Martin Heat & Air Blog: Archive for March, 2025

Does My Home Really Need a Duct Cleaning?

Friday, March 21st, 2025

Will a duct cleaning really make an impact on my home’s air quality? The answer is yes! In this article, we’ll learn the importance of indoor air quality and how a whole-home duct cleaning can make your home a healthier environment.

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

True or false: the average American spends 90% of their time indoors.

If you answered true, you’re correct!

Since we spend most of our days inside, it’s important that we make sure the air we breathe is clean.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that air pollution levels inside are 2-5x higher than pollution levels outside. Pollen, pet dander, mold, and mildew accumulate in our homes over time and contribute to poor air quality. These pollutants can trigger negative health effects such as:

  • Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Respiratory illnesses

A major culprit in housing allergens is your ductwork, which is the network of pipes that move conditioned air from your HVAC system to your home. Here are some of the ways that debris can enter ductwork:

  • Poor quality or dirty filters
  • New construction and renovation projects that stir up dust
  • Smoking inside the home

Over time, these pollutants can build up to cause poor air quality in your home. Thankfully, we offer a solution: a whole-home duct cleaning.

What Happens During an Air Duct Cleaning?

First, our Comfort Advisor will conduct a ductwork inspection by using a camera to determine the condition of the ducts.

Next, our technicians use a specialized piece of equipment called a BrushBeast to scrub and vacuum your ductwork at the same time. This brush is tough enough to loosen and remove dirt build-up, but gentle enough to ensure your ductwork remains fully intact.

In addition to cleaning the ductwork, we’ll also clean and disinfect your registers and the blower wheel inside your air handler. A blower wheel cleaning is especially important to allow the system to operate efficiently.

Finally, once everything has been cleaned and disinfected, we will return and seal the registers. We always clean up after ourselves so you can rest assured that your home will be in the same condition as when we arrived.  

How Do I Know if I Need a Duct Cleaning?

You might need a duct cleaning if you notice:

  • Your home is abnormally dusty, especially around vents
  • Strange or unpleasant odors coming from your vents
  • Allergy symptoms or respiratory issues
  • Increased energy costs

If you suspect you need to clean your ductwork, our team is ready to help! Call us today to get a FREE duct cleaning quote:

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Tips to Prepare Your Cooling System for Spring

Thursday, March 13th, 2025
infographic of a spring HVAC maintenance checklist

Tips to Prepare Your Cooling System for Spring

Spring is in the air! Is your air conditioning unit ready to handle the warm North Myrtle Beach weather?

Your air conditioner works hard to cool your home during the warm months; the last thing you want is for it to break down in the middle of summer! We recommend performing regular maintenance on your HVAC system to ensure your A/C unit runs smoothly all spring- and summer-long.

Regular preventative maintenance helps catch the small issues before they become big problems, which prevents the risk of breakdowns. Maintaining your HVAC system also saves you money in the long run by improving energy efficiency and extending the life of your system.

Early spring is the perfect time to perform maintenance on your cooling system so you can have peace of mind when the weather really heats up! In this article, we’ve prepared a list of tasks you can do right now to maintain your A/C unit.

HVAC Maintenance for Homeowners

1. Check and replace your air filters.

Air filters are responsible for catching dust and debris in the air, so they aren’t spread throughout the home. Clean filters also allow your system to run more efficiently. We recommend checking your filters every thirty days and replacing them if they are dirty.

2. Clear debris from the outdoor unit.

When you are doing yard maintenance, make sure you also remove any leaves, twigs, pine needles, and grass clippings on and around your A/C unit. Debris build-up can block proper air flow, affecting operation and efficiency.

3. Check for standing water in the drain pan.

The condensate drain pan below the air handler in your attic collects moisture left from the cooling process. Over time, algae can clog the condensate drain which can cause water to overflow and damage your home. If you notice standing water in the pan, call Martin Heat & Air to thoroughly clean your condensate drain!

4. Seal air leaks around windows and doors.

Sealing air leaks around your windows and doors prevents cool air from escaping your home and allows your system to run more efficiently. It can also prevent allergens like pollen, dust, dander, and mold spores from entering the home, which improves your air quality.

5. Schedule a full-system tune-up with Martin Heat & Air!

We can help you prepare even more by performing a comprehensive check to make sure your system is operating properly. At each HVAC tune-up, our technicians will:

  • Analyze operating pressures
  • Monitor starting capabilities
  • Test safety controls
  • Clean or replace filters
  • Tighten electrical connections
  • Measure volts/amps on motors
  • Adjust thermostat calibration
  • Clean evaporator and/or condenser coil (if easily accessible)
  • Clean condensate drains
  • Measure temperature differential

Call Us for All Your Cooling Needs!

Whether you’re scheduling an A/C tune-up, or calling for an emergency repair, Martin Heat & Air is here for you! Call us today to schedule service:

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