMOUTH, IN; ST. JOSEPH/NILES, MI — If you are a homeowner in our area and notice you are dusting more and more to keep your home clean, there may be a reason.

Your home may be circulating bacteria, fungi, smoke, lint, animal dander, dust and dust mites, pollen, cooking grease and other contaminants through your heating and cooling system.

Homes are built much tighter than in previous eras, so families don’t experience air leaks in or out – especially in winter. The downside to modern efficiency is homes becoming a petri dish for bacteria and viruses, making family members, particularly those with allergies, asthma or respiratory illness, sick.

In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found indoor air is as much as 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. And allergy and asthma experts estimate that nearly half of all illnesses are caused by poor indoor quality.

Improving the air quality in your home can keep those upcoming springtime allergies at bay.

  1. The first and best thing you can do is install a high-efficiency air conditioner with a whole-house dehumidifier. Less moisture equals less bacteria and mold growth.
  2. Next, a quality air purifier will help keep indoor air clean and fresh. For example, hospitals use HEPA air purifiers to maximize sanitary conditions. These air purifiers can keep out: Dust, dust mites, bacteria, animal dander, pollen and mold.

Home air filtration systems are an easy and economical solution and there are many types of products on the market. Ask your HVAC professional for options.

  1. An additional step is adding an ultraviolet (UV) air disinfection system to your air purifier system to maximize home air quality. These ultraviolet light rays kill even more unwanted organisms such as as viruses, bacteria and fungi that live in the air.
  2. Another great strategy for clean air in your home this spring is getting your ducts and dryer vents cleaned.

Home Comfort Experts uses highly trained technicians and state-of-the-art machinery to eliminate construction debris, dust mite feces, pet dander and even finds small objects that have fallen into ductwork over the years.

The Benefits of Clean Air in your Home:

Combat seasonal allergies.

Stop sickness from spreading to your family.

Neutralize smoke from wood stoves and even cigarette smoking.

Remove unpleasant odors.

Trap dust and airborne allergens from pets.

 

Contact Home Comfort Experts today. We work to ensure your home is comfortable at all times. Tell us the challenges you are facing and we will design a solution that resolves your issues while fitting into your budget. Be sure to ask about our other specials and learn more about our financing options. www.callhomecomfort.com

 

Remember Home Comfort Experts is YOUR source for cooling, air quality and plumbing news! We can help!

 

Call to set a time for your reporter and photographer to ride for a few hours in one of our clean vans to see the inside of furnaces, duct and dryer vent cleaning, UV light germ-killing equipment and other highly visual HVAC events. 574.255.4600

 

 

 

 

What is that thing you're looking at? Well, we at Home Comfort Experts think they are pretty neat. In fact, most of us have had them installed in our own homes and we think you should, too.

According to RGF, the company that makes the REME HALO, the equipment is designed to eliminate sick building syndrome risk by neutralizing odors, particulate, air pollutants, VOCs (chemical odors), smoke, mold, bacteria and viruses. The REME HALO is easily mounted into the air conditioning and heating system's air ducts where most sick building problems start.

RELATED READ: What is sick building syndrome?

"When the HVAC system is in operation, the REME HALO creates an advanced oxidation plasma consisting of ionized hydro-peroxides, super oxide UV Lights: Keep Bacteria Out of Your Home This Winter - Home Comfort Expertsions and hydroxide ions. All are friendly oxidizers. By friendly oxidizer, we mean oxidizer that revert back to oxygen and hydrogen after oxidation of the pollutant," RFG says.

What will a REME HALO do for me?

REME Halo Benifits

Call now to set up an appointment with one of our air quality experts to find out if the REME HALO might work for your household needs. Or schedule online here.

In 1903 Niels Ryberg Finsen won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how ultra violet (UV) light can kill bacteria.
Today, this technology is available in homes and Home Comfort Experts is making it available now.
“It almost sounds unreal,” said James Olesen, service manager at Home Comfort Experts, “But if you talk to someone who has allergies or little kids in their home, they notice a huge difference when they don’t have it turned on.”
The REME Halo®, one of the companies offering this technology, has fascinating features that scrub the air in your home using UV light and precious metals.
First of all, Olesen said, it discharges peroxide into the air that kills viruses and germs on surfaces in your home. The peroxide is created from existing air molecules and goes inert after it does its job.
“Some homeowners says fruit lasts longer on their counter, even,” he said.
UV light has been found to kill tuberculosis, lupus and other very serious disease-causing bacteria and viruses that can be found on your doorknobs, toilet handles and more. Some evidence shows fewer dust mites in homes with professional grade UV light systems.
Secondly, it ionizes particles, such as pollen and dust, making them stick together, so the filter in your furnace and air conditioner can catch even the tiniest irritants, Olesen said.
“It’s a little like a lint roller for the air,” he said.
Lastly, when your blower motor is running, the UV light comes on and kills not only bacteria in the air, but viruses too.
“It’s very high tech and extremely powerful,” Olesen said, “That’s why we keep it locked inside the furnace and that’s why you need it installed by a professional.”
“Basically, everyone should have one. It’s new technology and the word is just now getting out,” he said. “Right away, people notice a clean, fresh smell in their house, just like when you go outside after a lighting storm. That’s basically what this does—it zaps the crud from air in your house,” Olesen said.

MISHAWAKA/FORT WAYNE — Dryer fires, started when a spark from your gas or electric clothes dryer hits built up lint, causes $35 million in property loss each year according to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“Our technicians are in about 150 homes throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan every day and they see a lot of dangerous situations,“ said Brian West, Home Comfort Experts General Manager. “Often homeowners don’t realize how blocked their dryer vent is. All it takes is one spark to devastate a family.”
FEMA cites failure to clean the lint trap as the cause of 34 percent of these fires.
“That’s a simple preventative measure homeowners can take,” West said, “Clean the lint trap out after every load of laundry.”
Unfortunately, cleaning out the trap isn’t always enough, he said. Small bits of clothing lint gather along the vent as the hot air blows outside. That lint builds up over time. Dryer vents can be anywhere from three feet to as long as 15 or 20 feet, making it difficult for homeowners to clean from just past the lint trap all the way outside.
“If you notice your clothes are taking a really long time to dry, that’s a sign the vent is clogged, which could lead to a fire,” West said. “Another sign is if lint is shooting out into your yard.”
Fortunately, professional equipment exists that allows us to thoroughly clean and check the line, connections, gas and hoses surrounding your laundry appliances, he said. “We can get into every cranny. Just give us a call!” West said.
“We include a dryer vent inspection for free with a furnace or air conditioning tune-up, but since we got this new equipment, people have been calling us out just to take a look at their dryers.
Each winter local news reports at least one house fire that was the result of smoldering lint, West said.
“It breaks my heart, because it could have been prevented with a simple check,” he said. “We’ve forgotten how important this equipment is in our home is and that it can be dangerous to us if we don’t maintain it. It’s one of the reasons I went into this business. Who knows how many fires we’ve prevented over the years.”
Go to callhomecomfort.com/dryervent for more information.

Remember Home Comfort Experts is YOUR source for heating and plumbing news! We can help!

Dryer fire or carbon monoxide story? Broken furnace? Frozen pipes? Home Comfort Experts can provide industry-level information on your HVAC stories in a timely matter. We are a locally and family run company providing service to St. Joseph and Niles, Mich., from LaPorte to Fort Wayne and as far south as Rochester.

Call Amanda to set a time for your reporter and photographer to ride for a few hours in one of our clean vans to see the inside of furnaces, duct and dryer vent cleaning, UV light germ-killing equipment and other highly visual HVAC events.

Home Comfort Experts is a plumbing, heating and cooling company serving residential homes throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest, Michigan. It is locally owned and operated and emphasizes employee training of nearly 200 additional hours each year. All technicians are drug and background tested and expected to perform at above-standard levels, leaving homes clean and customers informed. Additionally, Home Comfort Experts offers financing to make the purchase of an efficient system affordable for the families we serve.

What is that thing you're looking at? Well, we at Home Comfort Experts think they are pretty neat. In fact, most of us have had them installed in our own homes and we think you should, too.

According to RGF, the company that makes the REME HALO, the equipment is designed to eliminate sick building syndrome risk by neutralizing odors, particulate, air pollutants, VOCs (chemical odors), smoke, mold, bacteria and viruses. The REME HALO is easily mounted into the air conditioning and heating system's air ducts where most sick building problems start.

RELATED READ: What is sick building syndrome?

"When the HVAC system is in operation, the REME HALO creates an advanced oxidation plasma consisting of ionized hydro-peroxides, super oxide ions and hydroxide ions. All are friendly oxidizers. By friendly oxidizer, we mean oxidizer that revert back to oxygen and hydrogen after oxidation of the pollutant," RFG says.

What will a REME HALO do for me?

Just Got in a Batch of Reme Halos and they are $100 off until May 31, 2017 - Home Comfort Experts

NOW UNTIL MAY 15, 2017, $100 off. Click here for the special offer!

Call now to set up an appointment with one of our air quality experts to find out if the REME HALO might work for your household needs. Or schedule online here.

In 1903 Niels Ryberg Finsen won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how ultra violet (UV) light can kill bacteria.
Today, this technology is available in homes and Home Comfort Experts is making it available now.
“It almost sounds unreal,” said James Olesen, service manager at Home Comfort Experts, “But if you talk to someone who has allergies or little kids in their home, they notice a huge difference when they don’t have it turned on.”
The REME Halo®, one of the companies offering this technology, has fascinating features that scrub the air in your home using UV light and precious metals.
First of all, Olesen said, it discharges peroxide into the air that kills viruses and germs on surfaces in your home. The peroxide is created from existing air molecules and goes inert after it does its job.
“Some homeowners says fruit lasts longer on their counter, even,” he said.
UV light has been found to kill tuberculosis, lupus and other very serious disease-causing bacteria and viruses that can be found on your doorknobs, toilet handles and more. Some evidence shows fewer dust mites in homes with professional grade UV light systems.
Secondly, it ionizes particles, such as pollen and dust, making them stick together, so the filter in your furnace and air conditioner can catch even the tiniest irritants, Olesen said.
“It’s a little like a lint roller for the air,” he said.
Lastly, when your blower motor is running, the UV light comes on and kills not only bacteria in the air, but viruses too.
“It’s very high tech and extremely powerful,” Olesen said, “That’s why we keep it locked inside the furnace and that’s why you need it installed by a professional.”
“Basically, everyone should have one. It’s new technology and the word is just now getting out,” he said. “Right away, people notice a clean, fresh smell in their house, just like when you go outside after a lighting storm. That’s basically what this does—it zaps the crud from air in your house,” Olesen said.

Ductwork is one of the most ignored areas of your heating and cooling system. In many homes, improperly installed or neglected ducts lead to energy wastage and compromised comfort.

To ensure your indoor comfort and protect your AC’s ducts, it’s important to have your air ducts maintained by professionals. Inefficient air ducts make your air conditioning system work harder. Annual maintenance addresses issues like leaks and blockages, ensuring energy efficiency and optimal system performance for a more sustainable and comfortable home.

Learn the benefits of air duct cleaning and maintenance and how these services can save you money, protect the investment of your HVAC systems, and keep your home comfortable.

You Could Be Losing 30 Percent of Your Home’s Airflow

Did you know that between 20 percent and 30 percent of the air circulating through your home's ducts is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections? These seemingly minor issues can have a major impact on your energy bills.

Nearly half of your energy expenses are dedicated to heating and cooling your home. It's a substantial investment, and any wastage due to inefficient ducts means you're losing money that could be better spent elsewhere.

Ducts running through unconditioned spaces like attics, crawl spaces, and unheated basements and garages are the primary culprits behind this energy loss. Identifying and addressing these issues is not just about saving money; it's also about optimizing your home's ductwork efficiency and ensuring that every bit of energy you pay for is actually keeping you comfortable.

Signs of Bad Ductwork

From decreased comfort to increased energy bills, there are many drawbacks to faulty air ducts. That’s why when you notice problems with your home’s ductwork, you need to have them addressed by professional technicians as soon as possible.

Here are a few symptoms of bad ductwork you should look for in your home:

Problem Areas to Look for in Your Home’s Ductwork

How do you pinpoint the areas in your home that are responsible for losing air? There are a few things you can do to find problem areas, including:

If you notice any holes, leaks, or gaps in your air ducts, don’t use duct tape. While the names sound synonymous with each other, it is not a long-term solution. After a few months, it will lose its grip, and air will leak around it.

Instead, you’ll be better off using mastic or foil tape. These types of tapes are designed to seal ducts and do a much better job.

Additional Ways to Maximize AC Efficiency

While repairing your air ducts will help you maintain a comfortable home and keep your energy bills at bay, there are additional ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency. From making sure you have adequate insulation installed in your attic to updating your thermostat, take these beneficial measures:

If you think your home may have poor ductwork, turn to a team that knows how to fix disconnected air ducts. Our professionals at Home Comfort Experts are dedicated to keeping your home comfortable and energy bills low. We provide thorough air duct cleaning and maintenance services in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our technicians.

Ductwork PictureYour heating and cooling system depends on ductwork to get the hot air from the furnace to the various rooms in your home. Unfortunately, it’s not the most efficient system and can waste a lot of energy. In a typical house, about 20 to 30 percent of the air that is moving through the ducts is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections. There are ways to fortify your ductwork, however, that will conserve that heat and reduce the energy loss. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent - sometimes much more. The Home Comfort Experts team of heating and cooling professionals has some tips for keeping that heat in your home and that money in your pocket.

Signs of Duct Leaks

How do you know that your home has ducts that are leaky? Here are some surefire signs to look for:

Sealing Your Heating and Cooling Ducts

Ducts that run through unconditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces, and unheated basements and garages are the biggest energy wasters. Focus on sealing and insulating these areas first. One big tip that most homeowners get wrong is to use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape instead of typical duct tape. It will seal better and last longer. After you’ve taken care of these areas, check the rest of the ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house. Look for gaps where they are connected to each other and check for holes in the tubing. Seal any that you find. Also, check the connections at vents and registers where they meet the floors, walls, and ceiling. These are common spots for leaks and disconnected ductwork.

Related Read: Benefits of an Early Season Furnace Tune-Up

Insulating Your Ductwork

After sealing the ducts, insulate them as well because they are in unconditioned areas. Wrapping them in insulation will prevent them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter due to the surrounding air. Be sure to use a foil-faced fiberglass insulation with an R-6 or higher insulation value. Use the same type of metallic foil duct tape to seal and hold the insulation in place. Make sure the foil surface of the insulation is free of dust before applying the tape.

Benefits of Duct Sealing

When your ductwork is designed and sealed properly, your home will be more comfortable, more efficient and safer. There are many benefits to having your ductwork checked for leaks and proper setup:

Even Temperature - Insulating and sealing your ducts will help bring rooms that are too cold or too hot back into the comfort zone.

A Safer Home - Gas appliances like water heaters, dryers, and furnaces release carbon monoxide through their ventilation systems. Leaky or incorrect ductwork can cause “backdrafting,” which allows these gases to be drawn back into the living space, rather than being expelled outdoors. Sealing leaks minimizes this danger.

Energy Efficiency - Sealing and insulating ducts increases energy efficiency, lowering your energy bills.

Reduced Air Pollution -Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants. The less energy we use, the less air pollution we create. By sealing your ducts and making your home more efficient, you reduce the amount of energy necessary to comfortably heat or cool your home, thus reducing the amount of air pollution.

Indoor Air Quality - Fumes, insulation particles, and dust get into your duct system, aggravating asthma and allergy symptoms Sealing ducts improves indoor air quality by reducing the amount of these pollutants in your ducts.

If you need help inspecting or sealing your ductwork, give the heating and cooling pros at Home Comfort Experts a call. We’ll be glad to help.

Part of ensuring a comfortable, energy-efficient home includes having an effective ductwork system. Your home’s ductwork is responsible for delivering heated and cooled air throughout your home, helping to ensure comfort and energy savings.

 

Ductwork design is therefore a critical factor in making comfort and savings possible. When planning a ductwork system for your newly constructed home, or if you’re considering a retrofit, these five ductwork design factors will help ensure a solid delivery system:

Make your ductwork design a high priority during the planning stage. Doing so will help guarantee a comfortable, energy-efficient home. For assistance, contact Home Comfort Experts. With headquarters in South Bend, we serve homeowners in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.


 

Insulation and sealing are two effective ways to reduce energy loss in your HVAC system’s ductwork, the mostly out-of-sight network of tubes that delivers heated and cooled air from your HVAC equipment to your living spaces. Particularly when ducts run through unconditioned parts of your home, they can be major sources of energy waste.  (more…)

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