Regular cleaning and maintenance of appliances are important as it keeps them running efficiently and effectively. This included your furnace. Not only does maintaining your furnace keep your home warm during the winter, but it can help lower energy costs.
Is there a difference between furnace maintenance and furnace duct cleaning? Aren’t they the same thing?
In this article, we will discuss the difference between duct cleaning and maintenance when it comes to your HVAC system.
Furnace Duct Cleaning: The Facts
What is furnace duct cleaning and is it different from air duct cleaning? Generally, the terms are interchangeable. However, furnace duct cleaning is usually performed annually while air duct cleaning can be done anywhere from two to three years.
How Does Furnace Duct Cleaning Differ From Furnace Maintenance?
Yearly furnace cleaning typically begins with an overall inspection of your HVAC system. This particular service does not always involve cleaning the ductwork. Furnace duct cleaning involves carefully inspecting all the components of your forced-air system to ensure that they are working properly. If the inspection reveals that the system needs to be cleaned, you should then schedule an air duct cleaning.
Air duct cleaning refers to the actual act of cleaning the various components of your HVAC or other forced air systems. This includes return and supply registers, ductwork, cooling and heating coils, heat exchangers, drip pans, fan housing and motor, diffusers, grills, and any other components of your forced-air system.
You should have your air ducts cleaned every two to three years, depending on the overall state of your ducts. For example, if you have pets and/or if anyone in your home smokes, you might wish to have your air ducts fully cleaned more often.
In addition, if you notice mold, mildew, excessive dust, and an infestation of bugs and/or rodents, you should schedule a full duct cleaning. Clogged ducts can cause the aforementioned issues which are not only an inconvenience but can also be a hazard to your health.
What Does Furnace Maintenance Involve?
Furnace maintenance, often called furnace cleaning, is the term used to refer to the yearly inspection of your furnace by a professional inspector. It also involved cleaning the furnace itself to ensure that it is running as it should.
Following is what is included in furnace duct cleaning:
- Inspection of ductwork for leaks and/or blockages
- Ensuring the thermostat and controls are accurate
- Testing for carbon monoxide leakage
- Cleaning the blower motor
- Inspecting the blower motor to ensure it is working properly
- Measuring for ideal airflow
- Testing the gas pressure while inspecting for leakage
- Inspection and cleaning of the combustion chamber assembly
- Cleaning and inspecting the heat exchange system
- Ensuring that all components of your forced-air system are working at full capacity
- Inspecting both the shutdown and start-up controls to ensure that they are working as they should
- Replacing the filter
Contact your HVAC technician to schedule yearly furnace duct cleaning and maintenance. In the long run, it can help your system run more efficiently while saving your money on your energy bills. In addition, it can help keep your home at a comfortable temperature regardless if it is the peak of summer or the bitter cold of winter.
Feel free to contact the experts at Comfort Clean if you need further information about furnace duct cleaning and or maintenance. As well, if it is indeed time for total air duct cleaning, we can provide you with a free quote. Call us today for the best vent cleaning services by a fully qualified professional cleaning team.
