Although foreclosed homes are affordable, they are often in need of extensive repairs and renovation.

HVAC contractors tell their customers there are many reasons for properly maintaining their furnaces, air conditioners, ductwork, and add-on equipment. A well-running system is efficient and provides greater comfort while saving on energy costs. It is a no-brainer. But an added bonus is the healthy ramifications.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Veterans Affairs have joined forces to launch the Federal Radon Action Plan. The goal is to reduce exposure to radon and mitigate this public health risk.

For some time, energy efficiency and IAQ were thought to be mutually exclusive HVAC goals. They actually can have negative or positive effects on each other that can be mitigated by contractors in a number of ways: coil care, duct repair, and the judicious use of specific equipment among them. A recent trend has been linking the impacts IAQ and efficiency can have on each other.