Where do you focus your spring cleaning attention? Windows? Patios, garages and garden? These are all common cleaning areas as we emerge from winter hibernation, but they miss three vital components of our home’s system – a miss that can have serious results.
“With the weather warming up, spring is a great time to turn your attention to your home’s chimney, dryer vent, furnace and heating ducts,” says Andrew Simpson, owner of Victoria’s WETT-certified Aero Furnace, Duct and Chimney Cleaning.
Not only can regular servicing of these components save money and energy, but they can also help prevent potentially serious fires.
The chimney: “Safety is the No. 1 concern with the chimney,” Simpson says. As wood burns, soot is deposited in the chimney and turns to creosote which can catch fire, damaging the chimney and home.
Fire officials recommend homeowners have chimneys cleaned every year to remove the build-up, along with any other unwanted additions, including bird and rodent nests.
Removing the build-up will also encourage better performance by creating better airflow, Simpson notes.
The dryer vent: Safety and performance both come into play with the dryer vent, where as lint collects in the venting tube, your chance of fire increases. Fire officials recommend cleaning your dryer’s lint trap with each use, and cleaning your the vent – a potential hazard that goes largely unnoticed – once a year.
Cleaning a clogged vent will also help save energy and with it, money, Simpson says. A typical laundry load releases about a gallon of water as it dries. A clogged vent takes longer to remove that moisture, meaning your dryer is also running longer and working harder.
Furnace and ducting: Because your furnace is typically turned off once spring arrives, it’s a good time for a cleaning, which removes dust, dirt and grime from your furnace and duct system, increasing the indoor air quality, as well as the efficiency and longevity of your system, Simpson says.
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Time to save: Aero Services offers homeowners the opportunity to save money by bundling chimney, dryer vent and duct cleaning. Expect the full servicing to take about three to four hours, depending on the size of the home.
With friendly, skilled and non-commissioned staff, locally owned Aero Furnace Duct and Chimney Cleaning – a BBB Torch Award finalist – is Greater Victoria’s go-to choice.