Land & Property Archives - Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Everything Homeowners Need to Know About Duct Cleaning

The Benefits of Duct Cleaning

Ducts can easily be considered the unseen heroes of a home’s HVAC system. They’re responsible for transferring air around the home, which is essential for controlling the temperature and humidity in the house. But ducts can get pretty dirty, especially if they haven’t been cleaned in several years. So besides transporting air around the home, they can send pollutants, allergens, dirt, and dust around the house. These pollutants can cause issues among the household members, but that’s not all. They can also have negative effects on the HVAC system itself. So, read on to learn what homeowners should know about duct cleaning.

How Can Homeowners Benefit From Duct Cleaning?

Air ducts are no different from any other portion of the house that gets used regularly. Just like it’s common sense to vacuum the carpet, dust the furniture, or clean the bathroom, it’s also common sense to clean air ducts. Air duct cleaning has several benefits, the most prominent of which is cleaner air. But there are other benefits, as well.

Cleaning the air ducts regularly can also help prevent mold, mildew, and allergens from circulating in the house. Sometimes, moisture from the air conditioning process can build up in the ducts, causing a breeding ground for mold. This is best avoided with regular air duct cleaning.

Lastly, keeping the air ducts clean can also help the HVAC system have a long life with minimal repairs. The less dust there is to get caught in the system, the better it is for the components. Regular duct cleaning is part of an essential HVAC maintenance plan.

Signs It’s Time for Duct Cleaning

Since it’s not easy to see into the ducts, there are some signs homeowners can look for to indicate the ducts need cleaning. One major sign is the presence of dust coming from the vents when the air conditioner or heater comes on. Another is the smell of mildew coming from any of the vents while the HVAC system runs, which can indicate mold in the ducts.

If the home sees a spike in the energy bill, it could also indicate dirty ducts — especially if this is accompanied by filters that seem to get dirty quickly and/or poor airflow. It’s also a good idea for homeowners to listen for strange noises near the ducts, as animals or insects can build nests in the vents.

How to Maintain Clean Air Ducts

Duct cleaning doesn’t need to be a twice-a-year event, like other HVAC maintenance. Having the ducts cleaned once every year or two is usually sufficient. But it’s also important to help keep the ducts clean between visits by a professional air duct cleaning service. Luckily, this is easy to do.

Changing the air filters on time is a great way to help keep the ducts clean. While specifics vary depending on the type of filters and other household details, the general rule is to replace air filters every 90 days. Those with one or more pets in the house may want to change their filters more often. Additionally, keeping the house clean with regular vacuuming and dusting can prevent air ducts from getting dirty.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating has proudly served Conroe, TX, since 1982. Their reliable technicians show up on time and work with efficiency. They also provide honest recommendations and bring over thirty years of local experience to each job. Contact them today for duct cleaning services in Conroe, TX.

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Protect Air Quality During the Holidays

Tips to Keep the Air Clean Inside the Home

The holidays are coming, and everything has to be perfect. The Thanksgiving turkey has to be a beautiful golden brown, and the home has to be ready to receive holiday guests. With all preparations in place, the holiday can be a huge success.

One of the aspects of a clean home that is often overlooked is the indoor air quality. With guests coming over for the holidays, the air has to be clean to keep them safe from lung problems, and the home must be dust-free and clean. But how is one supposed to go about cleaning up the air in the home? Here is a quick guide to help owners finish their homes just in time for guests to arrive.

Install New Air Filters

Air filters are an important part of home hygiene. Although they are primarily intended to protect heating and cooling machinery, they also greatly reduce dust in the home. Controlling dust is essential to keeping surfaces clean and presentable for guests. To start, always install new air filters every three months. This ensures that clean air filters are always in service to remove the maximum amount of dust.

In addition to keeping AC equipment running properly and reducing dust in the home, fresh air filters also help protect people from lung problems during flu season. Some of the issues that cleaner air can help alleviate are:

Allergies
Asthma
COPD
Chronic sinus infections
Dry cough
Nasal irritation

Schedule Evaporator Coil Cleaning

The answer for those who have ever wondered how an air conditioner removes humidity from the air is the evaporator coil. During the summer, the evaporator coil is rapidly cooled by refrigerant. The moisture condenses and drains away as warm, humid air flows across it. While this process is natural, one of the consequences is that the combination of moisture and small dust particles that make it through the filter creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and pathogens.

To prevent this problem, have the evaporator coil cleaned once a year. Removing grime from the coil improves indoor air quality and allows the air conditioner to run more efficiently. Schedule spring and fall AC maintenance to ensure a professional does coil cleaning.

Have an Indoor Air Quality Assessment Done

There are all kinds of contaminants in indoor air that people don’t even realize are there. Some of the most common pollutants that are in every home are:

Dust and dust mites
VOCs
Volatilized cooking oils
Aerosols from cleaning agents
Bacteria
Mold
Poisonous gasses like carbon monoxide and radon

Improving indoor air quality can be done by treating specific contaminants. Having an expert perform an indoor air quality assessment can help owners develop a strategy to clean up their air. Find a local expert and do an indoor air assessment before the holidays so guests can enjoy their time in pure air.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating offers comprehensive indoor air quality solutions. Their experts provide fast service and are available for emergencies. Call today for excellent HVAC service in Conroe, TX.

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Allergies and Your Home: Manage It With the Help of HVAC Professionals

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Combat Allergies

Fall allergies can turn what is typically a beautiful season into a time of discomfort for many. During fall, ragweed pollen is a common allergen affecting a large portion of the population. Mold spores from damp fallen leaves can also trigger allergic reactions.

Furthermore, people tend to spend more time indoors during fall, where allergens like dust mites and pet dander can cause problems. Managing indoor air quality during this period is critical to mitigating the impact of these allergens and ensuring a comfortable fall season.

Are You Suffering From Allergy Symptoms Indoors?

Allergies occur when the body has an abnormal reaction to a substance, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust mites. The body’s immune system recognizes these substances as foreign invaders and releases histamines to attack them.

This causes unpleasant allergy symptoms such as:

Sneezing
Coughing
Itchy eyes
Watery eyes
Stuffy nose
Runny nose

Ways to Reduce Allergens in Your Home

Instead of suffering from allergy symptoms all season long, people can take steps to reduce the allergens in their homes, improving their indoor air quality and health. Ways to reduce allergens indoors include:

Change Air Filters: Replacing the HVAC system’s air filters regularly, around once at least every three months, is one of the most important steps homeowners can take to reduce allergens in their homes. An old, dirty air filter can reduce the system’s efficiency and allow dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens to accumulate in the air ducts.
Clean the AC and Heater: It’s important to schedule regular maintenance services with an HVAC professional once a year for the air conditioner and once a year for the heater. They will be able to inspect for any wear and tear, clean the system components, and perform important tasks that reduce allergens.
Install a UV Air Sanitizer: UV air sanitizer installation is a powerful tool in the fight against allergens. These devices utilize ultraviolet lights to eliminate airborne particles and allergens. Incorporating a UV air sanitizer into an HVAC system can significantly improve indoor air quality, reducing the risk of allergies.
Air Duct Cleaning: Dust, pollen, and other allergens can accumulate in the ductwork over time, and when the HVAC system is in operation, these allergens can be circulated throughout the home, triggering allergies. Professional air duct cleaning can significantly reduce the allergen levels in a home.

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality Services

Taking steps to reduce allergens in the home is critical for managing allergies, and HVAC professionals can be a great asset. They can provide many tips and indoor air quality services to reduce allergens in the house that are causing allergy symptoms to worsen. Taking these steps will reduce residents' allergy symptoms and help them breathe easier.

If someone has bad allergies or thinks that allergens are affecting the air quality in their home, they should contact an HVAC professional to discuss solutions. They can provide personalized advice on how best to reduce allergies and keep the home’s air as clean and healthy as possible.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating has over 40 years of experience serving Conroe and the surrounding areas. They offer upfront pricing, fast turnarounds, and customer education. Call them today for indoor air quality services in Conroe, TX.

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Have Questions About Air Ducts? We've Got Answers

What You Need To Know About Air Ducts

Homes with central air conditioning have one HVAC unit that heats or cools the air for distribution throughout the home, and it is through the air ducts that the temperature-controlled air is distributed to the different rooms and areas around the house for the utmost comfort of its occupants. This makes air ducts a vital component of every HVAC system.

Since air ducts are necessary for air distribution, keeping them in great shape is important. This means conducting regular duct cleaning to ensure excellent indoor air quality at home. But, like all things, they break down and require air duct repair. Here’s what homeowners need to know about the longevity of their air ducts and how to figure out if it’s time for air duct cleaning or a complete air duct replacement.

How To Know When It’s Time To Replace the Ductwork

Air ducts are built to last anywhere from 20-25 years - more if cleaned and maintained properly. Homeowners who are keeping track of how long they’ve had their air ducts should start to have their ducts checked for damage and prepare to replace the ductwork entirely once the existing air ducts at home approach this age. By this time, the air ducts may show signs of significant wear and tear and require more frequent cleaning or repair. In this case, homeowners should consider if the cost of frequent repairs is greater than the cost of total replacement and decide accordingly.

Damaged Air Ducts? Here’s How To Find Out

No matter how sturdy air ducts are, they succumb to some form of damage during their lifespan, so homeowners must be aware of some of the most common issues that plague air ducts and determine how to prevent or repair them. These signs include:

Inconsistent temperatures - damaged ducts can sometimes cause some areas to be too warm while others are too hot. This variance is a sign of a duct problem.
Weak airflow - If there isn’t enough air coming from the registers, this could be a sign of ductwork damage, particularly clogs, leaks, or poor air duct design and installation.
Noisy ductwork - This can be due to unbalanced air pressure that causes whistling noises, strange odors, or even doors that close by themselves.

Signs of a Dirty Air Duct

Damaged and dirty air ducts often have the same symptoms, and problems related to one may be masking as the other. This is why it may be valuable for homeowners to clean their air ducts first and see if that solves the problem; otherwise, things like lingering odors, the presence of mold or mildew, and even high energy bills should tip off homeowners to problems with either a defective or a dirty air duct so that they can be resolved immediately and ensure that the quality of air indoors is restored.

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating have been the trusted HVAC solutions provider serving the communities of Conroe, TX since 1982. With decades of experience, the Easco team offers a full menu of HVAC services to meet every need. Their technicians aren’t just licensed experts but also reliable and easy to work with. With a 24/7 emergency crew at the ready, they can solve your HVAC problem in no time. Call them today for HVAC service in Conroe, TX.

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Should You Schedule AC Maintenance Now?

Get an AC Tune-Up Before the Heat of Summer Arrives!

Spring is in full splendor, and many homeowners in Southeast Texas are already running their air conditioners daily to beat the heat and humidity. And with summer just a few short weeks away, those AC systems will only be working harder and longer over the next few months. This is when most AC problems and breakdowns occur, thanks to the increased workload and strain on the unit.

Fortunately, by having the AC serviced by a qualified professional, homeowners can avoid these issues - but those who wait until the last minute to schedule their tune-up may be in for a rude awakening! So read on to learn three key reasons why scheduling AC maintenance is so important before the start of summer!

Secure a Better Service Window

As temperatures rise, so do calls for AC repairs and services. As such, summer tends to be the busiest time of year for most HVAC companies in warmer climates. This can make securing a convenient time slot on the schedule difficult. Sometimes, homeowners may even find themselves waiting days or weeks for a technician to make it out to service their air conditioning system. After all, even a highly proficient and well-staffed company can only handle so many calls in a given day!

But by scheduling their AC tune-up in the spring, homeowners can avoid the rush and essentially take their pick of available service windows. This way, they’ll have their maintenance taken care of by the time the summer heat and humidity roll in - and with minimal inconvenience or disruption to their schedule!

Keep the AC Going Strong All Summer Long

Aside from getting a jump on the crowd, scheduling air conditioner maintenance in the spring also helps prepare the system for the summer months ahead. In a typical AC tune-up, professionals perform a laundry list of tasks designed to catch issues early, improve the unit’s performance and efficiency, and mitigate the effects of wear & tear.

A well-maintained AC system is less likely to break down or develop issues that require repairs, which means that homeowners won’t have to worry about getting stuck without a working air conditioner - a nightmare scenario in the dog days of summer (especially during the peak of the busy season, when it can take a long time for a technician to come out).

An AC unit that’s been properly maintained will also run more efficiently since all of its components will be clean, lubricated, and tested for optimal performance. And since the air conditioner is responsible for a large percentage of a typical home’s overall energy usage, any boost in energy efficiency can significantly reduce the monthly energy bills!

Improve the AC Unit’s Lifespan

Staying on top of AC maintenance doesn’t just improve energy efficiency and reduce the need for repairs, but it also helps the unit last longer. Indeed, routine maintenance can add multiple years to the life of an air conditioner. Conversely, a lack of proper maintenance is the number one cause of AC problems and premature breakdowns.

Of course, components will eventually fail, and wear & tear will add up over time. Still, maintenance is all about dealing with these inevitabilities as best as possible and minimizing the damage they can do. This means a longer-lasting system and a more reliable one, even as the unit approaches the end of its life expectancy. For these reasons, spring maintenance is the key to keeping the AC strong - not just this summer but for many summers to come!

About Easco Air Conditioning and Heating

Easco Air Conditioning and Heating experts have been proudly serving the Conroe community for over 40 years. Their courteous, licensed, and trustworthy technicians always arrive on time in fully-stocked trucks and leave every home better than they found it. Easco offers competitive up-front pricing, financing, 24/7 emergency service, and a cost-effective membership maintenance plan - so there’s no one better to call for AC maintenance in Conroe, TX!