When you invest in a piece of appliance for your home, you need to make sure you regularly clean and have it maintained. The reason for this is so you can guarantee that your investment will not be put to waste. You can use the appliance for a long period of time and not have to purchase anything else. For this reason, you need the help of someone who has the right experience in maintaining that appliance.
The same is true with your HVAC system. While there are many homeowners who tend to forget the importance of duct cleaning, you need to know that it plays an important role in doing its job right. If you don’t have this part of your HVAC system maintained, you could be dealing with some serious problems not only with your appliance, but also with the air quality in your home. So if you are wondering whether or not you need to clean your ducts, the answer to that is yes.
Air Duct Cleaning: What is it?
The process of air duct cleaning helps make sure that debris from your air ducts, grilles, registers, and other components of your air system are cleared out. Since these ducts are typically found behind walls and above your ceilings, you will need special and high-powered equipment to effectively clean them. This helps you guarantee that your air ducts are completely cleaned.
When to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
You’ll know when it’s time to have your air ducts cleaned when you experience the following:
- Particles get released into your home from your HVAC system
- Your air ducts are infested with rodents or insects
- You see mold growth
If there is a substantial amount of mold growth visible inside the hard surface of your ducts or other parts of your HVAC system, it’s time to have it cleaned by a professional. The reason for this is because your HVAC system may not have components that are accessible for a visual inspection. Since you already see the mold growing on your HVAC system, it could mean that there is already a substantial amount that needs to be taken care of right away.
Why You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
When you have your air ducts cleaned, it can get rid of about six pounds of dust in your home. The air in your home is composed of microscopic particles such as dust, pollen, and even pet dander. Once your air conditioner or furnace draws air, these particles are also pulled in. As a result, the build up of these contaminants inside your ducts could significantly reduce airflow and even reduce the air quality inside your home.
Research also shows that cleaning these parts of your HVAC system can help improve its efficiency. The effect of this is that you get to have an HVAC with a longer operating lifespan. This can also help in reduce energy and maintenance costs.
Advantages of Cleaning Your Ducts
It creates a cleaner life environment
When you have your air ducts professionally cleaned, the dust that would otherwise circulate throughout your home is reduced significantly. And in a nutshell, this can improve your quality of life.
It reduces irritants and allergens
Your air ducts could contain harmful micro-organisms and contaminants such as bacteria, mildew, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and other toxins. As a result, those with asthma and other respiratory illnesses could be sensitive to these particles. In such case, you will need to have your air ducts periodically cleaned so that the dirty air in your home does not end up getting re-circulated over and over.
It gets rid of unpleasant odors
If you have pets in your home, you may not realize it but his odor could affect the quality of your home. Along with your pets, certain odors from paint fumes, household cleaning agents, tobacco use, mold, and food preparation could affect your air ducts. Remember that while your air conditioner or furnace is operating, these odors repeatedly flow through your home. In order to get rid of these odors, you will have to hire a professional to help you clean your air ducts so that the odor trapping particles get removed. As a result, you’ll get a fresher smelling home.
It helps you breathe easier
Even if your household does not have anyone who suffers from respiratory problems or chronic allergies, clean air can still make it a lot easier for you to breathe. In the end, it will make your home a more comfortable one.
Make the decision to have your air ducts cleaned today. You’ll love being able to breathe much better and enjoy a cleaner-smelling home in the process.
Written by APM Construction Services, a construction and home maintenance company that is the best choice for heating and cooling in Columbia, MO.