Now is an excellent time to review your indoor air quality options.

From an accurate heating and cooling load estimate, to proper equipment selection, all the way through design, fabrication and installation of a custom duct system, your purchase should live up to your expectations for personal comfort, operating economy and long term reliability.

The service contractor you choose to install and service your new equipment is a big factor in achieving your comfort goals, and importantly, your need for good indoor air quality. (Quick tips for Selecting a Heating / AC Contractor).

Ventilation is the single largest piece of the indoor air quality puzzle. Your better service providers will have knowledge and experience with options such as:

- Whole house air exchange units

- Higher efficiency filtration / air cleaning devices

- Referring an industry certified duct cleaning company

You are making a significant investment in your house. We strongly recommend you review the Health Concerns and Guidelines to Improving Indoor Air sections of this web site so you are better informed about these options.

Why duct cleaning is particulary important when
purchasing a new furnace / AC system

No mater how clean the furnace, no matter how efficient the filter, if your supply ductwork is dirty, the higher capacity fan bumps a little dust cloud into your living spaces everytime your thermostat calls for heat or cool. The carbon based material residual in your ductwork is breading ground for mold and bacteria - plus the build up results in higher energy bills.

Therefore, unless you are installing new ductwork, the recommendation is to professionally clean and sanitize the ductwork system immediately before or after the installation of a new furnace. Air duct system cleaning is highly specialized and your heating AC contractor should refer an industry certified company. (Quick tips for Selecting a Duct Cleaning Contractor and FAQ).

Is Carbon Monoxide a concern with new installations?

Home heating systems represent only 5% of the many potential sources of carbon monoxide. They are designed to be safe, efficient and not produce substantial amounts of carbon monoxide. However, it is important to schedule annual maintenance visits by a qualified technician to check all combustion appliances to make sure they are operating properly and to be sure that all chimneys and vents are connected properly and not blocked.