Tag Archive for: professional tips

A person holding their thermostat control examining it for any HVAC myths.

HVAC Myths You Swore Were True

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Many HVAC myths appear to be wishful thinking rather than based on any facts. And unfortunately, if you center your HVAC operation and maintenance on these misconceptions, you’ll probably end up being more out of pocket than if you followed recommended procedures. See these five HVAC myths you swore were true and save yourself some hard-earned cash.

1. The Larger the HVAC System, the Better

One of the prominent HVAC myths is the misconception that larger systems are better for home comfort and air quality. Sure, a bigger furnace or air-conditioning unit will pump out more hot or cold air quicker than an undersized unit. But the right size equipment is selected to perform best for the square footage of your home.

If you buy a system larger than recommended for your home, there will be problems. Even heating and cooling throughout is more difficult, and energy use is higher. So, you’ve wasted money on buying the more expensive larger unit and spent more on energy overall for the year.

Short Cycling Causes Damage

One of the biggest problems with oversized HVAC equipment is short cycling. Because the system quickly heats or cools to the set temperature, it is prompted to start and stop repeatedly. The constant operating changes cause high wear and tear on system parts, shortening their lifespan.

2. Closing Off Air Vents is Another of the HVAC Myths

So many people follow this next myth to their detriment. They believe that vents should be closed off in rooms that aren’t actively used. They believe this will keep more and better air going through the high-use rooms in the home. Unfortunately, that’s not how central heating and cooling work.

HVAC systems are designed to balance the airflow and temperature in every room with vents. If vents are closed, the system sends the same air volume through the ducts, but the flow is no longer balanced. As a result, pressure builds up in the system, putting strain on ductwork. Eventually, this causes leaks in the ducts, with repairs necessary.

The increased strain on the system will also raise energy consumption and up your power bills.

3. Resetting Thermostats with Large Temperature Swings

More HVAC myths center around thermostat settings. On a scorching day, you may be tempted to drop the temperature by many degrees, believing this will quickly cool the house down. But this will merely result in higher energy costs.

Your HVAC system is designed to remove hot indoor air to outside the home at a constant pace. This process continues until the temperature in all rooms meets the average of the thermostat setting. A significant drop in the thermostat temperature setting doesn’t mean the HVAC equipment can work any faster. However, it is put under a lot of stress to achieve a lower temperature.

Overworking central air strains HVAC parts, shortening lifespan and raising energy costs. The process of quickly increasing the temperature with central heating has similar problems.

4. My HVAC is Running Just Fine, so I Can Skip Annual Maintenance

Skipping annual upkeep can hit your wallet hard. Maintenance by professional HVAC technicians and ductwork cleaners heads off many unseen problems that may be starting. By the time your system starts to show signs of trouble, damage to equipment has already happened. It’s a false economy to save on maintenance costs and then have to fork out money for repairs.

5. High-Efficiency Filters are Better than Standard Filters

Another of the HVAC myths that don’t stack up is around air filters. With continual advice from government departments and industry that efficiency is key to reducing energy costs, it’s natural that there can be confusion around high-efficiency equipment.

The use of HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) air filters and standard air filters depends to a large extent on your circumstances. If you have family members who suffer from allergies or asthma, they may be significantly helped with HEPA parts. These air filters have a denser mesh that captures more airborne allergens and particles, resulting in higher air quality. But there are disadvantages.

As the thicker HEPA filter catches more airborne material, it clogs and reduces airflow. This puts strain on the system, leading to damage and shortened lifespan. HEPA filters must be regularly cleaned or replaced, more often than standard filters.

Professional Ductwork Cleaning in Northern Virginia

Six Penny Chimney provides expert fireplace and chimney cleaning services. Additionally, we can look after all your air duct cleaning requirements. Our friendly, high-quality work is no myth. Request a Quote or Service, and we will quickly respond. See you soon!

Person holding up their hand and coughing due to uncleaned air from polluted ductwork.

What’s That Smell? 5 Side Effects of Uncleaned Ductwork

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ectsOur homes should provide a healthy barrier from the onslaught of industrial chemicals and pollutants in the outdoor atmosphere. Nature throws in her fair share of air contaminants as well. Surprisingly, the air quality in our homes can be worse than that outside, and our home HVAC is often implicated. So, if you’re wondering, what’s that smell? See these five side effects of uncleaned ductwork and how to fix the problem.

1. Live and Kicking in Your Ductwork

Well-sealed ducts shouldn’t house live animals and insects, but nature is always enterprising and will breach any weak spots. Over time normal wear and tear, particularly around joins, will result in gaps forming and small holes opening, and if not attended to, parts of the ductwork may collapse.

Rodents, including mice, rats and squirrels, and all types of creepy crawlies, find shelter within ductwork that’s preferable to facing inclement weather outdoors. So they will take up residence, and it doesn’t take long for their droppings, urine, dander, and fur to emit unpleasant smells. And let’s not talk about the bacteria accompanying these by-products, producing intense odors from uncleaned ductwork.

A thorough professional cleaning is needed to get rid of these unwanted guests and their accompanying smells.

2. Natures Air-Borne Contaminants in Ductwork

The air outdoors always contains a concentration of allergens and pollutants, particularly in spring and summer. Mold, fungi, and pollen spores can easily lodge within your ductwork, particularly if the air filters are dirty and there is persistent dampness within the air ducts. These tiny outdoor pollutants only need an open door or window to make their way indoors.

A sign that you may have a high spore level in your HVAC is if family members are sneezing, coughing, or suffering from asthma when the cooling or heating is operating. Annual inspection and cleaning will help reduce any allergens residing in the system. In addition, special bio-sprays or bleach and other disinfectants may need to be used to kill off the spores permanently.

Another indicator of mold and mildew residing in the ductwork is a musty, earthy scent and the visible presence of black spots around vents.

3. Damp and Moisture in Air Ducts

Dank water, dampness, mold, and bacteria growth go hand-in-hand. There are several reasons why moisture can accumulate in the ductwork and cause issues. A leaking roof, damaged pipes, and condensed water vapor from air conditioner coils are all common ways that moisture gets into the air ducts.

Bacterial contaminants in ductwork flourish when stagnant pools of moisture form. Legionella is a dangerous bacteria that causes pneumonia in susceptible people. Outbreaks of this disease are regularly traced back to air conditioning systems.

A hint that you may have bacteria in the HVAC are musty, dank odors, sometimes described as being like dirty socks.

4. Noxious Gasses Spell Trouble

If you’re getting a smell reminiscent of exhaust gasses, Sulphur, or a combination of burnt matches with vinegar overtones, don’t go sticking your nose into this problem. These odors mean that noxious fumes are moving through the air ducts. The fumes usually occur due to damage or failure of internal components. For example, this can happen when a heat exchanger unit in the HVAC has cracked, and toxic gas is released directly into the air ducts instead of venting outside.

Carbon monoxide, the odorless, colorless, deadly gas, may accompany the other noxious by-products generated in the HVAC. Likewise, a partially blocked flue can result in toxic fumes being backed up into the HVAC and distributed through the ductwork.

Any problems with gas leaks require emergency assistance from HVAC technicians. Never attempt to fix this yourself.

5. Dust Off Odors from Uncleaned Ductwork

Sometimes getting rid of persistent smells from the HVAC is a pretty simple fix. If you smell dust, it’s probably just that — dust and dirt particle contaminants in ductwork. If it’s been a while since the dust filters were replaced, now’s the time to do exactly that. Heavily used heating and cooling systems should have the air filters changed every 90 days or so. This is an easy DIY job, so there are no excuses for this particular lingering odor.

Get rid of Ductwork Odors with Professional Cleaning

Besides looking after all your fireplace and chimney cleaning needs in Northern Virginia, Six Penny Chimney also provides expert air duct cleaning services. So if you’re experiencing side effects or odors from uncleaned ductwork, request a quote or service, and we will get right back to you. We’ll quickly banish those bad smells from your home.

A stack of wood in front of a proper fireplace and chimney serviced by a chimney professional

What to Ask a Chimney Professional Before Hiring Them

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Poorly maintained chimneys and fireplaces can cause all sorts of problems. Seemingly minor ash and debris in the fireplace can indicate the start of serious problems building up on chimney walls, such as toxic creosote and soot. Creosote is highly combustible and causes chimney fires. To stop this, specialist cleaning of chimneys and fireplaces is essential. So, here is a little advice on what to ask a chimney professional before hiring.

How Often Do Chimneys and Fireplaces Need Cleaning?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges homeowners to get their chimneys cleaned at least once a year. Heavily used wood-burning fireplaces may need chimney sweeping done more often. A hint that you may be overdue for chimney sweeping is strong fireplace smells, debris falling into the fireplace, or smoke blowing back into the room.

Assess Your Needs Before Calling Chimney Professionals

So that you know what to ask before hiring a chimney sweep, you should do a basic visual check first. Check outside to see whether there appears to be any damage around the chimney cap and the immediate roofing surround. Also, see if there are any signs of animals appearing to live within the chimney or on the cap. Bird’s nests are a prime example.

Then check inside around the fireplace. Debris and heavy soot deposits falling from the chimney walls can be signs of animal life or structural damage. The tell-tale black tar signs of creosote are another sign that cleaning is due. You should discuss these issues with chimney cleaning companies when you seek quotes from them.

What to Look for When Hiring Chimney Cleaners

Two of the most important things to look for are good customer reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. If the organization fails in this area, it can indicate poor service. Asking friends and family about local chimney professionals is a good start. Online review sites may also prove helpful.

Once you’ve lined up two or three potential cleaners, you can compare their experience, rates, and availability. A checklist can be a useful tool to assess their services.

Your Checklist of Questions on What to Ask Before Hiring a Chimney Sweep

1.  Do you have experience with the type of fireplace and chimney I have?

Chimneys come in various shapes and sizes, so you’ll want to ensure the cleaner you hire has experience with your type of chimney.

2. How much will it cost to have my chimney and fireplace cleaned?

This is an essential what to ask before hiring a chimney sweep. You don’t want a nasty surprise when the bill is handed over. A good local company won’t hesitate to come to your property for a free quote.

3. My chimney is way overdue for a cleaning. Will it cost more to sweep?

Again, you don’t want any surprises here. If you’re upfront with them on how long it has been between sweeping and how heavily the fireplace is used, they may need to quote a little more. When they do their inspection, unanticipated problems may come to light. Ask them how they will deal with this type of scenario as well.

4. Do you have any discounts or promotions for first-time customers?

This is worth asking for. After all, they want your repeat business.

5. What if something goes wrong during the chimney cleaning process?

Check whether they are fully insured for any likely mishaps. Don’t just take their word for it—ask who their insurer is and get details of the process if any structural damage occurs.

6. Is your work guaranteed?

Check what their service guarantees cover, including how long they last.

7. Can you provide references from past clients?

If you’re the cautious type, it’s worth looking at a couple of their previous clients.

8. I work away from home. Can you provide a definite day and start time to do the work?

Is there anything more irritating than waiting around all day for tradespeople that don’t turn up? You will want to know that they are guaranteed to turn up when they say they will. And in case they do have to reschedule at short notice that they will let you know at least 24 hours beforehand.

Your Local Chimney Cleaning Professionals in Northern Virginia

Six Penny Chimney provides high-quality fireplace and chimney inspection and cleaning services. We also repair damage to concrete and brickwork and remove animal and insect pests. If you’re a local Northern Virginian, we will readily visit your property and give a free estimate.

We will happily guide you around what to look for when hiring chimney cleaners.