Duct cleaning when needed is a great service to have done on your home. However, most homes don’t need to have the ducts cleaned. Here is why: When we remove an air handler to replace it, if there dirt in the ductwork, we typically find it within the first 1 to 5 ft. of where the air handler connects to the ductwork. This is usually removed and replaced when we see this. The dirt that most folks see that looks like it is coming from the vents is actually coming from attic. As air flows through the vent, the velocity actually sucks air from around the vent and pulls air through the cracks around the vent where it meets the drywall. The best way to eliminate this from happening is to seal the duct/boot where it meets the drywall. This also eliminates leakage of hot air migrating from the attic into your home!

HEPA is an acronym that stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. For a filter to be a HEPA filter, it has to meet certain standards set by the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The main standard is for it to be 99.7% efficient on particulate at .3 micrometers in diameter, and have no more than .044 psi in pressure drop when the normal amount of air flow is moving through the filter.

Most media air cleaners are not HEPA standard. HEPA air cleaners are usually not part of the AC equipment and are a separate product to be installed in the home or the home’s ductwork. A “true” HEPA filtration system is usually quite expensive, but in cases where a person has certain allergies, they can be quite effective at helping relieve certain symptoms.

We highly encourage customers to consider having a thicker 5″ media air cleaner installed with their homes heating and cooling system. It requires less maintenance, catches more and smaller particulate, provides the best airflow for your home, and least amount of energy usage.

If you don’t want or cannot fit the larger media air cleaners, we highly recommend the MERV 8 pleated 1″ filters to fit your system or return air grill.

The best way to decide what is right for you, is to discuss the options when you have your maintenance completed on your cooling and heating system. Our technicians are pro’s at helping you figure out what is best and right for your home and lifestyle.

This really depends on a few factors… What time of year is it? What type of living situation do you have: Kids vs. no kids / Pets vs. no pets / Hard flooring surfaces vs. carpeting. Our answer is this: During the times of year that you are running your homes heating or a/c system, you should check the filter every 30 days. We even suggest changing it or inspecting it the day you pay your power bill. When you put a new filter in your system, take a marker and write the date that you installed the filter, it will serve you well down the road when you go to inspect it in 30-days. When the system is being used regularly, you will find that the filter has dirt or discoloration at the end of 30-days, change it. Some try to push the filter life to the 60 or 90 day point to save money, but in all actuality, it’s most likely costing them more money, because the system is now working harder to cool or heat your home. It also can contribute to more repair and maintenance costs.