Get your home HVAC and Dryer ready for the Quebec fall and winter

 

The leaves are still on the trees, the weather outside alternates between stifling and sweltering, and the NHL hockey season has begun, but for homeowners, it’s time to begin prepping for the fall and winter months.

From professional inspections to ordinary maintenance, a few simple steps taken now can help stave off problems — not to mention frantic calls for service when the furnace stops working — when temperatures start to drop.

In anticipation of the coming months, Duct Masters recommends a few things you can do now to keep your home in tip-top shape.

 

Service matience for your furnace

 

Duct Masters technician working on the furnace

Who wants to crank up their furnace on the first super-cold day (or night) of the year only to find that it’s missing the requisite hot air? To avoid pulling out the blankets and mittens, Duct Masters Inc in Montreal reminds homeowners to change furnace filters regularly. The frequency depends on each system as well as lifestyle choices, including the presence of pets or cigarette smokers in the home.

The best bet, though, is to get your furnace checked on an annual basis. “It’s just like your car, where it needs regular maintenance,” said Darin Doucet of Duct Masters. The average modern, high-efficiency furnace, she said, lasts between 12 and 15 years; furnaces older than that might be better off being replaced than repaired.

 

Clean your air ducts for the furnace or air exchanger

 

As the weather starts to get colder, and the days get shorter, we often forget how much our air ducts are working to keep your house or business warm. Air ducts never get a day off, and winter is a perfect time to look for residential air duct cleaning services or commercial air duct cleaning services to alleviate some of the stress on your system. Here are some of the reasons why winter is the perfect time to book your commercial or residential duct cleaning in Montreal.

Having your air ducts professionally cleaned and sanitized before the winter season automatically reduces your risk for wintertime allergy/asthma attacks, respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and of course that winter favorite, cold and flu season.

 

 

Dryer duct clean-up

 

Depending on how often you use your dryer, a substantial amount of lint can accumulate in your dryer vent and that can be a potential fire hazard. Homes that have vents close to the ground could be blocked when snow accumulates, Lewis said, making this a good time to hire a professional to remove clogged-up lint. “You want to make sure there’s no lint in there getting heated up and fried,” Lewis said.

Water is common to build up in the duct when there is an obstruction like lint or a bird’s nest. The water will get worse in the winter with the freeze and thaw of the ice that builds inside the duct. Should your dryer get to this point, cleaning is not possible. You will be required to replace the duct which could involve a contractor tearing down some walls or a ceiling.