If you’re like most Americans, your HVAC knowledge is comprised of understanding the basic functions of your heating and air conditioning, with a sprinkling of insight on the importance of conservation strategies.

However, it’s actually a booming industry that has had incredible growth in the past few years. From technological advances that help you lighten your carbon footprint to a burst of new technicians in the field replacing retiring baby boomers, it’s a hot (and cold!) industry in more ways than one.

For your next trivia night, here are a few HVAC facts to tuck up your sleeve.

For starters, did you know indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air, on average? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 72 trillion allergens enter most homes on a daily basis. Plus, 40 pounds of dust are created in the average American home every year.

The most common pollutants in a home are biological (dander, mold and dust mite droppings), combustion (nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and smoke), and volatile organic compounds or VOCs (gases from paints, dry cleaning chemicals and pesticides).

A Dirty Job!

Your HVAC system is designed to not just heat and cool (that’s the H and A/C part), but also to keep your air quality top notch. That’s the V or vent part of HVAC.

The EPA reports that poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of issues, including respiratory infections, rashes, chronic headaches, asthma, allergies and even lung cancer in severe cases. Maintaining your air ducts helps remove biological contaminants.

You can help by allowing outdoor air to circulate indoors when possible by opening windows and using kitchen/bathroom fans.

The average household spends over $2,000 per year on energy bills. Lowering energy consumption means lowering bills. Since air conditioning and heating are responsible for 44 percent of those bills — nearly half! — maintaining your HVAC system and practicing good conservation habits can make a big difference.

Bonus Facts

Programmable thermostats and smart home devices can save $180 per year alone (but the efforts you exert with these devices are minimal).

According to the EPA, about 18 percent of a home’s energy consumption is used to heat water, so limit shower time and insulate those pipes. Also know that re-cooling a hot home costs more and uses more energy than maintaining a reasonable temperature, so stick with 73 degrees (with a 3-to-6 degree variance depending on personal preference).

Finally, it’s shocking, but 47 percent of homeowners don’t know how much they spend on electricity every month. It’s often lumped into an overall utility bill, and many people rely on automated payments.

Ignorance is not bliss, especially when your HVAC system can be controlled so easily. Contact Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an inspection, or for more tips on how to save energy.

When you smell a bad odor coming from your furnace, your first instinct should be to leave the house immediately and call an HVAC professional. If the smell is reminiscent of rotten eggs, that might be a sign of a natural gas leak. It’s very dangerous, potentially deadly and not worth taking any risks. If you know how to turn off your gas line, do it, but only if you can manage to do it quickly.

Not all furnace odors are dangerous—but they still can put a kink in your holiday plans.

Does it seem like as the weather gets colder, it smells like your house has a sewer problem? If the aroma comes and goes and only happens in winter, it might be a faulty cooling coil. In some cases, the furnaces’ condenser drain is linked right to the sewer system.

The cooling coil inside the furnace is in charge of gathering moisture from the air in the home. Moisture gathers on the coil, and it needs to drain—sometimes right by the sewer opening. Incorrect installation can lead to a smelly situation.

Can’t We All Get Along?

It’s almost always the job of a plumber to take care of connecting this part of the furnace. No matter what the reason, an occasional sewer smell is your red flag. It’s not dangerous, but it’s certainly annoying. Luckily, it’s also simple and affordable to fix.

You may need to drain the condensate directly to the sewer via a new P-trap, ensuring there’s at least a one-inch separation between pipes. This separation lets the furnace fan do its job, sucking in the sewer gases via a drainpipe. This simple fix will keep those odors at bay. Another strategy is putting a tiny amount of water right in the open drain in order to create a water seal at the trap’s bottom.

Smell This!

Does your furnace smell musty when it kicks on? It might be exactly what you think—mold growing and festering. Of the thousands of mold species, very few are life-threatening. However, you can’t be sure without an expert opinion. If you have a humidifier connected to your HVAC system, swap out the air filter for a quick fix.

Dust and debris has been collecting in the ducts all summer, and now you’re blowing it around the house. Your best bet is to clean vents and ducts before using your furnace, but if you forgot, then rest easy knowing the smell should dissipate in a few days. (If it doesn’t, call an HVAC pro immediately).

For all your furnace odor fixes, call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today.

The HVAC market around the world has been on the rise, especially in the US where ReportsnReports cites 2015 as a 10-year market high for the industry. Above average growth doesn’t do these numbers justice, and market researchers say the US HVAC industry is the healthiest it’s been in years. The full report is available online, including dozens of analysis charts. Overall, the US residential HVAC market is promising lower gas, more consumer satisfaction, and a stable job market for qualified HVAC technicians.

Homeowners are installing greener furnaces and A/C units in new homes, and flipping houses or renovating them has become more common. The housing market is swiftly getting back on track, with home prices increasing in many regions. One of the best ways to improve the value of a home is with an energy efficient HVAC system. You may even score a tax break or incentive, some of which are state- or city-specific, so be sure to check with your CPA before making that final purchase.

A Healthy Market

Overall, consumers report a better selection and more competitive pricing, while experts point out lower raw material costs, and all of these factors contribute to the boost in this market. Analysts say that the current pace should be sustainable, and when it comes to competitive risks around currency, that doesn’t impact the HVAC market. Relatively speaking, weather conditions in many parts of the country have been mild (save for the drought in California). Moderate temperatures lead to smarter HVAC purchases with fewer people rushing out to buy an air conditioner—any air conditioner!—which causes a steadier HVAC market.

It’s estimated that next year, the US HVAC market will enjoy a five percent growth, and ductless will stay at the top of the heap as “most popular.” In fact, it might make up 15 percent of the entire industry including residential and commercial alike. The majority of manufacturers are offering low- and mid-level price increases for the coming year, with the report HVAC Equipment to 2019 expecting the US demand for HVAC to go up 6.8 percent through 2019 to reach an astonishing $20.4 billion total industry.

Cooling Things Down

Considering all aspects of HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), it’s expected that the air conditioning component will continue to be the most in-demand. Luckily, this is the perfect time of year to replace or service your A/C. Heading into the winter months, you want to make sure your entire system is in great working order. It’s also the last two months to make a savvy tax purchase, so check with your CPA and see if any makes/models will get you a bonus.

Can’t decide if you should repair or replace your HVAC, or a part of it? Rely on an expert who’s on your side and suggests the best, most cost-effective solution. Call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today for all your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) needs.