improving your attic ventilation

Posted on: 22 August 2023

Many people do not think about the maintenance of their heating system until it goes out. Routine maintenance can reduce outages, but it can significantly influence the cost of heating your home and increase safety.

Efficiency

A poorly functioning heating system requires additional time and effort to heat your home, or it may not work at all. This means your heating system will run longer to reach the ideal temperature. Depending on the fuel source of your heater, you will end up with higher electric or gas bills, or in the case of propane and kerosene, the same amount of fuel will not last as long. Efficiency can be a problem at different locations throughout the heating system. For example, heat can be lost because of leaks in the ductwork, or clogs in the registers will mean less heated air is able to enter the home.

Safety

Even if your heating system seems to work fine, it can cause other safety concerns. A malfunction can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Since the gas is colorless and odorless, you may not notice a problem until it's too late. It is critical to have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.

Routine maintenance reduces the chance of the system malfunctioning or not having proper ventilation, which would contribute to the emission of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Heating systems also carry the risk of fire. Keeping the system clean can reduce the chance of debris catching fire. If you have natural gas heating. there is the risk of a gas leak. Unlike carbon monoxide, natural gas has a distinctive smell, making it easier to identify a leak before it leads to an explosion.

Air Quality

One of the fundamental parts of routine maintenance is changing the air filters monthly, even if you purchase expensive filters that are supposed to last three months. The filters help catch dust and other irritants before the air is heated and returned to the home. If you have allergies or respiratory conditions, you may want to install filters capable of catching viruses or other smaller particles.

Not only do monthly filter replacements improve air quality, but they reduce the burden on your system. The system, including the ductwork, should be cleaned regularly to minimize the amount of particles that enter the air in your home after the air is heated. A fresh filter does little to improve air quality if dust and dirt in the ductwork and registers blow into the air.

In addition to keeping your home comfortable, regular maintenance can keep bills lower and make your heating system safer to use. You should have your system checked at least annually, preferably before the cooler weather, to minimize the chance of problems when you need heat the most. Speak to companies like Allied Mechanical & Electrical, Inc., to learn more.