"Bad Ducts"

The United States has a department of energy responsible for energy policy and education throughout the states. Likewise, each state has a corresponding agency to regulate that state's energy policy, and education etc. The California Energy Commission, located at www.energy.ca.gov provides different links to rebate centers, current projects and updates to different laws. Another link off of their page is energyvideos.com. These are uploaded videos that teach Californians about their energy use. These videos are broken up into residential and commercial and then further by lighting, HVAC, solar...etc. This video is labeled "bad ducts" and shows the dangers of leaky duct work and explains why it is so important to have ducts that serve your system. http://www.energyvideos.com/video.php?video=cec_bad_ducts&vtype=wm The video also explains why California enacted new legislation requiring homeowners to test old duct work when installing a new system. Really something to think about if someone in your family is having breathing problems,a health condition requiring certain temperatures or even if you are planning on installing a new system.

February Tips

February tips for Southern California from Better Homes and Gardens

Source page: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/southern-california/february-tips-southern-california/ Question 2: What on earth does this have to do with heating and air conditioning? Hmm. probably nothing, but it has to do with saving energy. The shrubbery around your home can insulate the home against outdoor weather and provide shade or wind breaks. So gardening the outside of your home, can really make a difference in the indoor temperature. Gardening is also a pretty good source of exercise. According to a "healthy all life long" mandatory college class it burns about as much calories as walking if you do it for long enough.

• First, they suggest planting box-grown trees and shrubs. These are perfect for placing in front of windows or on the side of the house that gets the most sun. The idea here is to block direct sunlight so that it doesn't go right into your home and warm it during the summer. If you plant deciduous trees, that's even better, because they will loose their leaves during the winter and allow that same sunlight to go into the room and warm the house.

The entry continues cautioning the ways that certain grasses etc. should be cut, as well as what to add mulch to. This stuff is more for the hardcore gardeners...and there aren't any basic energy savings to glean here, so if your thumb is green, take their advice and read the rest of the article. For the rest of us, just know that it is important to plant after the frost, but before the heat of summer. AND if you're planting strawberries - now's the time. MmMm.

Virtual Thermostat

Do you have thermostat trouble?

I know, I know. Todays technology right? Just runs away. As soon as you buy a computer it's obsolete...and the same thing goes for cameras, mp3 players and virtually anything else with any type of computerized functions. Likewise, understanding a digital thermostat can be tricky. Well, what better way to gain understanding than to practice programming a thermostat on the internet? Wow. really. So, you go to this website: http://venstar.com/Thermostats/Simulators/Slimline_Residential_Launch.swf. It looks like this: So then, you can use your mouse to "press" (or click on) the various buttons. Very Easy. So, the red "arrow" on the left side, makes the temperature go up - making the room warmer. Right? 80 is warmer than 60. Makes sense. Conversely, the blue arrow pointing down (right below the red 'up' arrow) makes the temperature (the large number in the middle of the screen). Okay, when the "air" kicks on the green light goes on and when the heat goes on the red light goes on. That's how you know whether or not you are doing it right. On the left side of the screen in the top left corner there is a number (in degrees) and cool, below that a number and heat. These numbers are what the thermostat is set to and whether or not it is cooling or heating. Obviously, you don't want to heat during the summer (well, in California), so make sure that it is switched to cool. For advanced users, there is a "advanced function" section which explains all the other wonderful and technologically scary things the thermostat is able to do. This tool is also helpful in that a technician is able to "talk" a homeowner through the programming of the thermostat without having to be in the physical location of the homeowner.

High Bill Help

Source: "Outrageous Power Bill Spurs Couple to Seek Audit" by Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier.

If your energy bills are higher than you think they should be is there really anything you can do to change that?

YES!

Contrary to popular belief there is usually something (and something fairly easy at that) that you can do as a homeowner to determine where your energy is being used and how to change that usage or conserve more energy. While there are several different options that you can do, the couple in this article opted instead for a home energy audit. These are usually provided by your power company, an energy use company or even a private contractor. The specialist will come to your house and ask you questions about how your energy is being used - so that he or she can determine where energy use can be saved without affecting your lifestyle too drastically. Then they will measure how much air is escaping from the house as well as the state of your equipment. This may be done a variety of different ways from infrared tracking to electrical air pressure measurement.

To find energy auditors in southern California...

First visit: http://www.fypower.org/res/energyaudit/professional.html this page gives you tips and suggestions on how to choose an auditing company as well as some sample questions that the auditor may ask you. You can find a local contractor by calling 888-357-1777 in Southern California. They will then provide you listings of energy auditors near you. If you want, you may also check with your local power company. For example, Southern California Edison has an energy auditing program. To learn more, visit their webpage:http://www.sce.com/_Tools/Residential/HomeEnergySurvey.htm Its in the section under the heading "In-Home Energy Survey"

"In one short visit to your home, a trained expert will help you improve your home's energy efficiency and lower your energy bills. Our energy service representatives are trained to evaluate when and how you use electricity, water and natural gas. After a brief survey, they will provide suggestions to guide you in making your home more energy efficient — reducing your energy bills, improving your home's comfort, and protecting the environment. Don't delay. Get started saving energy and money by making your home more energy efficient with our Free Home Energy Efficiency Survey. Schedule your money-saving home energy survey today by calling (800) 278-8585. Trained energy experts are available to meet with you at home or by phone any time between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on alternate Saturdays.

The more you know about the way you are using energy in your home, the more ways you can find to cut back and save some green. Don't be like these homeowners who are stuck with a hefty bill.

Reduce Your Energy Use

Source: www.greenenergyloan.org If you live in Sonoma, or Marin county, a your path to a greener home may already be paid for you. A collection of banks and non-profits have provided funding for homeowners who want to make their homes more efficient. For those of us who live outside of those counties, they also provide suggestions on how to reduce your costs elsewhere. See for yourself. Here are selected suggestions from their page, under the heading

First, Reduce (Energy Use)

"Residential energy efficiency analysis — also known as “whole-house home performance analysis” — uses building science criteria, onsite test procedures, and analysis software to identify a home’s energy savings opportunities, recommend an upgrade plan, provide savings/cost estimates, and verify the upgrade results. Each house includes three interde­pen­dent systems: (1) an air barrier (that prevents air from leaking into or out of the building shell), (2) a thermal barrier (that keeps heat from transferring through the building shell), and (3) a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (including furnace, air conditioner, and duct system that provide a stable indoor air temperature). Making improvements to one system affects the other systems. These three items together determine a home’s heating/cooling demand, which can represent from 50 to 80 percent of the home’s total energy use. To obtain site-specific home performance data, a qualified analyst uses test equipment including: * Blower Door: Creates a pressure difference between inside and outside for measuring total leakage in the building shell and identifying actual air leaks * Duct Blaster: Pressurizes the duct system to identify the location of leaks in the ducts and connectors * Infrared Camera: Measures the temperature of the walls, ceiling, and floor to detect missing or inadequate insulation * Carbon Monoxide Detector: Detects poorly performing and dangerous gas combustion appliances The use of this test equipment allows the analyst to monitor and confirm building shell and duct sealing measures, identify insulation upgrade opportunities, confirm proper indoor ventilation, and ensure safe operation of gas appliances such as furnaces and hot water heaters."

Duct Tape...

Have you ever wondered where duct tape got its name from? Source: Myths page off of consumer energy center.org (http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/duct_tape.html). According to this page, duct tape was developed for military use during WWI. The silver kind was manufactured later when it became popular with HVAC contractors, who then used it to put together the ducts in air conditioning and heating systems they installed. While it may be suggested to use duct tape for fixes in your car or even your duct work - please remember that this is a very LIMITED and EXTREMELY short term fix. As such, in laboratory tests (testing different types to seal duct work) duct tape performed the WORST and ALWAYS failed. So if you recall duct tape in your duct work, it would be a good idea to finally get around to calling your HVAC contractor to see about getting that fixed...for good. Another thing is that if you are getting your unit replaced, certain "climate zones" in California require the ducts to be tested. If there is more than 15% leakage, then the ducts need to be replaced. In Covina, we are in climate zone 9 along with Pasadena, Glendora (etc.) while the coastal La County is in zone 6. You can find a link to find your zip code here. The duct testing law (as part of title 24) can be found here. It reads:

"2005 HVAC Change-Out Information

Why would you waste the energy savings from a new efficient air conditioner or furnace by connecting it to a leaky duct system? Properly sealed duct systems will lower your energy bills, increase your comfort and reduce pollution both inside and outside your home.

Beginning October 1, 2005, Title 24 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards requires that ducts be tested for leaks when a central air conditioner or furnace is installed or replaced. Ducts that leak 15 percent or more must be repaired."

Be sure to check and see if your zip code is in the required testing area. This can be an additional cost as some HVAC companies do not do their own testing.

Winter Energy Savings Tips

Winter Energy savings tips a la consumerenergycenter.org. California is pretty fortunate in that there are many different non-profits that are focused on providing consumers with the best energy-savings tips and suggestions. As such, we get pretty good information and finding 'green' or 'energy-sparse' ways to do things is fairly simple. Aside from energystar.gov and flexyourpower.org we also have a non-profit dedicated to providing information to consumers about their energy consumption (hence: www.consumerenergycenter.org - the SOURCE for this post). They break down their winter tips into five sections:

• Tips to Save Natural Gas
• Keep Safe This Winter
• Things That Are Fast and Free
• Things to Do That Are Inexpensive
• Thing to Do That Are Investments

(clicking on a section will take you to that section on their web page so you may read more). The natural gas tips are pretty common across the board - health permitting, turn down the heater and don some wool. The keep safe section highlights the need for a carbon monoxide detector in the home. While the things that are fast and free section gives more advice on how to save just a bit on your energy bill. They suggest opening drapes, to let the sun warm areas of your home and rearranging furniture so that nothing is blocking vents/air flow. The "Inexpensive" breakdown as well as the investments sections provide tips on what types of appliances etc. to buy. This page is actually an excellent place to start on your journey to an energy efficient home. There are steps on every level of commitment. And who knows? seeing the change in your energy bill from simply moving the couch might encourage following more tips. In this economy every little bit helps...

Your Furnace: the Basics

A while back (during summer) we looked at the basic breakdown of an air conditioning (also called a condensing unit)'s insides and what each part was etc. etc. Today, we will examine the inside of a furnace thanks to this handy picture: 

(Source: http://homerepair.about.com/od/heatingcoolingrepair/ss/gas_furn_trblsh.htm) 

How this works is that the cold air (air that was once heated, but has since cooled down) gets sucked into the furnace via the cold air return (this vent/grill is usually substantially larger and lower down than the other vents installed in your home). Then the cool air passes through the filter (to clean the air and trap any particles that may be lurking) then it is warmed by a burner. Then the warmed air gets pumped out into the rest of the house via the duct work. 

The site homerepair.about.com also gives possible suggestions on what to do if  your furnace is not working properly. 

Here are some of their suggestions: 

• Thermostat set too low and no calling for heat
• Thermostat not working
• Circuit breaker or fuse controlling the furnace is tripped or blown
• Natural gas or propane control valve is closed
• Pilot light is out
Possible Repairs
• Check that thermostat is in heat mode and has appropriate temperature setting Try moving dial setting up or down a few degrees
• Clean contacts in thermostat if it is a non-digital type
• Reset tripped circuit breaker
• Replace blown fuse
• Relight pilot light

However, if you're like me, it is always a good option to call your HVAC company for their suggestions or troubleshooting explanations. 

Emergency Preparation...

Today I was google-ing to see what type of blog entry I could come up with for today. I had originally planned for some sort of "cold weather tips." However, upon google-ing that phrase, the CDC was the first page listed. I thought....eh, why not. Well...perhaps that was a mistake. The CDC (center for disease control) has more than (I for one) some...ever wanted to know about what to do during various emergencies. (I wouldn't believe that some of the things they caution against even happened in the United States....but...) It is good to be prepared, so we will do "cold weather tips" some other day. Here is the source page in case you would like to visit it for yourself. But be prepared...browsing this page will cause anxiety. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.asp Okay, so I focused on what to do if the power goes out. This is pretty common during stormy weather (and I figure it's good to know in the summer too for brown/black outs). The first thing the CDC mentions is food safety. When the power goes out try not to open the fridge or freezer as much as possible (okay, everyone knows that) but did you know a full freezer can preserve food for 48 hours? They also caution that if food is above 40 degrees to just throw it away. Next, they discuss water and drinkability during a power outage and then split the section into hot and cold weather situations. For the cold section they explain how to prevent and spot frostbite and things to do (as well as some other things not to do). They suggest checking in on older friends and family frequently to ensure that their home is heated correctly, because the elderly are more susceptible to cold.

Preventing Hypothermia Everyone, especially the elderly and ill, should have adequate food, clothing, shelter, and sources of heat. Blankets can help, even in poorly heated rooms. Wear layers of clothing and a hat, which help to keep in body heat. Move around. Physical activity raises body temperature. Water cooler than 75°F (24°C) removes body heat more rapidly than can be replaced. The result is hypothermia. To avoid hypothermia: Avoid swimming or wading in water if possible. If entering water is necessary: Wear high rubber boots in water. Ensure clothing and boots have adequate insulation. Avoid working/playing alone. Take frequent breaks out of the water. Change into dry clothing when possible.

There are also sections on what to do if someone is exposed to an electric shock, if a power line lands on your car and many many other situations. If you have some free time...and a solid disposition go ahead and be prepared.

Flex Your Power

Flexyourpower.org has a box on their opening page which allows you to input your zip code. Upon entering said zipcode, it then takes you to a page listing all of the rebates, incentives and services in your area.  Rebates are based on money that local companies or even the federal government are providing in your area for upgrading appliances to newer, more efficient versions. 

In Covina, the site that you would get taken to is found here: http://www.flexyourpower.org/res/tools/rgl_results.html?z=91723&s=res. 

The Rebates currently offered include: 

a furnace over 92% AFUE

clothes washers and dryers

refrigerators and freezers

If you are in the market for one (or several of these new appliances) it might be a good idea to see which models allow for rebates - or even tax refunds for next year. Every bit counts...

The Incentives section covers various ways and reasons to upgrade your home. For example, if you have a pool or spa - heating that 'puppy' can be very expensive.  Sometimes the government or other local governing bodies will chip in or provide breaks to homeowners who are willing to heating their pool or spa in a cheaper, more efficient way.  This helps all of us, because there is then more energy to be used elsewhere it is needed. 

Then, they also list services in your area. Has your home been drafty this winter? Maybe you need to put in more insulation and caulk around the windows.  If you're not the 'handy' type - or are too busy to finish a project, there are links on this page to people who will do those upgrades for you. There are 7 companies recommended on the website that will perform a home energy audit (to see where energy is escaping from your home and suggest ways to fix that).  These are also good things to look into if your energy bills are higher than you think they should be. 

If you are considering making some upgrades to your home or office, these are reputable companies recommended by the flex your power non-profit.  It's a good place to start. Flex your power also offers information about other ways to save energy and money around your home. If you have a free afternoon it might be time well spent. And plus! You will totally have random information to share at parties!

Corn Instead of a Furnace?

Everyone is looking to cut costs in some way or another. An excellent place to start is your energy bills. These bills can be significantly higher than we often think, and energy to heat and cool the average home requires over 40% of the yearly energy total. Here is what some people are doing to decrease their energy use... An outdoor furnace is a structure that contains heating mechanisms...usually some sort of firebox to 'burn' fuel (corn or wood usually) and a coil of heated water which then can be used to transfer heat to other areas of the home heating system. These furnace structures can be placed 30-50 feet from the home (but as far away as 500 feet). This helps to keep the home quiet (as you are not near the burner) and energy costs down (because the primary fuel of this furnace is a non-traditional, organic source). Learn more at: http://www.alternative-heating.com/outdoor-corn-furnaces.html. They also provide other alternative heating techniques. I didn't know about this topic before this post, and will continue looking into it to see what the application will be for non-farm (rural) areas.

Troubleshooting Tips

There is always those times when the unit is making a funny noise, or turning on then off...and you automatically run to the phone to call the HVAC company. Why not? It's COLD outside. Well, with winter (and peak season) upon us, you might be waiting a bit for service. Carrier (an excellent provider of heating and air conditioning equipment worldwide) has a page to give you some things to try before calling in the experts. 

Check out their suggestions for both heating and air on their webpage here: http://www.residential.carrier.com/support/troubleshooting.shtml 

For Furnace checkup they suggest first to look at the thermostat.  If you don't have power to the thermostat it is probably a breaker issue. If there is power, look at what the thermostat is telling you. Check to see if it is time to change your filter, or even that the thermostat is set to "heat." 

Sometimes the "fan" gets left in the "on" position and that's why the heat isn't coming on. We suggest keeping your fan setting on "auto." 

If those don't work, keep going. The rest of the list walks you through resetting the power breakers and making sure the actual furnace is on.  These are pretty common problems. It is a good idea to check these things before calling to make a complaint.  Plus, the more you can tell us over the phone, the better of an idea we have of what's wrong with the unit and sometimes we can even bring the part(s) we need with us the first time. This saves you time and money.  

If all of these things don't make it nice and toasty in your home, something more complex might be wrong. I would suggest NOT trying to take care of that yourself unless you've had some sort of training. Even the best of us "handys" need to call in for backup sometimes.  

Carrier also provides helpful troubleshooting tips if your air conditioner isn't working also. A good thing to keep in mind or around just in case.  However, the best way to ensure optimum running and efficiency is to have a check-up/service yearly. 

Energy Use Yardstick

The energy bill comes every month - and you pay it. That's just how it works. But have you ever wondered if your energy bill is too high? Have you thought about easy changes that your family could make to significantly improve the energy bill's bottom line? AND even if you have...how do you figure out what you should change? Well, energystar.gov (R) is here to help. They have a home yardsticking feature that helps you to compare your home's energy use with what a super efficient home the same size as yours would use. Then you can decide which repairs/upgrades/changes will work best for you and your budget. Visit the home yardstick initial page here: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=HOME_ENERGY_YARDSTICK.showGetStarted It is an easy and interactive website where you enter some simple information and then the website provides information based on your answers. The first input is the zip code where the home is located. Make sure you have an electricity bill from the previous month to get an accurate count. You just input how much electricity and other types of fuel you have used during the month. It is a good idea to know how much energy your home is using.

Buying a New Furnace?

Buying a new furnace?

even if you're not...yet...it is a good idea to do the research now so that when your furnace burns out (like literally...) you can make a GOOD snap decision in it's replacement.

What to look for? There are many different articles out there suggesting different things to look for when you are in the market for a new furnace. 

1. First of all, you want to make sure that the furnace you want is in your price range.  Keep in mind that more efficient models are slightly more expensive, but will pay for themselves in energy savings within a relatively short time. It is a good idea to talk with your HVAC contractor and ask for a 'payback analysis' many companies offer these number punching bottom lines to help homeowners make the decision about what type of unit they want. The payback analysis compares costs of the unit, energy costs per month and gives you a time frame for how long it will take the furnace to pay for itself. Interesting concept huh? Don't scrimp and get screwed in the long run.  However, 80 AFUE furnaces (while not top of the line) may be better at heating older homes. So make sure that you are making the decision with all of your own personal needs in mind.
2. Next, make sure you understand how your heating system is going to work - as well as how the billing is going to work.  There are many different options for heating your home - from natural gas to geothermal heat (which uses the heat that builds up in the ground) - to even a combination of several heating options.  Depending on which option your system is going to be using, the costs can be drastically different - SO ASK!
3. Ask if the government in your city or state (or even at the federal level) is participating in a rebate or return payment program for installing heating or cooling units.  Sometimes participating agencies will reward your choice for increased efficiency by cutting some taxes or providing a mail-in rebate.  Also, local energy companies (such as Southern California Edison or the Gas Company) will also provide a rebate.  Make sure you know which units qualify for money back. That way you can make sure that you consider all of your options before making a decision.

For MORE things to consider check out the article from Detroit news  visit: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081220/OPINION03/812200302&imw=Y

Tough Weather

When weather gets tough...the tough...get prepared? This year, we have experienced weird and wacky weather. There have been freak wind storms, random snow falls and 90+ degree days in the middle of winter - AND - that's only in Southern California (where the sun always shines and as a result, we can be somewhat wussy about weather situations). S0, what happens when mother nature throws a monkey wrench into your plans? Even though I seriously doubt that we are going to have a tornado/flood/other major disaster in the next few weeks (albeit said with some knocking on something wooden), it is always better to be prepared. Better safe than sorry right? Ok, so to us newbies in Southern California...

1. Make a PLAN
This plan can be as simple as creating a meeting spot or updating the canned food in the disaster kit you made after the last earthquake. However, for some easy tips and good advice, head over to the weather channel's weather.com. On their site, they have a complete emergency plan and a list of things to put into your kit that they will walk you through and then print out for you. EXCELLENT idea!

• Decide who is actually in your "household"
Now basically this is you, your possible spouse, any children or dependents and you don't want to forget grandma or grandpa or any other relatives in your care near-by that may have difficulties during a disaster. It is a good idea to think about it ahead of time so that no one gets accidentally forgotten. It's also a good idea to update this information as children get older or involved in activities as their possible pickup locations may change. You don't want something to happen with out dated information. Then where would you be?

• Next nail down all of the possible contact information
This is where you choose a central neutral location to meet - the parking lot somewhere etc. Also use this to track various contact numbers of these places. If you are meeting at a church or community center make sure that you have those numbers on file too. Remember to include a couple different places that are located in different parts of town in case travel becomes difficult or certain areas are blocked off. Be SPECIFIC so everyone knows exactly where to meet under exactly what circumstances - but don't make things too complicated.

• Trick out your supply kit
Was the last time you checked your emergency kit when one of the kids had to bring one to preschool? Yeah...not good. Your emergency kit should be stocked with food and water - that is not currently expired as well as clothes and shoes, blankets, medicine and other necessary items. The list on weather.com has an amazing list that is detailed and will help you to remember minute things. (Even if you don't want to go ahead and do the whole planning exercise, I would recommend printing out the emergency preparedness list because it is an easy, fast way to check up on your supplies.)

Okay, so don't freak out. Nothing is going to happen...probably. BUT it would be a good idea to be prepared anyhow. That was, after all, the difference between the grasshoppers and the ants in that old Disney cartoon.

10 Tips!

Help! It's winter...and you don't want to have to mortgage your home to finance your heating bills?

Lucky for you many different heating fuel providers (gas companies), state and local governments and other entities provide "tips" that can be rather helpful in keeping that bill low. One of my favorites (as much for the cheesy graphics for the content) is provided by the state of Minnesota. Which can be found linked off of our web page here. They recommend installing motion detector lights, or putting lights that are on hard-to-reach switches on timers. Using these simple upgrades, you can ensure that lights turn on (and off) when needed and don't waste expensive energy that could be used elsewhere. Interesting and rather unique perspective to solving that problem. Timers for lights run about $10 - $60 (google shopping) and motion detector lights run in about the same range depending on the sophistication of the model. If you are shopping for new lights, make sure that they are ENERGY STAR (R) approved (so that you aren't saving money in one area and sucking it out in another -- that would be silly). They suggest lighting rooms that are used frequently with the motion detector lights like the bathroom - because many times that light doesn't get shut off. There are many other suggestions on their sheet of 10 suggestions, but if you still aren't satisfied with the tips, check out the Information section of www.sinclairair.com On the information and knowledge center page, there are links to many different aspects of our site. The resources page will help you to find suggestions and tips that we have been sent from energy providers and other useful information. Under the resources tab there are 10 winter tips from the southern California gas company as well as a couple of other excellent energy boosters. Check it out.

Are Your Ducts Dirty?

As we get more and more concerned about air quality and air-born allergens, we also are more concerned about places where those things could possibly build up. One of the common places to "blame" in recent news and television ads is your ductwork.

HOWEVER,

Here are some things you should know before jumping on the bandwagon and getting your expensive duct work cleaned by an even more expensive specialist company... Source: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html The Environmental Protection Agency off their website. Last Access 2/2/09. So, according to the EPA - duct cleaning isn't proven to actually help anything. In a nutshell: Dust particles may build up in your ducts over LOOOOOONG periods of time, but get stuck on the vents/grills and so aren't actually escaping into the air of your home. On the other hand, they DO recommend getting your ducts cleaned if they have slime visibly seeping out of them, or if the insulation near them gets water damaged (both really gross situations I imagine...). They provide a whole consumer checklist and the do's and don'ts of ductcleaning that every homeowner should check out before getting their ductwork cleaned!