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How to hire an HVAC expert

An HVAC expert needs training in both electronics and plumbing. (Photo submitted by Dave Mejean)

The awkward-to-prounounce acronym stands for "heating, ventilation and air conditioning" which in many respects are completely different processes. A few decades ago, before home air conditioning, the job was simply "furnace repair" and even ductwork was an afterthought since heat rose naturally and air flow was only marginally understood. Today, ventilation has become a technology of its own.

HVAC maintenance

You can help your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently and last longer by tending to regular maintenance. Some things -- like changing the furnace filter -- can easily be done by the homeowner, but an HVAC expert should be brought in for tune-ups and more complex maintenance. Get your heating system checked in the fall and your cooling system in the spring so they are in top shape before heavy use.

Home heating systems

Regular maintenance keeps a furnace working efficiently, according to HVAC experts like Dave Mejean of B&W Plumbing & Heating. (Angie's List photo by Brandon Smith)

Although natural gas is the most common energy source for home furnaces, there are several other options -- including the relatively new trend of geothermal heat. Learn how energy efficiency is measured in furnaces and how the various furnace types compare.

Glossary: Heating and cooling

A collection of terms and definitions relating to the purchase, installation and maintenance of home heating and cooling equipment.

Insulation Contractor

Winterizing your home

Sometimes it's necessary to remove snow accumulation from a home's roof to avoid ice dams.

Even if you have good insulation there are practical steps you can take every year to make sure your home is ready for winter weather. Most cost little to do and can pay off big over the long term.

Insulation and weatherstripping

Attic insulation can settle over time and need a fresh layer. The builder may have insulated your walls, but neglected other parts of the home exterior where heat can escape.

Want to cut energy costs? Look at your attic

Proper attic insulation can help reduce the energy costs your home incurs. (Photo courtesy of Superior Insulation & Attic Ventiliation))

A highly rated Chicago attic ventilation and insulation specialist offers three ways to maximize your attic's energy efficiency and save on energy costs.

5 ways to winterize your home and get immediate results

Setting the ceiling fan to operate in a clockwise direction can help circulate warm air down to ground level.

If you're constantly dealing with cold drafts, poor insulation and high heating costs, consider winterizing your home. The following home winterizing tips can help make your home more comfortable this winter.

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Air Duct Cleaning

Duct cleaning & air quality

The air you breathe indoors can become more polluted than outdoor air because it is trapped inside allowing contaminants to accumulate. Many HVAC companies offer duct-cleaning services, but there's no scientific proof that duct-cleaning improves air quality.

How much does air duct cleaning cost?

Ask potential air duct cleaning companies to provide you with a written checklist of exactly what they will do, and if you hire them, ask them to verify each task as they complete it. (Photo by Jennica Abrams)

Angie Hicks responds to a member who wants to know a reasonable price for air duct cleaning? She explains how to avoid air duct cleaning scams, and provides an average price range for quality duct cleaning service.

Help! I think I have mold in my air ducts?

"While it’s entirely possible that you do have mold in your air ducts, such claims are also a common scare tactic used by some less-than-scrupulous air duct cleaning companies," Angie Hicks says.

Dear Angie: We just bought a house to find mold in the air ducts... Do they need to be taken out?

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Home Energy Audit

Home energy audits

One thing homeowners can do to save on energy costs is to have a home energy audit conducted. This will reveal where drafts are entering from outdoors and where insulation is ineffective. Energy auditors can also recommend upgrades in appliances to save energy.

A home energy audit can stop uneven heating and cooling

An energy auditor may perform a blower door test, which is used to determine the air infiltration rate of a home. For the test to work, an auditor mounts a fan to an exterior door and removes air from the home, lowering the pressure inside. It forces outside air to flow in through any cracks or gaps in the home, expsoing points of air infiltration.

Dear Angie: I have lived in my 7-year-old house for three years. During the winter months, the master bedroom stays very cold. During the summer, it stays very warm. We have a two-level home and the bedroom is on the top floor in the back of the house.

5 ways to winterize your home and get immediate results

Adding insulation to plaster walls

Adding insulation to walls can make your home more energy efficient and lower utility bills. A home energy audit is a great way to assess points of energy loss.

Angie Hicks responds to a member who wants to know if it’s a good idea to add insulation to walls if the interior is plaster and the exterior is brick, and whether it will save energy and lower utility bills

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