The ducts installed in the home have a special and important role to play. They are responsible for circulating the air from the heating and cooling systems to all the connected rooms to create ambient indoor temperatures for your comfort. As a matter of fact, all the air within your indoor environment must go through the ducts multiple times a day.
Since the air that goes through the ducts is the air that ends up saturating the indoor environment, it is the same air that you end up breathing every time you are inside the house. This means that if the ducts are dirty, then you are also likely to breathe dirty air. The result of this could be far-reaching, and you could end up with serious respiratory problems, including the triggering of all manner of allergies for family members who may already be susceptible to certain allergens.
Air duct cleaning is the exercise you need to remove all the dust, debris, and other forms of contaminants that may be present within the home ductwork. There are certain powerful vacuums that have been designed to whisk away all the dust and the debris and are the most reliable when it comes to air duct cleaning. If you can’t access them, then you should occasionally call for home duct cleaning services to assist you with the cleaning.
When to Clean and When Not to Clean Home Air Ducts
There are many benefits that come with clean home air ducts. However, the conditions vary from one home to another and it may not be possible to generalize about when to clean or not clean your ducts. If, after carrying out a visual inspection of the ducts, you see that there are no visible signs of dust or debris, and there is no member of your family suffering from allergies or unexplained respiratory illnesses, then there may be no emergency to have the ductwork cleaned.
Remember, the return register duct may sometimes get loaded with lots of dust pulled from the grate, but this is normal and not necessarily an indication that your ductwork is dirty. You can always remove it or have it vacuumed with the help of a home duct cleaning service provider.
However, if, upon visual inspection, you see the ductwork loaded with large deposits of dust and other forms of debris, and some members of your family are also experiencing allergic reactions or other forms of unidentified illnesses, then the dirty ductwork may be responsible, and it would be wise to have it cleaned.
Also, it is logical to have the ductwork cleaned once in a while. This is usually a precautionary measure to avoid the accumulation of dirt and debris that may affect indoor air quality and ultimately lead to a myriad of health complications. Here is a brief look at some of the reasons why it is important to have home air ducts cleaned-:
A Cleaner Indoor Environment
With a professional home duct cleaning service, there will be no accumulation of dust, dirt, and other debris that might end up circulating within your indoor spaces. This simply means that you will not only be breathing fresh and clean indoor air, but you won’t have to deal with dust landing in your living spaces, bedding, furniture, and floors. With a thorough duct cleaning, therefore, you will be assured of a cleaner living environment that you will enjoy spending time in.
Reduction of Allergens and Irritants
Dirty ductwork is a potent source of allergens and irritants. During the operations of your heating and cooling system, the ductwork usually ends up accumulating irritants and contaminants such as pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and bacteria among other forms of toxins.
If you have family members suffering from allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma, they may be very sensitive to breathing in this kind of contaminated indoor air. Therefore, with proper cleaning of the ductwork, you get to eliminate these allergens and irritants, hence, giving every family member a chance to enjoy safe air without worrying about allergens and irritants.
Helps to Remove Unpleasant Smells and Odors
If you are experiencing unpleasant smells and odors within your indoor environment, but you can pinpoint where they are coming from, then you have a reason to check the state of cleanliness of your home ductwork. Factors such as pets, paint fumes, tobacco smoke, and household cleaning agents will access the air duct system.
While the system is in operation, the cocktail of these smells will repeatedly flow through the house. When this is coupled with the accumulation of dirt, dust, and other debris within the ductwork, the resulting smell and odors can be very unpleasant. However, this is a problem that you can easily avoid by simply calling a home duct cleaning service expert to come and get rid of everything that may be responsible for causing such smells and odors within the ductwork.
Improves the efficiency of the HVAC
When dust, dirt, and other debris accumulate to certain levels within your ductwork, they will impede the smooth flow of air through the system. This will lead to a reduction in the system’s efficiency since a lot of energy will be required to overcome the resistance created by the debris pushing through the airflow. Consequently, your system will have to overwork, with potential consequences being a reduced lifespan. This is not to mention the increase in energy bills you will have to incur as a result of operating an inefficient HVAC system.
Helps to keep your home safe
Dirty ducts may sometimes cause home fires. Over time, the lint and other materials within the ductwork might heat and ignite a spark that could end up causing a fire. With this, there can be massive damage to your home and not to mention the valuables that will be lost in a fire. Though this sounds remote, to leave no chance of it happening, always ensure that your HVAC system runs on clean ducts at all times.