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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

May 25

Mtn. View Quartet gospel singing in the Pinnacle Pavilion at Table Rock at 7:00 p.p.

May

Ring Making: Metal with Set Stones

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-9:00 pm with Trish Stalb

The Arts Center, volunteerarts@explorearts.org, 864-633-5051.

June 1

McCall R.A. Camp Choir singing in the Pinnacle Pavilion at Table Rock June 1 at 7 p.m.

Yard Sale to benefit Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at intersection of Hwy. 8 and Hwy. 11, 8 a.m. until. Organized by the church WMU. Lot’s of furniture, toys, baby items and clothes.

June 2

Join Hunt’s Memorial Baptist Church (501 Alex Dr in Dacusville) on Sunday, June 2, 2013 for the annual Homecoming celebration! Services will be held at 10:30am with fellowship and lunch following the service. Pastor Paul Welch will deliver the sermon.

June 8

Easley High School Class of 1958 will have a class reunion 4-9 p.m. For more information call Myra McDonald at 859-7381 or Priscilla Lollis at 859-4005.

June 15

PPC Child Development Center Kids Classic 2nd Annual Golf Tournament

Come play “Fore the Kids” as Pickens Presbyterian Church Child Development Center hosts its 2nd Annual Golf Classic on Saturday, June 15 at The Rock at Jocassee. Registration is at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. $100 per person or $400 per team (including breakfast & lunch). Hole in One prizes include a BMW, airline tickets and more.

Call 878-9953 for more information.

June

June Community Events

Walk the Labyrinth

A mindful walking meditation will take place on Saturday, June 1, 8-10 a.m., behind the Daniel Chapel at Furman University. For more information, contact the Greenville Health System Life Center at 455-4001.

National Cancer Survivors Day

Cancer survivors and their families are invited to celebrate survivorship on Sunday, June 2, 3-4:30 p.m., at the TD Convention Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 1-877-GHS-INFO (447-4636) or visit ghs.org/healthevents.

Fat Counts

Find out how to choose low-fat, low-cholesterol foods on Monday, June 3, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4010.

Stress Management

Learn to control stress so it doesn’t control you on Monday, June 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Fee: $20. To register, call 455-4001.

Yoga for Cancer Survivors

This eight-week yoga class for cancer survivors kicks off Thursday, June 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m., at the Cancer Institute of Greenville Health System. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-5809.

Lymphedema Prevention and Education

This class for cancer patients and their caregivers takes place Thursday, June 6, 4:15-5 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; no registration required. For more information, call 455-6233.

Salt Sense

Learn guidelines for eating less sodium, which can help manage congestive heart failure and hypertension, on Monday, June 10, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4010.

Pets, Babies and Children: How to Make Everyone Happy

Learn the basics about pets and children and how to balance the two on Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. The same talk will be repeated on Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 p.m., at Hillcrest Memorial Hospital. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4001.

Stress: Is It Worth Dying For?

Learn the origins of stress and how your body responds to it on Wednesday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4021.

Diabetes 101

Learn the basics about diabetes on Friday, June 14, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; no registration required. For more information, call 455-8722.

Know Your Numbers: Understanding Cholesterol

Increase your knowledge of cholesterol and the latest recommendations on Friday, June 14, at 12:30 p.m., or June 21, at 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-5173.

More than Fat

Learn the heart healthy benefits of specific foods and nutrients on Monday, June 17, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4010.

Metabolic Syndrome

Learn the risk factors that make up the metabolic syndrome and steps you can take to prevent or control diabetes, heart disease and stroke on Wednesday, June 19, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4010.

Splash n’ Dash

This multi-sport competition for kids ages 3-16 includes a pool swim and cross country run. Event takes place Saturday, June 22, at the Greenville Health System Life Center and repeats on July 20 at the Caine Halter Family Y and August 3 at the GHS Family Y. Cost: $15/event. For details, visit ghs.org/splashndash.

Meet the Midwives

Learn about Greenville Health System’s nurse-midwifery program and how a midwife can enhance the birthing process on Tuesday, June 25, 6-8 p.m., at Greenville Midwifery Care. Free; registration required. To register, call 1-877-GHS-INFO (447-4636) or visit ghs.org/healthevents.

Exercise Prescription

Learn the components of a safe exercise program on Wednesday, June 26, 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Free; registration required. To register, call 455-4037.

Is Arthritis Pain a Handful?

Hand specialists with Greenville Health System will discuss the causes of hand pain and treatment options on Wednesday, June 26, 12-1 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Lunch provided. Free; registration required. To register, call 1-877-GHS-INFO (447-4636) or visit ghs.org/healthevents.

You Go Girl Sprint Triathlon

This women’s only event takes place Sunday, July 7, 7 a.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center and includes a 250-yard swim, 10-mile bike ride and 2.5-mile run. Cost: $55. To register, visit setupevents.com.

Let’s Talk About Mental Illness

Join clinicians from Greenville Health System for a discussion on mental illness on Friday, July 19, 12-1 p.m., at Centre Stage. Lunch provided. Free; registration required. To register, call 1-877-GHS-INFO (447-4636) or visit ghs.org/healthevents.

Smoking Cessation Support Group

This group meets every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at Patewood Memorial Hospital. No fee to attend. For more information, call 312-5671.

Weight Management Support Group

This group meets the first and third Wednesday, 6-7 p.m., at the Greenville Health System Life Center. Next class is June 5. No fee to attend. For more information, call 312-5671.

Cancer Survivors Support Group

Anyone who has ever had a cancer diagnosis is invited to join this support group, which meets the third Tuesday of every month from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of the Cancer Institute of Greenville Health System. A support group specifically for breast and gynecological cancer survivors takes place the fourth Tuesday of every month from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 455-5809.

Coffee Chat

Cancer survivors are invited to meet, relax and chat the third Friday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Cancer Institute of Greenville Health System.

Walking Club

Cancer patients, survivors and caregivers are invited to walk as a group every Friday. The group meets at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Cancer Institute of Greenville Health System. To join the club, call 455-5809.

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News
A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
Comments
(0)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
No Comments Yet
A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
by Brandpoint (ARA) Sponsored Content
Jun 19, 2013 | 587 views | 0 0 comments | 39 39 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. What’s more, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system pulls in a sizeable amount of contaminants, and may re-circulate those irritants five to seven times a day.
Your heating and cooling system can be considered the heart and lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out. Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home – and the fewer allergy triggers circulating in the air. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions or some environmental allergies. That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.
Having your HVAC system cleaned by a professional could actually save you money in the long run. That’s because contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Even though you use filters, the HVAC system still gets dirty through normal use. When the system is clean, however, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you want, and will use less energy – saving you money.
Once you’ve decided to have your HVAC system cleaned, how do you choose a professional? NADCA urges you to resist those fliers you might get from fly-by-night companies. Firms offering “$99 whole house specials” and similar gimmicks may do work that’s not up to industry standards or try to squeeze more money from you by using scare tactics. Here are other suggestions from NADCA:
* Look for a company that’s certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning and is a member in good standing of NADCA. The organization has a list of member companies; visit www.nadca.com. NADCA members carry general liability insurance, have at least one person on staff trained and certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist, and clean and restore heating and cooling systems following the organization’s guidelines.
* Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you time estimates for their work. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take.
* Not every house needs an HVAC cleaning. A quality company will do a visual inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary. The professional should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
* Has the company been in business long enough to have adequate experience? Ask if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Get and check references.
* Ask for proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* The company may use one of two main types of vacuum collection systems – either one mounted on a truck or a portable unit. All vacuum units should be attached to collection devices for safe containment prior to disposal. Any device that exhausts indoors must be HEPA filtered.
* A vacuum collection device alone won’t get your HVAC system clean. The professional should also use tools designed to actually clean debris off the components, such as brushes.
* Run through a checklist of what needs to be done with the professional before and after the job, to ensure it’s done properly. You can find a thorough checklist at www.nadca.com.
Keeping allergies at bay can be a multi-faceted job. But having clean air ducts in your home will go a long way toward everyone breathing more easily.
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