Regular maintenance of a home’s heating and cooling system by a qualified HVAC technician can help support a homeowner’s investment in high-efficiency equipment. But while technicians are the equipment technology experts, homeowners can provide a valuable “insider’s perspective” when it comes to the air throughout their home.

Homeowners have a unique advantage in that they live in their home every day and are attuned to subtle changes in their home’s air. Whereas a technician servicing a home’s heating and cooling system may be in the house a few hours a year, a home’s occupants will typically notice slight variations in the air circulating throughout their home.

Feedback from homeowners can provide useful clues to identify the “root cause” of a problem. For example, a problem with a home’s thermal comfort or air quality may not be the result of faulty equipment but originate from other issues in the home such as compromised ductwork, inadequate levels of insulation or poor ventilation. Problems such as these can lead to rooms that are too hot or cold, have a strange odor or present air quality issues.

Scott Savidge is a technical field supervisor at Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning and a member of the NATE (North American Technician Excellence) techni

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cal committee. He says it’s helpful for a homeowner to share when a problem started, describe any changes with regards to how an HVAC system cycles on and off, and mention any unusual odors when the technician visits. “At a minimum, knowing when the equipment was last serviced can be helpful,” he says.

Other insights about the home’s air that can be helpful to share during a service visit include:

• Is there more dust in the air than usual?

• Is the home’s heating and cooling equipment making any unusual noises?

• When were the air filters last changed?

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• Does the air in some rooms/areas feel stuffy?

• Is there a room that is persistently colder/warmer than other parts of the house?

• Are heating and cooling bills unexpectedly higher?

Ultimately, an Owens Corning® AirCare™ contractor cares not only for a home’s equipment, but for the air that flows through the system. A home’s air is supported by a complex system of infrastructure, mechanical equipment and technology. By offering insights into the home’s overall comfort and air quality, occupants can support technicians in caring for the air in their home.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.

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