While spending money on preventative care can be difficult, there is no doubt that it can save you a lot in the long run. For example, catching an illness in the early stages can save plenty of cost and hassle by avoiding serious medical expenses associated with the later stage of the disease. The same goes for the appliances and units in your home. If you regularly service and clean your chimney, dryer vent, and HVAC system, they will last longer and save you money on repair and replacement costs.
Chimney
Experts recommend having your chimney swept and inspected every year. The sweep has two main purposes. First, the mason locates any obstructions in the flue like animals or other debris and removes them. This measure prevents the blockage from causing poisonous gases created by the fire from backing up into your home. Second, the mason will clean creosote off the flue lining. Creosote is a product of burning wood, and it increases the risk of chimney fires if not cleaned out regularly. It also has dangerous health effects like causing cancer, which is another good reason to have creosote removed every year.
Dryer Vent
Your dryer vent is another unit in your home that requires expert attention every year. The dryer vent is the pipe that expels lint and hot air from your dryer. Over time, lint and other debris builds up in the vent, and this also causes hot air to accumulate in those areas. Because lint is highly flammable, allowing the lint to build up and attract hot air could result in a dryer fire that can cost thousands of dollars in damages. When you schedule you annual chimney sweep and inspection, ask to have a serviceperson clean out your dryer vents as well. If you live in the Washington D.C. area, contact Winston’s Chimney Service to schedule all of these appointments.
HVAC
In addition, you should regularly service your HVAC system. These systems are delicate in that the wrong amount of humidity can trigger issues like vent deterioration and even mold growth. If the humidity in your home is too high, the water in the air will condense inside the vents whenever the air stops running. This is an ideal place for mold to grow, especially because the constant motion of air carries the necessary organic matter like hair and skin cells right to the water where mold will grow. Such growth will trigger allergies or asthma symptoms in sufferers living in the home. You can prevent these issues by having an expert inspect and clean your HVAC system regularly. Contact Winston’s Heating and Air Conditioning to set up an appointment up today.