Is It Time for a Ventilation System Tune-Up?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world learned just how important a ventilation system is in keeping you healthy. Your home’s ventilation system plays a vital role in ensuring your indoor air is clean and fresh. Stale air can leave your Bountiful home feeling musty and stuffy. Regular maintenance of your home’s ventilation system ensures that fresh air keeps your home comfortable. At Blue Best Plumbing, Heating, Air, Generators, we understand how important your home’s air quality is to your health and comfort. Our ventilation system services can keep the fresh air flowing in your Bountiful home.

ALL ABOUT YOUR VENTILATION SYSTEM

Many commercial heating and cooling systems include ventilation systems to bring in fresh air from the outside. While most home heating and cooling systems recirculate the air, sometimes extra ventilation is helpful to maintain a healthy indoor environment.

Depending on the type of ventilation system, it may use intake vents, fans, and air handlers to draw in outside air. This intake pulls the outdoors through a filter. These filters use fiberglass fiber, polyester, cotton, or carbon to capture the dust, mold, chemicals, and odors found in the air. Some filters, like HEPA filters, are better at removing the smallest particles. Carbon filters are better for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors.

After the filter removes pollutants, the air enters the heating or cooling unit to be conditioned. Besides maintaining a consistent temperature, some systems also control humidity levels in your home. Next, the air might travel through dampers or mixing boxes to balance indoor and outdoor air. Then, vents in each room distribute the air throughout your home.

Finally, a ventilation system also needs a way to remove your home’s old, stale air. Exhaust fans and vents throughout your home remove stale air, pollutants, odors, and moisture. For example, your kitchen’s exhaust fan removes cooking odors and smoke. A vent and fan remove moisture that accumulates during a shower in your bathroom.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAN AIR FILTER

Changing or cleaning your air filters is an integral part of maintaining your home’s climate control system. As your heater and AC operate, they pull air into the system through an air filter. As the filter removes particles from the air, it becomes dirty. This dirt builds up over time, limiting the air passing through the filter. When your filter is too dirty to function properly, you may notice decreased airflow and increased airborne contaminants.

A dirty filter is also more likely to allow particulates to pass into your HVAC system. Dust and dirt can accumulate on the motor and blower in your HVAC unit. Without regular servicing, this build-up causes your home’s ventilation system to decline and lead to mechanical failure. You may notice uneven air flow and higher energy bills. Your home’s indoor air quality also may decline as

Like your system’s air filters, exhaust fans and vents need regular cleaning. Dirt and dust can build up inside the vents and reduce airflow. When dirt and dust clog the exhaust fan, the motor may overheat. Overheating leads to mechanical failure or even fires. If you smell burning or dust when operating your exhaust fan, that’s a sign that it’s time to schedule a service appointment with our team.

VENTILATION, FILTRATION, AND YOUR HEALTH

Your home’s HVAC system ensures clean air by removing pollutants and bringing in fresh air. If you have pets, your home’s ventilation system plays an important role in your home. We love our furry friends, but we also know they produce particles and smells that affect your air quality. Proper home ventilation minimizes or removes odors caused by pet hair, dander, and urine. For some businesses, proper ventilation is critical to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other potential irritants.

For some people, high-quality indoor air is about more than just a clean-smelling home. Common allergens come from inside and outside your home. If you have allergies, asthma, or other medical condition, good indoor air quality is critical to managing your health. Elderly residents and young children also may be susceptible to the effects of poor air quality.

That’s why ventilation systems require filtration to eliminate many triggers that aggravate allergies and asthma. The system can remove or reduce pollution, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores inside your home.

THE BENEFITS OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE

At a ventilation service appointment, our technicians inspect your system. This inspection reveals potential problems that can cause poor air quality or system failure. During this inspection, we look for stagnant air pockets that can lead to mold and mildew growth. We clean or replace air filters so your system removes pollutants from the air as it passes through the unit. Our technicians also check the fans and motors for proper operation.

During a service appointment, we also check your ventilation system for signs of animal activity. Animals can block ductwork and vents and leave waste that causes illness. Birds often choose a home’s exhaust vent for their new nest. Raccoons, mice, and rats can enter a home through small openings and attic vents. Larger rodents like raccoons and squirrels can tear up ductwork. They also chew wires, which causes mechanical failure.

When rodents enter your ventilation system, they leave droppings containing bacteria and viruses. When these particles mix with your home’s air, you may smell unpleasant odors or experience more allergy symptoms.

We can identify the first signs of animal intrusion during a regular service appointment. We can clear birds’ nests from vents and point out damage from rodent activity. This inspection may prevent more expensive damage to your home or business.

Ventilation system maintenance ensures that your home’s HVAC system performs efficiently. An efficient ventilation system can help keep your utility bills lower. You may also be able to enjoy a longer lifespan for the system.

SCHEDULING YOUR SERVICE APPOINTMENT

Depending on the type of ventilation system, we recommend scheduling a service appointment once or twice a year. During an annual service appointment, our technicians will examine your HVAC system, air filters, ducts, vents, and controls. A thorough evaluation can prevent expensive repairs later on.

We also recommend scheduling a seasonal tune-up before winter and summer. A tune-up in the fall ensures that your furnace and ventilation systems are ready for cold temperatures. In the spring, you also should schedule a tune-up to check your air conditioner and ventilation system. These regular tune-ups can prevent major breakdowns during the hottest and coldest days of the year.

OUR VENTILATION SERVICES

At Blue Best Plumbing, Heating, Air, Generators, we make your home’s air quality our priority. We know how important a healthy home is to you and your family. You can trust our team to give you and your home the respect you deserve. We want to ensure your satisfaction, so we begin our service appointments with a thorough assessment. We’ll listen to your concerns and consider your needs carefully.

In addition to offering regular maintenance, we can handle all your home’s ventilation and HVAC needs, including installation and repairs. We also offer a range of products and services to improve your indoor air quality. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our work.

Don’t wait to enjoy cleaner air in your home. Contact our friendly air quality pros at Blue Best Plumbing, Heating, Air, Generators in Bountiful.