Did you know that your ducts are an important part of your heating, ventilation, and cooling system? In fact, when your ducts are cleaned regularly, it can provide cleaner, better air quality and improved efficiency for your HVAC system. Sound like a win-win? That’s because it is.

Unfortunately, not all homeowners invest in having their ducts cleaned by professionals. Some don’t even believe they need to clean their air ducts! This can lead to efficiency issues and poor indoor air quality.

Here are the top reasons to leave your ducts to the experts:

• Regular cleaning can help prevent indoor air contamination. Harmful contaminants like mold, dust, pet dander, and smoke can all damage the quality of air you and your family are breathing on a daily basis. This can be especially important for individuals with allergies or asthma in Southern California.
• You typically only need your ducts cleaned every two to five years, depending on the condition of your ducts and HVAC system. When you hire a professional, you can be confident the job is done right, especially if your ducts aren’t examined for several years afterward.
• High-efficiency particle air equipment is used to protect your carpets, other vents, and any other areas throughout your house from being cross contaminated with any particles removed during the cleaning process. Experts also ensure that your HVAC system isn’t damaged during the cleaning.

If your home efficiency and indoor air quality are important to you, look into scheduling air duct cleaning. Instead of deciding for yourself, let a qualified, certified professional determine if your ducts need cleaning.

Want more information about air duct cleaning and what you should know before scheduling a service? Check out this helpful duct cleaning FAQ for more insight.

Tips for Keeping Your Ducts in Great Shape

So you don’t need to schedule duct cleaning every month, but still wonder how to keep your indoor air quality in great shape? The key is to ensure you are regularly changing out your air filters. The ideal timeframe is about every three months – depending on the type of filter you have – or whenever it is dirty. If you have pets, you may need to change it more frequently.

Signs of a dirty air filter:

• Slower air flow
• Spike in energy bills
• HVAC system failure
• Build up of dust, pet hair, etc. around and in air ducts
• Mold / mildew
• Pest infestation

The more attention you pay to your home’s air ducts, the better the air quality you’ll get from your system. Even something as simple as changing out your air filter on a regular basis can go a long way in improving your home’s air quality and HVAC system’s performance. This can also help your ducts go longer times between cleanings. Make sure you talk with a trusted expert before scheduling any air duct cleaning or attempting to do the job yourself!

What Sets Our Team Apart?

When it comes down to it, you want the ducts in your home circulating clean, healthy air. That’s why you want the right professionals on the job. Our Newbury Park HVAC contractors know how to get the job done. You can trust all your HVAC services to our team, including duct cleaning. Backed more than five decades of collective heating, cooling, and ventilation experience, our home comfort experts are committed to providing reliable duct cleaning services in Newbury Park and beyond.

Ready to breathe cleaner air and enjoy energy savings at the same time? Start by requesting your free estimate for duct cleaning on our website!

When it comes to comfort in your home, the performance of your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system is crucial. That performance often depends on the level of maintenance and care you provide your system!

There are many types of HVAC systems out there, from multi-stage to zoned systems to different heating and cooling systems. Ideally, the type of system installed in your home should be tailored to your specific needs and comfort goals. This can make it simpler and easier for you to maintain optimal comfort in your home with minimal HVAC maintenance and repairs over the years.

Keeping Your System Running Smoothly

There are many simple ways you can easily maintain your HVAC system on a regular basis to ensure it is running at optimal efficiency. At Southland Heating and Air Conditioning, we have been working on HVAC systems big and small for decades. We know the ins and outs of regular HVAC maintenance.

We’ve provided some helpful home tips below to keep your system on track!

Don’t Forget the Filters

One of the most overlooked maintenance items by homeowners is forgetting to replace their air filters on a regular basis. Allowing a heavily clogged or dirty filter to stay in the home can not only decrease airflow, it can also hinder your HVAC system’s performance and reduce indoor air quality. By simply replacing your dirty air filter, you may be able to reduce your system’s energy usage by up to 15%! Aim to clean your system’s air filter every one to two months when using your system heavily, such as in the summer. Some filters may last up to three months, however, you should still check on a monthly basis to make sure your filter isn’t clogged or collecting too much dirt. When you have pets, you may need to stay on top of your filter more regularly!

Check Your Window Seals

Even if your HVAC system is perfectly healthy, if your window seals between the AC and window frame (for room ACs) is damaged, it could allow all that cool air to escape outside.

This means your system is going to have to work even harder to get that perfectly cool temperature you are looking for, causing more wear and tear and spiking up your energy bill.

Moisture can often damage the seal, so make sure to check this every few months, especially after heavy rains or humidity.

Keep Your System Neat & Tidy

Just like you need to go through spring cleaning in your household, your HVAC system needs seasonal “cleaning” or maintenance. In the meantime, you’ll need to do some regular cleaning to ensure there isn’t a major build up each year.

You should make sure the outdoor condenser or compressor unit stays clean, especially since it is exposed to the elements. Check for major dirt, debris, or foliage that may crowd it. Keep any trees or shrubs at least two feet away from the outdoor unit!

Like mentioned above, changing your air filter and keeping vents free of debris or blockage can also help boost performance. Doing small things to keep your system clean over time can help prevent major maintenance or repairs down the road.

Leave the Major Work to the Experts

When you really want to make sure your HVAC system is operating efficiently, getting a heating and cooling professional to perform a thorough service is key. Ideally, you’d have maintenance performed at least one time per year, but inspection and maintenance before summer and winter are highly recommended.

An HVAC typically does the following:

• Makes sure there is the proper amount of refrigerant
• Inspects for any leaks with professional equipment
• Test for any duct leakage
• Properly measure air flow from evaporator coil
• Apply oil to motors for better performance
• Review thermostat accuracy
• Determine if belts need replacing
• Various other elements

All of these steps should be handled by a trained HVAC professional. Leaving it to the pros also takes the pressure off you as the homeowner and prevents any future issues from festering that may not be noticed without a trained eye.

Staying On Top of HVAC Maintenance

While Newbury Park enjoys relatively moderate weather year-round, don’t forget to get your HVAC system regularly serviced so you are ready for any type of weather! More than that, regular maintenance ensures proper performance, better indoor air quality, and can actually save you money on energy bills over time.

We recommend you follow a basic HVAC checklist to make sure you don’t miss any potential issues during the check-up process. Of course, leaving the more serious maintenance to our HVAC professionals is always the best way to protect your investment. We are highly skilled and heating and cooling professionals backed by years of industry experience. When we come in for regular maintenance, we get your HVAC system running at peak performance, no matter the time of year!

Think it’s time for a system tune-up? Get Southland Heating and Air Conditioning on the job today! Reach out to set up service.

At Southland Heating and Air Conditioning, we are proud to use top quality products like Trane, Fujitsu, and RUUD. Just like you need to have your car regularly serviced and taken care of, you need to do the same for your home heating and cooling system. Making sure your system is getting regular preventive maintenance can go a long way in keeping your home cool in the sweltering summer months and nice and cozy during the chillier winter months.

Even more than that, following a proper HVAC maintenance checklist can mean better indoor air quality, optimal comfort control, and a more efficient system, saving you on your energy bill over time. The last thing you want is to see a spike in your energy bill during the hottest time of year, especially when it feels like your AC isn’t even keeping you cool. We’ve provided you with a checklist below to make sure you stay on top of all things maintenance for your indoor heating and cooling units.

Whether you are looking at your heating or cooling unit, keep the following in mind:

• Always keep the blower assembly clean (this includes the blower wheel, motor, and blower housing)
• Keep motors lubricated and fan belts updated
• Check units for debris and dirt (clean as necessary)
• Keep evaporator coil and drain lines clean
• Check for any possible refrigerant or gas leaks
• Clean and replace air filters on a regular schedule
• Listen for any strange noises during operation
• Take note of any strange odors and look for the source
• Measure any major temperature rises / changes in airflow

There are numerous other steps you can take to stay on top of your heating and cooling unit maintenance. We provide more specific tips below based on the type of unit you are looking at!

Staying Cool: Enhancing Your AC Performance

• Adjust your thermostat to the highest possible within your comfort
• Check attics to ensure they are properly ventilated to avoid heat build up
  • Consider enlarging or adding vents if needed
• Avoid using the AC unit during more moderate weather
• Keep blinds, shades, or drapes closed during hotter times of day
• Add an awning over windows that are directly facing the sun for most of the day
• Don’t let the kitchen or bath exhaust fans run longer than needed during hot season
• Keep all heat-producing electronic devices away from below the thermostat

Keep the Heat Going: Protecting Your Heating Unit

Just like with your AC unit, regular maintenance, care, and upkeep can set your heating unit up for optimal performance. We’ve provided some insights below to keep in mind!

• If you have a unit that does heating and cooling, aim to schedule maintenance both in the spring and fall to avoid problems during the time you need it most
• Keep the thermostat on an inside wall that is away from any windows and doors
• Aim to keep your thermostat low as possible within your comfort
  • Having it set just 1 degree over 68°F can increase the amount of energy usage by 3%, boosting your spending as well
• When expecting a large group of guests, lower the thermostat a degree or two to save on heat usage

Insulation Goes a Long Way

In addition to basic heating and cooling maintenance, it is important to keep your insulation in mind. Without proper insulation, even the greatest heating or cooling unit won’t be able to perform efficiently as possible. This could cost you money and comfort!

Some key tips on insulation:

• Keep your home properly insulated
  • R-30 (10″) for ceilings, and R-11 (3-1/2”) for exterior walls
• Check for any humid outside air entering into our household, as this can result in up to 30% more demand on your system
  • Add caulking, weather-stripping, and other options
• Add weather-strips and caulk around any entrance doors and windows
• Make sure to keep windows and doors closed to avoid air escape
• More glass area (such as larger windows) can increase amount of heat in summer and heat lost in winter

While most of these tips are simple, they can go a long way in helping your home heating and AC system perform its best and avoid future complications. By following a regular maintenance schedule with your local HVAC professional, you can also avoid more system problems and keep your energy bills lower. When considering HVAC maintenance, try to schedule service before colder or warmer weather hits and you start using your unit more regularly. This will help you avoid any issues like being stuck with a broken AC in the peak of summer or a busted heating unit when a cold front hits.

When you need HVAC maintenance, be sure to schedule it with Southland Heating and Air Conditioning, your local Newbury Park experts!