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Improving energy efficiency isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for your wallet. One of the main areas for improvement is your heating and cooling system. If you have both air conditioning and heating, your system works all year round, which means it constantly eats your income. There are things you can do to reduce your heating and cooling costs, and updating your thermostat is one of them.

Your thermostat acts as the brain of your HVAC system, telling the machinery when to turn on, how long to work, and when to turn off. It is responsible for reading the ambient temperature and determining if heating or cooling needs to happen in order to achieve your chosen temperature. Without it, you would have to get up and switch your air conditioner, furnace, or boiler on and off yourself. The better your thermostat is at its job, the more efficient your entire system will be. In today’s blog, we want to discuss different types of thermostats available to you.

TYPES OF THERMOSTATS

When you start to explore the types of thermostats available to you, you’ll probably encounter three different types, including the following:

MANUAL THERMOSTATS

This is the most simple type of unit. You’ve probably seen it in older homes, and it can be circular or square. All you do is move the needle to your preferred temperature and that’s it. These types of units are limited when it comes to saving energy and work best for people who stay home and want a consistent temperature all day.

PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS

These thermostats allow you to create a schedule for your HVAC system that lasts the entire week. You can program your system to work with your daily life, working hard when you’re around and falling back when you’re gone. Some units even allow you to create unique programs just for the weekend. These units are great because they can save a lot of energy by adjusting the temperature through the day.

SMART THERMOSTATS

This type of thermostat can be controlled by your computer, tablet, or smartphone. This ability to fine-tune your system can help you save energy, making the most of your budget.

THERMOSTAT COMPATIBILITY

Even if you find a type of thermostat you like, it has to be compatible with your current system, or there’s no point investing in it. The good news is, newer thermostats have been designed to work with a wide variety of system makes and ages. Here are the three main categories you’ll choose from:

Low voltage thermostat HVAC systems: these are the most common systems today, and they work with most thermostats because they require a 24v power supply.
Direct line/high voltage systems: if you have an electric or baseboard heating system, it won’t work with all thermostats. You’ll need to get some professional input to determine if it will take a direct line to provide the 110v or 240v power your system needs.
24 millivolt systems: these are oil or gas powered furnaces that need specialized thermostats we can help you access.

With cooler weather on the way, it’s important to make sure your heating system is ready to work while saving you energy. Most people start up their heating systems with their fingers crossed, hoping everything will work like it did last season. The great thing about today’s HVAC systems is that they usually can do just that. However, if you’re hearing odd noises or not experiencing the heat you need, it’s time to get your system checked out by professionals. Contact our skilled team for HVAC and air conditioning repair service in Dade today!

When you own a house, there are lots of maintenance items to consider year-round. The roof, the paint, the hot water heater, the dishwasher, the gutters, the yard … the laundry list is long. In our experience in the duct and HVAC business, we’ve discovered that HVAC isn’t always very high on homeowners’ to-do lists unless something catastrophic happens like a system failure. Handling your HVAC system this way is the most expensive path you can take. More than most other systems, HVAC systems need consistent maintenance. They work hard, especially in Southern Florida, where we depend on our air conditioning almost year-round.

Most people are fine with getting their filters changed and their AC units inspected, but we’re talking about duct cleaning. Duct cleaning is more involved, as it requires specialists to physically clean out your ducts and sometimes HVAC unit, removing dust, mold, and other contaminants affecting your air quality. How often do you need to have this work done?

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), you should have your ducts cleaned every three to five years. That being said, you may need it more often or less often depending on where you live, how often you run your HVAC system, and how sensitive your household is to allergies or asthma.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO CLEAN YOUR AIR DUCTS?

Every three to five years. If a contractor advises you to clean more often, you should be wary as ducts don’t need that much cleaning.
If you just moved into a new place, it’s a good idea to get the ducts cleaned. This is especially true if the former owner can’t remember the last time the ducts got cleaned!
You just finished building a new home. Chances are very good that the air ducts are full of drywall dust and other debris from construction.
You just completed a remodeling project. Remodeling usually spreads sawdust and other contaminants through a home, including the ductwork. You don’t want your hard remodeling work to become covered with dust (and you don’t want to breathe it, either).
You have reason to suspect there’s mold growing in your ducts.
Every time the system turns on and air exits the vents, there’s a visible poof of dust.
You see vermin like rodents or insects entering or exiting your vents and suspect an infestation somewhere in the house.
Your filters have black debris right outside of them, and when you change your filters, you see a lot of buildup on and around them. Both of these are signs that you’re overdue for cleaning!

IS AIR DUCT CLEANING REALLY WORTH IT?

Air duct cleaning hasn’t been endorsed by the EPA as an ultimate solution to health issues, but there is a lot of evidence that it helps, especially when it comes to respiratory issues. Whether you have asthma or allergies (or both), dust mites, pollen, and dander can practically cripple you. You need your HVAC system to be your ally, to fill your home with safe, clear air that’s a relief from the outdoors. However, a contaminated HVAC system can be your enemy, turning your home or business into a miserable place.

According to the NADCA (and our experience), you won’t get the results you need from duct cleaning unless you ensure every part of the system is addressed. It doesn’t matter if you change the filters if you have a filthy air conditioning unit or contaminated corners in your ducts. You need a cleaner who will use negative air machines and tools to physically remove debris so it can be collected. Just blowing a lot of air through the system is not sufficient.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A GREAT DUCT CLEANING COMPANY.

You’ll pay between $400 to $1,000 for a good duct cleaning because it will address the furnace, central system, and air coils. If a contractor has lower prices, you’re not going to get good work.
The work itself should take a few hours. There is no such thing as a great duct cleaning that takes only half an hour.
When you ask if they follow the NADCA’s standards, they should say yes!

DUCTZ is proud to be Broward’s premium air quality testing and duct cleaning team. Turn to us today for world-class service!

Cool weather is on its way, and even though Florida doesn’t get as icy as states up north, we still get chilly, and our humidity can make lower temperatures especially potent. That means thousands of people are turning on their furnaces and boilers, depending on them to inject warmth into their homes. However, with furnaces and boilers comes the danger of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the nation. Colorless, odorless, and able to poison people quickly, it is not a danger to be taken lightly. There are several different sources of carbon monoxide in the common home, which is why it is so important to have a detector on each level of your home, as well as beside each sleeping area.

COMMON CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK LOCATIONS

Any appliance that burns propane, charcoal, natural gas, oil, or wood can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. While people are quick to think of furnaces and boilers (and rightly so), there are other sources of carbon monoxide worth considering. They include the following:

Fireplaces
Ranges and grills
Generators
Water heaters
Cars
Lawnmowers
Appliances with pilot lights

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR DETECTORS EFFECTIVE

Replace the batteries twice a year, especially before heating season.
Test the detectors once a month and keep them clean with a can of compressed air or a gentle vacuum
Get chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned every year.
Keep your furnace or boiler maintained by a professional who can spot leaks.
Make sure exhaust from any carbon monoxide-generating process can escape your home by ensuring your chimneys and outdoor vents are free of snow, ice, debris, and nests.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Part of what makes carbon monoxide so dangerous is that it doesn’t cause dramatic symptoms right off the bat. Signs of poisoning can be written off as symptoms of harmless issues. The key to staying safe is understanding what those symptoms are and combining that knowledge with detectors.

MODERATE SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Shortness of breath

SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Mental confusion
Vomiting
Loss of consciousness
Loss of coordination
Brain and heart damage
Death

KNOW WHAT TO DO

Once you know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, the last step is to ensure that you know what to do if you or your loved ones start to experience them. The first thing to do is get out of your home. Have a pre-determined location for everyone to meet outside where the air is fresh. Only after you have all of your family members accounted for should you call the fire department. Don’t go back inside until the home has been inspected and you’re given an “all clear” by professionals.

KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO

Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
Never block ducts near clothes dryers, water heaters, or ranges.
Never run a grill or generator indoors.
Never leave your car running in a garage or an attached carport.
Never use a grill near a window where fumes will get inside.

At DUCTZ, we work hard to keep the homes of Broward full of fresh, comfortable air. If you are concerned about any part of your HVAC system, contact us today for air quality testing!