Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should I get my heating and air conditioning system cleaned and checked?
We recommend annual inspection of all heating and air conditioning system equipment. We perform comprehensive tune-ups and safety inspections of all types of furnaces and boilers. We verify that your system is not generating inordinate amounts of carbon monoxide, and that products of combustion are not making their way into the occupied spaces of your building (for example through holes in a heat exchanger or because of a blocked vent). Carbon monoxide in sufficient concentration is deadly. Beyond ensuring safety, an annual tune-up ensures your system will operate reliably and at peak efficiency throughout the current season. Regular tune-ups also ensure a longer lifespan for your equipment. We also recommend and perform annual maintenance of electric heating systems and heat pumps to ensure their efficiency and reliability. See our planned maintenance page or call us for additional details.
- "Do you do air duct cleaning?" or "How often should I have my air ducts cleaned?"
Short of direct instruction by a board certified medical professional, we do not see any reason to ever have your air ducts cleaned. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), "Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate mater in air ducts poses any risk to your health." (ref. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html).
On the other hand, it is important to maintain your mechanical equipment (furnace, boiler, air handler, air conditioner, or heat pump). Great Degrees offers comprehensive tune-ups and safety inspections designed to keep all of your mechanical equipment operating at its peak.
NOTE: We do perform dryer vent cleaning. Dryer vents can become filled with lint, something the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cites as a fire hazard (ref. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5022.html).
