Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
The air ducts in your home are a lot like the lungs in your body. You might not think about them often, but they are constantly working to make sure you get the proper amount of air you require. Unlike the air in your lungs, the air in your home circulates through the ducts multiple times a day. The air that cycles through the ducts is the same air that anyone who enters your home will breathe, so it is important to keep them clean at all times. At Blazer Heating, Air, and Plumbing, our experienced team will attack your toughest indoor air quality problems to keep the air in your home as healthy as possible. Some other reasons you should keep up with air duct cleaning include:
- Reducing allergens and irritants in the air
- Reducing unpleasant odors in the air
- Creating a clean, healthy living space
- Improving efficiency of air flow and helping reduce energy bills
5 Signs You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
It seems like there is an association for everything these days, and air ducts are no exception. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association sets the global standard for the assessment, cleaning, and restoration of HVAC systems. Their general recommendation is to have your air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but everyone’s air ducts will require different maintenance schedules depending on the condition of their system and the risk factors of those in the home.
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Other professionals might recommend you have your HVAC system cleaned twice per year, or another specific interval of time based on your needs. For example, if someone in your home is highly sensitive to allergens and irritants in the air, you might want to consider an individualized maintenance schedule. The best way to know the proper maintenance schedule for your HVAC system is to schedule an appointment with our team. At your appointment, we can thoroughly evaluate the air quality in your home as well as the condition of your air ducts and HVAC system. Here are some other signs that might mean an air duct cleaning should be in your near future:
- You found a biological growth like mold in your furnace or air conditioning system.
Over time, your HVAC system can develop condensation, which can cause mold to grow in the ductwork. This becomes especially problematic during warmer times of year or for those who live in warmer climates. If you notice any biological growths in or around your systems, it is important to schedule an appointment to have them cleaned right away.
Breathing in any biological substance can cause allergic reactions and those with serious allergies might develop severe reactions, such as shortness of breath. While you might not always be able to see the substance, one significant sign that a biological growth is living in your vents rent-free is an unpleasant odor in the air. The smell is usually musty and comparable to wet socks or rotten wood. Having regular air duct cleanings is the easiest way to say goodbye to the mold and biological growth in the air and start breathing freely again.
- Your home was built recently or has undergone a major renovation.
You might think that new or recently renovated homes would have the cleanest air, but this is not always the case. Homes that were built recently or have undergone renovations tend to house the dust and debris for a period of time post-construction. These bothersome particles can also make their way into the HVAC system, and then you will find yourself breathing in the construction of your home rather than enjoying it. To avoid the respiratory nightmare this can create, it is best to have the air in a recently constructed home evaluated professionally.
- Your home seems to consistently gather dust no matter how much you clean.
Dust simply tends to gather, and cleaning it off is a normal part of our routine. However, if you find that the dust in your home is particularly stubborn or that it gathers again shortly after cleaning, there is probably an issue with your ducts. If the metal in your ductwork is covered in dust, this is another telltale sign that you have a dust issue on your hands that needs to be managed professionally.
- Your energy bills continue to increase despite no change in usage.
If your ducts are in bad condition or are dirty, this can reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by around 20%. Bad ducts will require you to use more energy in your home in order to reach your ideal temperature, which will result in a higher energy bill. While regular maintenance will be a cost to you upfront, it can actually help you get the most out of your HVAC system and save money over time.
- You have discovered that your ducts are infested with pests.
Just as unwanted pests can find their way into your home, they can find their way into your air ducts just as easily. If you notice droppings by your air ducts, this is one major sign that they are infested with pests or rodents. You might also notice chewed items around the area or an unpleasant smell. This is one issue you won’t want to ignore. If there are pests in your air ducts, you could end up with some major structural damage in addition to a dysfunctional HVAC system. Keeping up with your air duct maintenance will be the best way to nip this problem in the bud and make sure your air ducts are doing their job – delivering high quality air to your home!
To have your air ducts cleaned, or to learn more about our other HVAC services, call Blazer Heating, Air, and Plumbing at (804) 277-2458 or contact us online.