Air ducts play a vital role in your home. They circulate air from the heating and cooling systems to every room in the house, maintaining comfort throughout the year. When neglected, the air ducts may accumulate dust particles, pollen, mold, and other debris. Once you turn on the HVAC system, it recirculates the pollutants, which impact the comfort of your house, impacting your family’s health.
Therefore, you need a professional cleaning company with the right air duct cleaning services to prevent pollutant buildup.
When your ducts are clean, allergens and germs are less likely to circulate through the air, allowing you to breathe more easily. A professional duct cleaning will also help to maximize your HVAC system’s efficiency. In general, HVAC systems should be cleaned anywhere between two and five years. Here’s a look at six reasons to clean your air ducts.
1- Eliminate Allergens
It’s common for allergens to build up within air ducts. Animal dander and pollen can be very irritating for those with sensitivities. When ducts go uncleaned for an extended period of time, these allergens can be circulated through occupied spaces.
In the same way, air ducts that contain allergens (dust, debris, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, mildew, etc.) are likely to exacerbate any existing health conditions as toxin-filled air circulates throughout your home. Cleaning your vents regularly can reduce sick time, doctor bills, personal illness, discomfort, and more.
2- You Will Improve Indoor Air Quality
The air circulating through your ducts is the same air that you and your family members breathe. Unfortunately, indoor air contains contaminants like pet dander, dust, volatile chemicals, carbon monoxide, and pesticides that get pulled into the HVAC unit. Over time, these pollutants accumulate within the ductwork, and then re-enter your living space. Every time you breathe in such contaminants, they have the potential to trigger coughs, sneezing, bronchial congestion, and other respiratory illnesses. Cleaning the ductwork often will help eliminate such harmful particles, improve indoor air quality, and protect your family members’ health.
Not only can dusty, dirty air create more housework as you continually remove dust, only to have it quickly return again, but also dusty vents and ducts with a lining of debris can attract rodents and other unwanted house guests who may be looking for a place to build a nest or spend the winter.
3- Prolong the life of your HVAC system
The dirtier your ductwork system becomes, the harder your HVAC unit must work to push air through the ducts and keep it circulating evenly throughout your home. As mentioned earlier (see No. 2 here), you may face having to replace compromised ducts if you do not clean them as needed. Your HVAC system motor will experience less wear and tear if its work is made easier with clean ducts.
Perhaps most importantly, regarding your family’s budget, regular preventative maintenance is less pricey by far than having to replace your HVAC unit prematurely.
4- It Eliminates Foul Odors
Paint fumes, tobacco smoke, cleaning agents, mildew, and food contribute to smells in the house. Stale odors may get trapped in the ductwork and repeatedly flow throughout the home. Bacteria and mold can also grow in the ducts and emit unpleasant smells. When neglected, rodents and other critters make their way into the ductwork and leave droppings behind. Others get trapped, die, and decompose, emitting foul odors. Even after opening the windows or using air fresheners, such smells persist. Duct cleaning helps eliminate contaminants and dead critters, and discourages insects from nesting since they are less likely to find hiding spaces in clean ducts. This will restore a fresh smell to your house.
5- Ensures Your Home is Safe
Every year, many homes catch fire due to debris that has collected in duct work. This tragic situation can be avoided by simply ensuring your home’s ducts are cleaned and maintained as needed.
The risk of fire grows exponentially if you have an older HVAC unit and if you also use propane or other fuels to run your furnace, stove, fireplace, or portable heating units. When debris comes in contact with any of these appliances or devices, fire risk increases accordingly. Hiring a duct cleaner can drastically reduce your risk, and also assesses your home for any other existing HVAC-related fire risks.
6- Saves Money
Having your ducts cleaned can also have financial benefits.
An HVAC system working too hard due to dirty ducts will cost you more money in utility bills. A system that’s working overtime means higher electric costs. More efficient airflow means your devices are working properly, and are not costing you more money.
Regular duct cleaning prevents pricey repairs and replacements, while keeping pollutants at bay. However, this is not an easy task, and it requires some specialized equipment and technical skills. During cleaning, you may uncover some mold, dead critters, and animal droppings. The job also requires that you put on protective clothes to prevent dust and other contaminants from getting into your airways. So, if you aren’t used to such tasks, seek professional help. If you opt for DIY duct cleaning, you might create damage that will reduce airflow and affect the efficiency of your unit. It might also take longer to clean, and you might not access some hidden sections of the ductwork. For thorough duct cleaning, it’s wise to contact a professional. Qualified technicians have high-powered vacuums and specialized cleaners designated to reach areas that standard tools can’t.
The Importance of Hiring a Reliable HVAC Technician
Even if you are experienced at cleaning the rest of your home, you may be surprised at how complex and specialized the industry of ductwork cleaning can be. To get the job done properly, you need the right tools and expertise. Attempting this task on your own can end up doing more harm than good, and can take up a lot of your time and resources.