Top 3 Reasons to Clean Your Air Ducts
The cleanliness of your air ducts determines the air quality in your home, which can affect the health and safety of your family. In hotter months, people tend to spend more time indoors to escape the heat with air conditioning. During winter months, people prefer to be in the comfort of their homes where it is warm. Whether air conditioning or heat is being ran throughout the home, the HVAC system is essential for optimal air flow. In order for HVAC systems to be beneficial, it is important to ensure they are clean.
Homeowners often ignore the importance of clean HVAC systems as the germs and bacteria inside the air ducts are not visible. Throughout the home, hidden and uncleaned spots are the root of numerous health issues for families. Having your air ducts cleaned regularly will prevent such risks and improve the quality of your household.
Benefits of Cleaning Your Air Ducts
Maintaining clean air ducts is essential for ensuring a healthy and comfortable living environment. Dust, allergens, and other contaminants accumulate in the duct work over time, which can potentially impact the overall air quality. Investing in the regular cleaning of your HVAC system helps minimize the amount of pollutants, providing various benefits for homeowners and other individuals.
1. Improves Health and Well-being
Purifying your indoor air not only helps reduce the annoyance of allergies and fever, but it can also protect your respiratory health. Here are the symptoms that signal you’re not getting fresh air:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itchy, Runny, or Blocked Nasal Passages
Although these are common symptoms that individuals may experience regularly, worsening symptoms can be an indicator of poor indoor air quality. The air that we breathe into our lungs on a daily basis contains millions of polluted or clean micro-organisms. In order to know if the symptoms are caused by the indoor air quality is to check inside the air duct. Air ducts accumulate dust, allergens, pollen, hair, pet dander, mold, and mildew. Overall, identifying whether the air ducts need to be cleaned is important for maintaining a healthy environment.
2. Enhance HVAC Productivity and Energy Efficiency
When the air duct is thoroughly cleaned and restored to hygienic conditions, the furnace is no longer blocked by heavy layers of dust and debris that cause the system to work harder. The air flow is able to flow freely throughout the system, allowing the system to operate more effectively. By ensuring the air ducts are clean and free of debris, the lifespan of the HVAC unit extends and lowers the risk of breakdowns and the need for costly repairs.
Improved air flow not only helps to maintain consistent temperature throughout the space, but also reduces the amount of energy needed to heat or cool your home. When air ducts are filled with debris, it requires a lot more energy to push the air throughout the home to maintain a specific temperature. Having clean air ducts will lower energy costs and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly household. Regular air duct cleaning appears to be a cost-efficient investment for your home.
3. Avoid Foul Odors
Over time, trapped particles accumulate within the air ducts and flow around your house. These particles contaminate both the air and the items within a home. When the odor is attached to your floor, walls, bed, and furniture, it is especially difficult to eliminate. Conducting regular cleaning like vacuuming, dusting, and moping will only clean the surfaces, temporarily removing foul odors. Not addressing these substances can cause unpleasant odors, especially when the HVAC system is in use and circulating air throughout the home.
Common particles that accumulate in the HVAC system include:
- Pet Dander
- Dust and Dirt
- Mold Spores
- Rodent Droppings
- Insect Debris
- Food Particles
When the odors within a home become increasingly bad, professional odor removal services may become necessary. To avoid going through the lengthy deep cleaning process, it is important to maintain a habit of cleaning the potential source of odor before it continues to spread throughout the home. Detailed cleaning of your air duct will ensure that your family and guests are inhaling fresh and healthy air.
What Should I Do if I Notice My Air Ducts Are Dirty?
If you suspect or notice your air ducts are dirty, it is important to take action to maintain a healthy and efficient indoor environment. Regularly replace the HVAC system’s air filter to prevent dirt buildup. Having a clean filter installed helps trap dust and debris, preventing them from entering the ductwork.
To ensure your air ducts will be fully cleaned and all debris will be removed, it is suggested to reach out to a professional HVAC cleaning service. Professionals are available 24/7 and have the necessary tools and equipment to remove dust, debris, and contaminants from the entire system. HEPA air scrubbers are used for eliminating airborne particles, allergens, and pollutants to improve air quality. HVAC and air duct cleaning professionals are trained and certified to handle dirty air ducts using professional and effective methods. Particles will be completely removed from the ductwork and the air to restore your home back to it’s condition.
Conclusion
All together, air duct cleaning is beneficial for your home as it can improve the air quality and the health and well-being of you and your family. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning your home’s ducts every five years. However, it is better to have them cleaned more regularly such as annually or every two years, to minimize the possibility of nurturing mildew, insects, and odors. By having your air ducts cleaned regularly, you will decrease the amount of energy consumed by the HVAC system and prevent foul odors from being emitted.