It's basically a system that regulates the distribution of fresh air and heat throughout a building.

Ventilation - Ventilation or ductwork is used in your home for Forced Air Heating and for Central Air Conditioning systems. In more efficiently designed systems, the ventilation is divided and air flow is monitored by variable air volume (VAV) boxes. This will allow for more efficient heating / cooling of your home.

It is very important to have the filtration system checked and the filters changed according to system specifications, to avoid excessive dust and the possibility of spreading dust and or mold throughout your home.

Your heating and cooling system is covered under a home warranty, if purchased with your home. A home warranty service agreement is a cost effective way to protect your home's mechanical systems and appliances.

Air Conditioning - Your Air Conditioning system does not cool your home as believed by many, but instead removes heat and humidity through the use of the evaporative and condensing coils. The heat is transferred out of your home by the refrigerant inside the system. Have the system checked by a EPA Certified Technician at least once a year. Only an EPA Certified Technician can work on the refrigerant system.

Also have the drainage pan treated by the technician. The humidity that is removed from the air, runs through this pan (commonly seen as dripping from the A/C unit). It is very important to have systems treated, as the bacteria that grows in untreated A/C condensate pans, has been proven to be the cause of the first outbreak of Legionnaires` Disease in 1976.

Maintenance of your boiler and hot water heater, are important for both safety and energy savings. One of the simplest items you can do for a boiler or hot water heater is to open the drain periodically to remove sediment from the bottom. This will not only improve heating efficiency, it will prevent the bottom from rotting away due to corrosion.

The single most important item to check is the "pressure relief valve" or PRV. All boilers and hot water heaters have these safety devices. They are designed to relieve pressure and prevent explosions. Have a trained technician test the valve or learn to do this yourself.

In the early 1990's there was a hot water heater in the basement of a home in St. Paul Minnesota, and the PRV did not release. The hot water heater exploded like a rocket, shooting from the basement, up through all the floors of the home.

It went through the first floor sending large splinters of the hardwood floor into the ceiling and continuing up to the second floor. It came through the bedroom floor just missing the bed where the homeowners were sleeping. The family dog laying on the floor next to the bed was not as lucky.

The heater continued through the roof, ending up 150 feet away from the home. The home was rocked off it's foundation and was condemned by the building department. ALWAYS CHECK THE PRV !

Heating - Your heating system will usually be one of three types of residential heating systems. They are Steam, Hot Water and Forced Air.

Steam is commonly found in older homes and is rarely, if at all, used in newer homes. Forced Air is a common and very efficient way to heat a home. The best advantage of Forced Air, is the ability to install a humidifier in the system to regulate humidity throughout your home, as it is heated. Hot Water or Radiant heat is also a very common method of heating a home. Most homes with baseboard heating are hot water systems.