Heating and Cooling

Home heating and cooling systems are similar in many ways to the large HVAC systems that are found in many office buildings throughout the nation. The only major difference between these systems is their size. That being said however, the methods used to clean these systems. Whether you are looking to clean your heating system or the cooling system, chances are you don't want to spend all day on the task. Learn all the tricks of the trade here.

Tips, Tricks, and Answers

The following articles are available for the 'Heating and Cooling' topic. Click the article's title (shown in bold) to see the associated article.

Air Vent Cleaning
Air vent cleaning is a vital, often overlooked part of HVAC maintenance. While it is always a great idea to have a thorough cleaning conducted by professionals once a year, you don't need to have the professionals out every month. Not only would it be prohibitively expensive, it is also pretty inconvenient to traipse that equipment into your home each month. Lower the cost and hassle by doing the minor work yourself. Here's how.

Clean Up Soot and Your Fireplace
These neat tricks allow you to easily remove soot and ash from the inner surfaces of your fireplace. If you add salt to your next fire, it will take the soot right off of your fireplace stone or bricks. A mixture of vinegar, ammonia, and water will make a great cleaner for your fireplace door, and if you place foil in the bottom of your fireplace, it will allow you to pick up your ashes with ease.

Cleaning a Heat Exchanger
Heat exchangers are necessary parts for many appliances you own, and they won't work effectively if you don't clean it regularly. Here's how to clean that heat exchanger, ensuring that your appliances work the best.

Cleaning a Reusable Furnace Filter
While disposable furnace filters are less expensive, reusable filters will save you more money over the long term. Cleaning a reusable furnace filter is very simple, and may save you quite a bit of money in energy costs and furnace repair. The most difficult part of cleaning your furnace filter is removing it from your furnace.

Cleaning Air Conditioners
During the hot and sweltering Summer and Autumn months, a properly working air conditioner is an absolute necessity. For your air conditioner to work well, it needs to be properly maintained. Clean it regularly to keep it running at its best. Here's what you do.

Cleaning Air Ducts
Air ducts go all throughout your heating and cooling systems, greatly affecting the quality of the air you breathe inside your home. If your air ducts aren't very clean, you could be putting the health of your family in jeopardy. Cleaning air ducts is very important, and you need to know how to do it.

Cleaning Dirty Ducts
While it is wise to call in a professional to clean your ductwork thoroughly if you suspect mold or mildew growing in your ducts, you can perform routine duct cleaning yourself. Here are some tips for cleaning your ducts to help improve the air quality in your home.

Cleaning Heater Vents
Strange smells? Allergies? Inordinate amounts of dust? Bad air circulation? These might be the results of dirty or clogged heater vents and ducts. There are many professional duct cleaners who can deep-clean your house or apartment air ducts, but for the smaller, everyday jobs, here are some tips on how to maintain your own vents and ducts.

Cleaning the Chimney
Even if you only have a light coating of soot in your chimney, it is very important to clean your chimney each year since even the slightest amount of soot can cause smoke to roil back down your chimney and into your home. Cleaning your chimney is relatively easy to do, and will ensure against fires starting in your flue.