Clean ducts mean clean indoor living. Your ventilation system is not only vital for ensuring that you enjoy maximum comfort indoors with healthy and clean air, but it is also important in ensuring that you and your family members are safe from various respiratory complications. This is why you need to be very keen on the cleanliness of your ducts.
It is never a good idea to wait until you start seeing physical signs of dirt or filth in ducts, before giving it a thorough cleaning. If you can’t remember the last time you got your ducts cleaned, or you are wondering whether now is an appropriate time to do the cleaning, then read below for some of the signs that your ducts are screaming at you to clean them.
Through physical inspection of the ductwork
The first method, and perhaps the easiest way to know if your ducts need cleaning, is to simply conduct a physical inspection of the system. All you have to do is open one of the vent covers and inspect the interior to see if it contains dust, dirt, and other kinds of debris. If you can note the physical presence of such filth by simply using your eyes, then know that your ducts need to be cleaned.
The presence of mold in some rooms
Mold propagation within indoor living spaces can come with detrimental health effects. It not only has the potential of exacerbating allergies and other respiratory problems, but it can also spread quickly to other rooms, if not controlled relatively quickly. The heating and cooling systems within the home may sometimes develop condensation, which may then help to create the perfect environment for mold propagation.
The ductwork is a component of the HVAC system that is usually a common breeding ground for mold if neglected, and is not cleaned regularly. You may notice the presence of mold in the vent covers, or you may see mold growing in other places within the house, but whose source you can’t immediately tell. If this is what you are faced with, then just know that your vents are exceedingly dirty, and you need to call for air duct cleaning services, as well as mold remediation services, as soon as possible.
You are in a new home or it has just undergone a major renovation
Construction or renovation work can be very messy. The contractors and all those involved, may try their best to reduce the amount of waste generated, and may even perform a thorough cleaning once the work is done, so that they can leave the project in a pristine state. However, the HVAC generally gets impacted during such procedures.
If it is not turned on or covered completely throughout the duration of the project, it may end with a lot of dust and dirt that will warrant a thorough air duct cleaning exercise. Therefore, whether you are getting into a new home or your home just underwent a major renovation process, then it is recommended to check the ductwork, to ensure that they are clean before you continue with your occupation of the premises.
There is an increase in the number of rodents and insects within your living spaces
Another classic indication that your ducts may be due for a cleaning, is when you notice an increase in the number of rodents and insects within your living spaces. There is no denying that there are many avenues through which rodents and insects can use to access your home, but you have to realize that from time to time, rodents such as mice and squirrels will find their way to the air ducts, where they will make a home.
Having rodents within ducts comes with significant risks. They will not only leave behind various bacteria, but their droppings, smell and urine may also circulate into the rooms served by the ducts, further increasing health risks to the occupants.
Therefore, the presence of rodents in your ductwork is an indication of a duct so dirty that it has become the home to rodents and insects. This requires a thorough cleaning, and due to the potential health risks involved, for best results, you should always call for professional air duct cleaning services.
Constantly dirty surfaces
You may have tried to clear dust from surfaces within the house, but had difficulty making adequate progress, because however much you try, the surfaces get dusty after just a short while. If this is the case, then you are likely dealing with dirty vents. Wiping off dust all the time is not a pleasurable activity. Besides, with that much dust in the house, you risk suffering from multiple respiratory problems, including allergies.
One of the reasons why you may be dealing with so much dust, is due to dirty ductwork. When ducts become dirty, they get covered with dust, dirt, and other types of debris. When the system is on and the air is circulating through it, some of this dust will get delivered into the connected rooms, where it will end up settling on the surfaces. Therefore, if you have a dust problem that you can’t instantly explain, then you need to check your ducts, and ensure that they are clean.
You notice an increase in the energy costs
Your heating costs could also go up as a result of dirty air ducts. This happens when ducts are clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, such that they hinder the free flow of air through the system. For instance, too much dirt and dust within any given system, such as your furnace and air conditioner, makes it work harder to overcome the resistance brought about by the dust.
The result is more energy consumption when heating or cooling your rooms, which leads to an increase in heating costs. Therefore, if you have an unexplained increase in your heating and cooling costs, then think about verifying the cleanliness of your air ducts.