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Spring brings flowers, pollen and allergens affecting your health on a daily basis. Your home is a refuge against allergens so you can relax without sneezing, coughing or suffering from itchy, watery eyes. What do you do when your indoor air quality is low and you can’t escape constant allergy issues?

You can take preventative measures to reduce the allergens in your home. Consider the benefits of installing a media air cleaner in your home, schedule routine HVAC maintenance and have your air ducts cleaned before your allergies flare up. You will experience reduced allergy symptoms and your cooling system will perform more efficiently as the temperatures start to rise.

Have Your Unit Cleaned

Allergens are at their worst when the weather starts to warm. Schedule maintenance on your cooling system to eliminate any dirt, dust or debris accumulated over the winter. A clean system operates more efficiently, saves you money in the long run and pumps clean air throughout your home. After a long, cold winter, your HVAC system can have dirt on the components. The dirt from the inside of your equipment will get stirred up and travel into your home via the air ducts.

Mills Heating & Air offers preventative maintenance twice a year. Once in the fall and again in the spring. Contact us to discuss the perks of our preventative maintenance program and experience cooler temperatures in your home.

Media Air Cleaners

When you install a media air cleaner in your home, you can rest easy knowing every inch of your home has healthy air and allergens are controlled. It works directly with your cooling system and traps a variety of particles affecting your health. Whether you install a media air cleaner filter-based unit or a duct-based unit, your indoor air quality will greatly improve in your home.

A high-efficiency media air cleaner can capture up to 99% of particulates in the air and lasts longer than the average air filter. They keep your heating and cooling system cleaner, which keeps your system operating more efficiently between maintenance calls. Media air cleaners can work with any forced-air system and maintain high airflow year-round.

Other Ways to Reduce Allergens in Your Home

If you want more measures to reduce allergens in your home, consider different indoor air quality products, such as:

• Whole-home humidifiers installed with your current heating and cooling system by an HVAC technician. Dry air is common during the winter months and a humidifier will add moisture to your indoor air to reduce allergies, asthma, respiratory infections, colds, viruses and bacteria.
• Whole-home dehumidifiers perform the opposite of a humidifier. A whole-home dehumidifier pulls moisture out of your indoor air during the summer months, providing ideal humidity levels for your home and reducing mold and mildew. It also works in tandem with your current HVAC system and requires installation by a licensed professional.
• Ultraviolet lights installed in your ductwork and air handler. The ultraviolet bulbs kill bacteria and mold before it can be circulated through the air in your home. UV lights are great for preventing mold growth and condensation on your evaporator coils.

Trap and eliminate allergens in your home this spring with preventative maintenance and a quality media air cleaner. Schedule preventative maintenance with Mills Heating & Air. Our technicians will improve your indoor air quality by cleaning your system, replacing your filter and reducing allergens in your home.

Warmer temperatures are on the horizon, which might compromise your indoor air quality. Now is the time to prepare your HVAC system for the upcoming humidity levels, so you can enjoy the arrival of spring and not dread it. Maintaining an ideal humidity level is essential for your comfort and the performance of your heating and cooling equipment. Here are 3 ways to prepare your home and HVAC system for spikes in humidity this spring.

Indoor Humidity Problems

Humidity isn’t always a bad thing, except when indoor humidity reaches extreme highs, there are tough repercussions to face. A moist environment becomes the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew, spreading spores throughout your home. Dust mites are common in homes with high humidity, which affect those who suffer from asthma and allergies.

Excess moisture will damage your home, such as furniture, floors, walls and even the structure of your house. Peeling paint and wet stains will occur in every room where moisture is present. Humidity will even cost you with expensive medical bills for health issues related to allergies and asthma and remodeling projects to repair or replace damages in your home.

#1—Increase Ventilation

Excess moisture will remain in the air when it’s not properly circulated throughout a room. Increase the ventilation in your home by using ceiling fans, exhaust fans and by cleaning your air ducts and vents. Reduced airflow in your home lowers your heating and cooling system’s ability to circulate air throughout your rooms, resulting in stagnant air building up in your home. Contact Mills Heating & Air to have your home’s return vents and ducts inspected. We will install additional ductwork and air units if your home lacks proper ventilation.

#2—Preventative Maintenance

Before the humidity arrives, schedule preventative maintenance on your heating and cooling system. Our licensed and skilled professionals will clean your equipment, eliminating dirt, debris and excess moisture accumulated on your components during winter. Before you schedule maintenance, look around your home for signs of excess moisture, such as:

• Water damage/stains
• Rotting wood
• Excess water around the HVAC unit
• Musty odors
• Increased allergies
• Condensation around windows and
• Mold or mildew 

If you notice any of these indicators, let our technicians know during the maintenance call. These signs help us to locate potential problems in your home if the humidity levels are not kept in check. Indoor humidity also affects the performance and lifespan of your heating and cooling unit. Preventing malfunctions due to high humidity levels will decrease the wear and tear on your current system.  

#3—Installation of Variable Speed System

Consider installing a variable speed HVAC system. Variable speed heating and cooling only uses as much energy as needed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Variable speed also tends to lengthen the lifespan of your entire system by saving wear and tear on the equipment. This technology also better impacts humidity levels.  Variable speeds boost your air conditioner’s ability to remove excess moisture from your home and increase your indoor air quality. With better controlled humidity, you will notice benefits such as:

• Stuffy air will dissipate and leave your home feeling fresh.
• The surfaces in your home won’t have a sweaty or sticky feeling when you touch them.
• Mold and mildew won’t grow in your home or HVAC system.
• Fewer musty odors will accumulate.
• No more unsightly water stains on ceilings and walls.
• You and your family will live healthier with a reduction in allergy symptoms, asthma issues and respiratory infections.
• Clothing in the back of the closet and items in storage will stay in good condition – no surprises when you reach for them again!

Improve your indoor air quality by installing a variable speed system in your home. Contact Mills Heating & Air to reduce your indoor humidity levels and experience cool temperatures this spring. We are available seven days a week to meet your needs!

Before you pack up your winter clothes and prepare for warm spring weather, consider the steps you need for your HVAC spring cleaning. Properly maintaining your heating and cooling system will lengthen its lifespan and provide you with lower energy bills during the hottest times of the season.

Our NATE-certified technicians will inspect and clean your equipment, so you don’t suffer surprise breakdowns. We will repair or replace damaged components, keeping the cost of HVAC repairs manageable for your wallet. Read on for suggestions of what you can do before your maintenance appointment and what to expect from our professionals at Mills Heating & Air.

Preparing for HVAC Spring Cleaning

You can prepare for routine HVAC spring cleaning by taking the time perform a few simple tasks. These chores will help your heating and cooling technician before deep cleaning your equipment and inspecting it for damage before the weather changes. These include:

• Change the air filters: Clean filters trap and eliminate dust and other particles from spreading throughout your home. They keep your indoor air healthy while maintaining your heating and cooling system’s efficiency. Air filters can vary so change it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The recommendations will provide direction on the frequency of filter replacement or if your specific air filter requires cleaning instead of changing it. If you can’t remember when the air filter was last changed, change it now to ensure consistent temperatures and smooth operation of your HVAC system. If monthly is appropriate for you, you may find it a helpful reminder to change it whenever your utility bill arrives.
• Turn on the air conditioner: Before you schedule preventative maintenance on your HVAC system, turn the air conditioning unit on for a test run. This allows you to listen for any weird noises or notice any issues while the system operates. You can let your Mills Heating & Air technician know if there are any concerns once he or she arrives to service your unit.
• Clean the outdoor unit: You can sweep away any leaves, branches, dirt and other debris cluttering the outdoor unit before maintenance from a licensed professional. Inspect the landscaping around the outdoor unit as well and make sure nothing is interfering with the airflow around your equipment. Gently rinse your air conditioner’s condenser coils with a garden hose if you notice dirt or debris covering them. Look for damage from hail or a rock thrown from a lawnmower.

When to Leave HVAC Spring Cleaning to the Pros

After completing the above tasks, it’s time to call the heating and cooling experts at Mills Heating & Air! Two things our professionals will do to for your HVAC spring cleaning include:

• Preventative maintenance: Routine maintenance includes an inspection of your HVAC system to diagnose any potential problems throughout the season. Maintenance keeps your unit running efficiently even when temperatures spike during the summer. Wear and tear on your components is decreased when the system is cleaned on a regular basis. Problems are caught early to prevent expensive and unexpected repairs in the future. Our technicians will clean the evaporator coil, check the refrigerant levels, clean and inspect the fins and test all electrical components.
• Duct inspections and cleaning: Schedule to have your ductwork inspected and cleaned as part of your HVAC spring cleaning. Ducts can develop air leaks during the winter, resulting in your home feeling humid and dusty when the temperatures increase. Energy is also lost when you have leaks in your ductwork, so repairing or replacing the damaged area is essential to keeping your energy bill low. Contact Mills Heating & Air to have our technicians perform routine duct cleaning and inspection of your ductwork now. For lower bills call Mills.

Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule preventative maintenance on your heating and cooling system. Contact Mills Heating & Air today to get a head start on your HVAC spring cleaning and beat the rush!

March Madness and the NCAA tournament are upon us, which means basketball parties are bound to happen in your home. Before tip-off, make sure your heating and cooling system is primed for the game with a home HVAC inspection. Achieving ideal temperatures in your home will keep you and your guests happy while celebrating your favorite team’s victory. Mills Heating & Air offers affordable home HVAC inspections performed by qualified and experienced heating and cooling technicians. Now is the time to boost your unit’s performance efficiency and reliability, lengthening its lifespan.  

Schedule a Home HVAC Inspection

March also comes with fluctuating temperatures and seasonal changes so it’s smart to make a home HVAC inspection high on any priority list for the spring. An inspection of your heating and cooling system will detect what needs to be cleaned or lubricated, spot any damaged components and ensure proper operation before you switch from heating to cooling and vice versa. During the inspection, if an issue is discovered, an HVAC repair will be scheduled or performed on the spot to prevent the problem from escalating and damaging your equipment further.

Most importantly, home HVAC inspection keeps your family safe by preventing a system from overheating and damaging vital components in your unit or leaking toxic carbon monoxide Mills Heating & Air will ensure your heating and cooling system is functioning properly, so you aren’t scheduling an emergency HVAC repair right before the final game. Our NATE-certified technicians know exactly what to look for when inspecting your system and will quickly repair any potential problems they find.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance

Aside from scheduling a one-time home HVAC inspection, you can invest in a preventative maintenance plan for your heating and cooling system. Maintaining your HVAC equipment not only extends the life of your system, it also increases its energy efficiency. You will save money on your monthly energy bill and expensive repairs in the future when your system is kept clean and free of obstructions. Common tasks performed during preventative maintenance include:

• Inspection of your air filter and replacing it if it’s dirty or clogged
• Checking your thermostat settings to ensure proper communication between your HVAC system and thermostat
• Lubrication of all moving parts to reduce friction in motors and wasted electricity
• Inspection of the condensate drain and line for clogs
• Checking the system controls for safe operation
• Cleaning of the outdoor unit in case of excess debris
• Checking the refrigerant levels and adjusting them if necessary
• Adjusting and cleaning the blower components to increase airflow and
• Inspection of all gas connections, gas pressure, burner combustion, and heat exchanger to prevent potential fires and keep your family safe. 

Clean and Seal Ductwork

Once you have scheduled a home HVAC inspection and preventative maintenance, another measure to keep your party going is scheduling an appointment for your vents inspected and your ducts sealed for any air leaks. During your inspection, leaks may be found, causing energy to seep out of your home. Leaks compromise your airflow and interfere with your heating and cooling system’s performance. Leaks prevent thermostats from obtaining accurate readings and trigger your HVAC system to operate more often than necessary. Contact Mills Heating & Air to schedule cleaning and sealing of your air ducts.

Prepare your heating and cooling system before the big tournament with a home HVAC inspection, maintenance and proper cleaning of your ductwork. Contact Mills Heating & Air for all your heating and cooling needs this year! Our HVAC experts are the best in the industry and will deliver quality service every time. Remember, to lower your bills call Mills.

Attics are a common source of heat loss in a home, producing expensive energy bills every month. There are three attic temperature problems you can control and reduce your energy use during the winter. Valuable energy is lost from problems with your attic insulation, ventilation and air leaks. Strong insulation, appropriate ventilation and sealed components work together to keep your home comfortable during every season and promote the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Contact Mills Heating & Air to have your attic and HVAC system inspected if you notice continued attic temperatures and cooling problems.

Attic Temperature Problems: Insulation

A well-insulated attic is a key to preventing attic temperature problems. It promotes energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system keeping you comfortable throughout the year. If your attic walls and ceilings aren’t insulated, heat is escaping through the building materials. Heat loss occurs during the winter as precious heat escapes outside instead of circulating throughout your home.

During the summer, heat is gained from outside through the building materials and the humidity from outside increases in your attic space. The excess moisture invading your attic causes mold and mildew to grow on your insulation, becoming a health hazard to your family. Mold-infested insulation needs to be removed and replaced by a professional immediately.

Without proper insulation, your home will experience uneven temperatures, causing your thermostat to provide inaccurate readings and forcing your system to run continuously to compensate. An inspection of your HVAC system and the ductwork in your attic will determine if any insulation is blocking or restricting the airflow of your unit.

Attic Temperature Problems: Ventilation

The guidelines for proper ventilation for attics and roofs are less strict than those stipulating how well they are sealed and insulated. Poor ventilation is another culprit if you have high energy bills. When an attic is properly ventilated, the space is healthy, durable, moisture-free and doesn’t experience ice dams. Consult the HVAC experts at Mills Heating & Air to find solutions to your attic ventilation problems. Depending on the condition of your roof and ductwork, the job might require seasoned professionals.

Attic Temperature Problems: Air Sealing

During the winter, your HVAC system operates continuously to provide your home with ideal temperatures. If your attic has gaps, your precious heat is escaping through those gaps and forcing your HVAC system to work longer to make up for the loss. Aside from the extra expense of your energy bill, your HVAC system will experience more wear and tear during the winter from working longer and harder than expected.

The same problem occurs during the summer, except you lose cold air through the gaps and humidity seeps back into your home. The moisture will cause difficulties throughout your attic and the rest of your home. Consider having your attic inspected to determine where the gaps are and the best solution for sealing them. During a service call to have your ductwork inspected and cleaned, our HVAC technicians will take note of any gaps present in your attic and offer suggestions for solutions.

Schedule an inspection of your attic and HVAC system to determine what is causing your attic temperature troubles. Our NATE-certified technicians are highly trained and know exactly what to look for when inspecting your HVAC system, ductwork and attic. Contact Mills Heating & Air today to schedule services or preventative maintenance for your heating and cooling equipment. Remember, for lower bills – call Mills.

Your heating and cooling system rely on proper air flow to deliver comfortable temperatures to every room in your house. When you have low airflow, your system works harder to compensate for uneven temperatures. This adds unnecessary stress to your equipment and speeds increases the wear and tear of your components. Several factors can cause poor ventilation in your home and the best option for boosting the airflow in your home is to schedule an HVAC repair with Mills Heating & Air. We will inspect your system and diagnose the problem quickly. Below are a few options possibly affecting the airflow in your home.

Dirty Filters

A dirty air filter is the simplest explanation why you have low airflow in your home. An air filter works to trap and eliminate dust particles, pollen and other debris to prevent it from entering your home. As the filter traps particulates, it becomes clogged and reduces the airflow from your heating and cooling system to your ductwork.  

Clogged or Damaged Ductwork

The ductwork running throughout your home is designed to deliver warm or cool air to every area of your home. When the ductwork is clogged or obstructed, your ventilation is reduced to different rooms. Rodents and other pests can even hide inside your ductwork and leave behind droppings, hair and nesting debris, causing blockages in your ductwork. The heating and cooling system has nowhere to distribute air, so the air comes back into the unit and causes it to overheat.

Obstructions can cause ducts to bend, fold, and break when the clog gets bigger. Damaged ductwork wastes energy circulating air around the damaged areas and anything blocking the airflow in your vents. Schedule regular maintenance on your heating and cooling system to ensure your ductwork is clear of obstructions and replace any damaged sections. Mills Heating & Air offers air duct cleaning to eliminate clogs in your ductwork.

Air Leaks

Air leaks are common in damaged ductwork and they prevent your HVAC system from delivering accurate temperatures in your home. Energy loss results from air leaks and costs you more money every month. The air leaks interfere with the airflow designed for your current heating and cooling system, forcing the unit to work harder to compensate for the missing air.

Contact Mills Heating & Air to inspect your ductwork before you try anything complex on your own. Ducts can be hard to access and a trained professional has the tools needed to locate and seal leaks in your home. Our NATE-certified technicians will assess your current ducts, find the leaks and quickly repair or replace the damaged ductwork.

Lack of Vents and Returns

The average home has vents and air returns in every room, except for the kitchen and bathrooms – these areas should have exhaust vents to eliminate moisture and odors. When a home doesn’t have enough vents and returns, the result is low airflow to different areas of your home. The best option is to call Mills Heating & Air to schedule an estimate for increasing vents and returns. We will provide you with options affordable for your budget and increase the ventilation in your home without compromising the performance of your current heating and cooling system.

Stop low airflow in your home by inspecting your ductwork and increasing the ventilation throughout your home. Call Mills Heating & Air to schedule preventative maintenance on your heating and cooling system and improve your indoor air quality!

Spring cleaning is right around the corner and dreaded for most families. Keep in mind, though, proper cleaning of your home can reduce energy bills and extend the life of your heating and cooling system. As the weather warms up, your cooling system needs to be operating at its highest efficiency to combat the spikes in temperature and keep you cool indoors. Will you have extremely hot and humid temperatures or milder weather this year? You won’t know until you are in the middle of the season, which is why you need to prepare for both options to keep your home comfortable this spring and summer.

Fluctuating temperatures at the start of spring put stress on your heating and cooling system without you realizing it. Your comfort indoors is directly related to the performance of your HVAC system. These top 5 cleaning tips for your heating and cooling system will prevent expensive breakdowns in the future so you can relax and enjoy your summer.

#1 – Schedule Preventative Maintenance

The easiest way to reduce energy bills is to schedule preventative maintenance with a licensed heating and cooling professional. Maintenance is spring cleaning for your heating and cooling system. It eliminates dust, debris and other materials affecting the operation of your equipment. Dust and debris are brought from outside air and circulated through your system. The filter traps the particulates to keep your indoor air quality healthy, but the debris remains, covering your interior components.

Mills Heating & Air offers a preventative maintenance plan to clean your system and boost its efficiency year round. We hire only the best technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. Our technicians are vetted and trained to handle any heating and cooling system on the market. We deliver excellent service and reduce energy bills with our preventative maintenance plan. For lower bills call Mills!

#2 – Clean Air Ducts

Vacuuming around the vents, registers and return ducts of your heating and cooling system will reduce excess dust particles from clogging up your ductwork. Schedule an HVAC repair to have your ducts cleaned by a professional before the seasons change to ensure you have adequate airflow throughout your system. Regular cleaning of your ducts will determine if you have any air leaks, which an HVAC expert will seal to prevent energy waste once your air conditioner starts operating more frequently.

Remove anything obstructing proper airflow from your vents, such as rugs or furniture. Improving your airflow will reduce energy bills and allow your system to perform more efficiently when it doesn’t have to fight against blocked air ducts. Restricted airflow causes your unit to work harder to distribute even temperatures throughout your home and adds more wear and tear than is necessary for your equipment.

#3 – Air Filter Replacement

Changing your air filter is the easiest way to reduce energy bills in your home. The air filter is your first line of defense against dust, dirt and debris from outside and indoor air. A clogged filter restricts the airflow from your unit to the air ducts, resulting in temperatures inconsistent throughout your home. After a long winter, change your air filter so your air conditioner will operate more efficiently and not compromise the health of your equipment.  

#4 – Outdoor Unit

Over the course of a season, your outdoor unit experiences several performance-impacting challenges. Cleaning your outdoor unit before the start of spring will remove dirt, debris, pest droppings and other materials restricting airflow around the unit. A heating and cooling professional will clean your outdoor unit’s mechanicals and inspect it for any damage from storms or rodents during the winter. If you have damaged wiring or electrical connections, your system will perform inefficiently and be a safety hazard for your home.

#5 – Clean Your Coils

Along with clearing away debris from your outdoor unit, clean the outdoor coils as well. The coils are important to the daily transfer of heat from inside your home to outside. This process causes your coils to collect debris, pollen and vegetation, which affects the performance of your outdoor unit. The more buildup on your coils, the more stress on your equipment while it’s operating. Call Mills Heating & Air and have our NATE-certified technicians clean your coils before the sweltering heat hits.

Reduce energy bills in your home with preventative maintenance and other spring cleaning on your HVAC system. Schedule maintenance with Mills Heating & Air and let our experienced technicians handle the deep cleaning of your heating and cooling system!

Is your heat pump constantly turning on and off? A properly working heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system is essential when dealing with the colder temperatures during the winter months. Starting and stopping, or “short cycling” is a common problem homeowners experience with their heat pumps. The constant on and off of your heating equipment prevents your home from warming up and damages your unit.

If you are experiencing short cycling problems with your HVAC system, contact Mills Heating & Air to schedule an HVAC repair. Our NATE-certified technicians are trained and knowledgeable on every heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system and will inspect and diagnose your current problem quickly. Below are the most common reasons your heat pump is short cycling.

Incorrectly Sized HVAC System

A short cycling heat pump occurs when the unit isn’t correctly sized before installation. If the system is too large for the home it will use more energy to heat a space and not effectively distribute warm air throughout your home. You will experience uneven temperatures, which forces your heat pump to start and repeatedly stop to compensate for the varying temperatures.  

The best remedy is to ensure proper sizing and installation of your new equipment. Our technicians are licensed and know exactly how to size your home for a new HVAC unit. If your system was installed by someone else and was incorrectly sized, we can still help. Call Mills Heating & Air for an HVAC repair, and we will determine the best options to stop your heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system from short cycling and to boost your system’s efficiency.

Overheating HVAC System

A heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system with restricted airflow will overheat, also causing it to short cycle. When the airflow is obstructed or compromised your heat pump won’t be able to distribute even temperatures throughout your home. Your thermostat will give false readings to your HVAC system, forcing it to repeatedly turn on and off to provide ideal temperatures for you and your family.  

Obstructions can be blocked, damaged or bent ductwork. A dirty air filter will also restrict airflow and cause the unit to overheat and short cycle repeatedly to prevent damage to the components. The hot air in the heat pump becomes trapped, becoming a potential fire hazard every time the unit overheats. Contact Mills Heating & Air immediately if you suspect your unit is short cycling because of an overheating issue.

A heat pump overheating could experience cracks and leak carbon monoxide. Ensure your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning to your family. A thorough inspection of your heat pump by a qualified professional is the safest choice if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak in your home. Mills Heating & Air offers a preventative maintenance plan to routinely check your system for obstructions and leaks to keep your system healthy and your family safe.

Thermostat Malfunction

Your thermostat may also be the reason your heat pump is constantly starting and stopping. When your thermostat malfunctions or provides faulty readings to your heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system, the result is a short cycling heat pump. Your thermostat tells your heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system when to kick on and off to maintain or achieve set temperatures you have programmed.

A short cycling heat pump will break down more often, especially during the coldest times of winter. If your thermostat isn’t placed in an ideal location, the readings will negatively impact your heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system’s operation and performance. The best solution is to have a professional check your thermostat location and daily operation. If the thermostat is located in a place where the readings are faulty, an HVAC expert will move it to a more desirable location. Our NATE-certified experts will reinstall your thermostat quickly so you will experience warm and even temperatures during the colder months.

Take control of your heat pump, cooling system or HVAC system by scheduling an HVAC repair with Mills Heating & Air. We will inspect and diagnose the reason for your short cycling heat pump quickly, so you can just enjoy warm temperatures and flawless performance from your HVAC system. Call us today!

Winter months are the most common time for carbon monoxide poisoning cases to occur. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer in residential homes because it’s odorless, tasteless and colorless. You can reduce the chance of carbon monoxide leaking in your home by scheduling preventative maintenance on your heating system annually. Additional tools to help keep you safe from carbon monoxide include installing a carbon monoxide detector and calling a professional to have your heating system inspected for any potential leaks.

Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of burning fuel to heat a home and occurs most commonly from HVAC systems, furnaces and boilers with a defect or malfunction. HVAC systems, furnaces and boilers top the list of appliances creating carbon monoxide in residential homes. Other sources of carbon monoxide leaks include:

• Leaky chimneys
• Kerosene heaters
• Unvented fireplaces
• Gas ranges
• Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces
• Generators
• Gas-fueled space heaters and
• Gas-fueled appliances.

5 Signs Your HVAC System is Leaking Carbon Monoxide

The most common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in a home is due to a compromised heating system. Typically, HVAC systems, furnaces and boilers are safe unless they have defects, allowing hazardous carbon monoxide gas to leak without completing the combustion process.

• An older HVAC system is more likely to leak carbon monoxide poisoning due to ordinary wear and tear. Schedule preventative maintenance annually to have your system inspected for any potential leaks. Our NATE-certified technicians will recommend when your old system should be replaced to prevent the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If you have cracks in the combustion chamber of your HVAC system, CO can escape into your home.
• Leaking seams in your HVAC system or boiler are signs of a potential carbon monoxide leakage.
• If the exhaust piping has cracks, dangerous carbon monoxide may emit into your home.
• A HVAC system with an incomplete combustion process of gases is more likely to leak toxic CO into your house.
  

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms

Because carbon monoxide has no taste, smell or color, it’s hard to know when a leak is present until it’s too late. Evacuate and have your home inspected immediately by an HVAC professional if you notice any of these symptoms in you, your family or your pets:

• Constant fatigue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• State of confusion
• Physical weakness
• Extreme nausea
• Chest pain and
• Stubborn headaches.

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

The first step in preventing carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is to schedule preventative maintenance annually on your heating system. Mills Heating & Air offers a preventative maintenance plan covering twenty-one points of inspection, ensuring your heating equipment is operating efficiently without any dangerous leaks. Regular maintenance will catch damaged components and potential problems before they escalate and cause harmful gases to seep into your home. Proper care of your unit will keep you and your family safe and extend the life of your HVAC system.

The second step toward preventing carbon monoxide poisoning is to install carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms in your home. A detector will signal you if any gases are emitted into your home, especially while you sleep. High doses of carbon monoxide are dangerous, especially overnight causing death without any preliminary symptoms. Check the batteries in your detector every month and test them to make sure the alarm is working properly at all times.

Be proactive when it comes to carbon monoxide poisoning in your home! Install carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms and schedule preventative maintenance on your HVAC system. Contact Mills Heating & Air to have your HVAC system inspected to keep your family safe.