For anyone living in Paradise, annual heating maintenance is a must to ensure the efficient operation of the heating system and its longevity. As the cooler months approach, have professionals inspect the heating system. They will check for common problems that often occur due to age or overuse, such as part wear, filter dirtiness, and duct leakage—issues that can not only reduce system efficiency but also cause energy bills to spike. With a well-tuned heating system, not only should your home be comfortable this winter, but you also should be able to avoid substantial energy bill increases.
If you live in Paradise and have a forced-air system, you've got some low-hanging fruit when it comes to system maintenance. The big one, of course, is ductwork. Not only must the ducts be in good repair and properly sealed if you're to get the promised efficiency and comfort from a forced-air system, but the air ducts themselves are also a vector for poor indoor air quality if they're allowed to become a little dusty. Dusty ducts = dusty house = poor indoor air quality. There's a simple equation there. So cleaning the ductwork is an element of indoor air quality maintenance. And cleaning the ductwork is really an exercise in good system maintenance, because a good cleaning of the ducts is only useful if you don't reintroduce dust back into the system.
If you don't heat your home with a furnace, boiler, or fireplace, you're part of a rising number of households relying on alternative systems—like radiant heating, heat pumps, and electric resistance—that need specialized care to perform at their best.
These alternatives to more traditional central heating systems are still a minority but are gaining ground (or in some cases expanding underfloor). The reason is pretty much the same as with heat pumps: These systems—most especially doing them the right way in terms of siting and sizing—are more energy-efficient than furnaces and boilers and make for more comfortable homes. Still, they're not way out in front. Heat pumps are number 4 in the list of the 8 heating heroes for 2022.