Trusted HVAC Contractors in Altoona, PA

Significant advances in air filters have become available over the past decade but some amount of dust still finds its way past heating and colling filters into your home. As dust accumulates throughout your home, it creates the perfect environment for the growth of mold, mites and harmful bacteria. To check your ducts for dust buildup, pull off several supplies and return registers and see how much dust has accumulated in the system. If you choose to clean your system, your best option is to contact a professional duct cleaner. Although duct cleaning has little effect on the actual air quality, it will eliminate a house-wide breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold in addition to helping your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently. If you are installing a new system, you should consider cleaning the ducts at the same time. New systems are often more powerful than old systems and can stir up dust that is sitting in existing duct work.

Try the following tips to ensure the highest efficiency of your system. Keep your thermostat at a constant temperature. The recommended temperature is 68 degrees. Check your condensing unit regularly for any grass clippings or leaves stuck to the coil. If you find the coil is dirty: a) disconnect the power at the circuit breaker b) spray water from a garden hose through the coil until the water passing through it is clear c) turn the power back on d) have the unit serviced every spring by a licensed service company

At least once a year, heat pumps and air conditioners require a professional tune-up. Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include duct work, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank, and every part of the actual furnace and boiler. Meanwhile, heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils, and refrigerant lines.

Standard filters work to keep your system and its duct work clean, but they don't improve indoor air quality. To do that, you need a media filter. The media filter rests between the main return duct and the blower cabinet, and it improves dust and particle removal much better than that of a standard filter. However, upgrading to a pleated media filter removes everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air. A media filter can have a life exceeding two months, and its only drawback is that its tight fiber weave can cause your furnace to have to work harder to blow air through the house. Always choose a filter that matches your blower's capacity.