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FURNACE & CLOTHES DRYER EFFICIENCY TIPS

 

Your furnace and clothes dryer have something in common; they both rely on the unrestricted flow of air in order to operate efficiently. They also rely on air ducts to transport that air.

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   If you want your furnace and clothes dryer to operate at top efficiency, it is imperative that you not only keep the units themselves clean, but also the air ducts attached to them. Keeping your furnace and clothes dryer running like champs really boils down to being diligent to perform 5 cleaning tasks on a regular basis. Two of the tasks demand more frequent attention, but you can perform them yourself. While the other three tasks should be left to a professional, but are performed much less frequently. 

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   Furnace efficiency tips. (1) replace your furnace filter regularly. How often you replace your filter will depend mainly on two factors. The first factor is the amount of time your furnace is operating each day, and the second is the level of contamination in your air ducts. If your furnace is running 24/7, obviously your filter is going to need to be replaced more frequently. (2) Have your air ducts cleaned professionally every 3-5 years. If you have not had professional air duct cleaning in the past five years, or ever, your filter will become dirty much faster than if your ducts were clean. (3) Have your furnace cleaned professionally every 3-5 years. Be sure to hire an air duct cleaning company that also has the ability to properly clean your furnace every 3-5 years when the duct cleaning is performed.

 

   Dryer efficiency tips. (4) Clean your dryer's lint trap before each use. This cannot be emphasized enough. Clean that lint trap! (5) Have your dryer vent professionally cleaned as needed. The amount of time in between cleanings will be determined by how much laundry you do, whether or not you have shedding pets, the length of your dryer duct, and how diligent you are to clean that lint trap! If you notice your dry times increasing, or you are getting an error code for a blocked vent, have your dryer vent cleaned by a professional as soon as possible.  

 

   Certainly there are other things you can do to ensure your systems are running smooth, but if you are diligent to implement these five efficiency tips, your HVAC and dryer units will be running like champs for years to come! 

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The following information, from some trusted third party sources, further explains the importance of air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning as it relates to improving the overall efficiency and life span of your systems.

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AIR DUCT CLEANING

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​​​​​​'As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort.' -EnergyStar.Gov

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'Did you know that cleaning your ducts and vents can help airflow and increase energy efficiency? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), keeping your air ducts and vents clear can increase energy efficiency and indoor air quality. -HomeAdvisor

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'Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.' -EnergyStar.Gov

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'An air conditioner's filters, coils, and fins require regular maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.' -Energy.Gov

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DRYER VENT CLEANING

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'Not taking care of your dryer causes several issues, starting with longer drying times, which can lead to shrunken clothes and heat-damaged fabrics. It can also drive up your utility bills, since the dryer is one of the more energy-intensive appliances in the home.' -Consumer Reports

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'...Not only are you reducing the risk of fire (by having your dryer vent system cleaned), you’re also putting money back into your wallet by improving the dryer’s efficiency... If your system is clogged, it not only wastes energy, but can cause the heating element and blower in the dryer to wear out faster.' -Ivey Engineering Inc.