Brittany Cotton https://ductdoctor.com 3m 696 #ducts
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Day after day, your HVAC’s air ducts work hard to carry the warm or cool air needed to keep your home comfortable. But over time, it carries more than air. Dust, allergens, and other pollutants accumulate inside the ductwork and reduce your indoor air quality.
The air inside your home must be clean to be healthy. Just like outdoor pollution, breathing contaminated air indoors can lead to serious health issues. That’s why, along with increasing the lifespan of your HVAC, you should have your air ducts cleaned regularly. Here are the top signs your air ducts need to be cleaned and the benefits of doing so.
Visible Dust and Debris
If you see a puff of dust when your HVAC comes on, it may signify dirty air ducts; they don’t normally release visible dust. Another sign is having to dust your furniture and floors more frequently. If you see dust soon after cleaning, the amount of dust released into your home is significant.
Frequently walk around your home and check each of your vent covers closely. If you notice the buildup of dirt or debris, your ductwork is likely blocked with contaminants.
Clogged Air Filters
Your air filters need to be changed about every 60 to 90 days. They trap airborne contaminants from dust to pet dander in every season. If they become clogged only a few days after replacing them, your air ducts need cleaning.
An Unpleasant Odor
A foul smell permeating throughout your home is another telltale sign your air ducts need cleaning. Rule out other sources of the unpleasant odor by sniffing all of the air registers up close. You may want to have a technician inspect your air ducts to look for the source of the bad smell.
Visible Mold and Mildew
Worse for your health than dust, mold and mildew can cause serious health issues. Mold and mildew spread quickly throughout your home to aggravate allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. If you see mold anywhere around your HVAC unit or on vent covers, it’s important to take immediate action.
Mold and mildew will eventually cause structural damage to your home. Your technician may suggest you invest in a home dehumidifier.
Poor Airflow
The airflow throughout your home should be consistent. Walk through your home from room to room and determine if the airflow is the same in the bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, and kitchen.
Insect and Rodent Infestations
Have you recently had to deal with a pest infestation in your home? If so, you should have your ductwork cleaned. The pests have likely left droppings and dander inside the duckwork. Cleaning your ducts will eliminate the spread of allergens and microbes that can cause diseases.
Rising Energy Bills
From season to season, your heating and cooling bills should be consistent. If you notice a spike in your bill, dirty ductwork could be to blame. If your ductwork is blocked, air from your HVAC system can’t flow with ease. It will have to work harder to heat or cool efficiently. That translates to higher energy bills.
Recent Construction Work
Has your home undergone recent construction work? Perhaps you had a remodel or kitchen or bathroom upgrade. Even when contractors are careful, construction work gets very messy. You can be sure that dust and debris will find their way into your ductwork. After the conclusion of your project, be sure to have a professional clean your ducts.
Benefits of Cleaning Your Air Ducts
The benefits of cleaning your air ducts are many. Most importantly, the indoor air you breathe will be free of dangerous contaminants from dust and dander to pesticides. Your whole home environment will be cleaner including furniture, bedding, and floors.
Dirty ductwork may even pose a fire hazard, another safety risk to your household.
With clean air ducts, your system will run more efficiently and your energy bills will be lower. You’ll also save money when you don’t constantly have to keep replacing your air filters. The increased lifespan of your HVAC system is another economic benefit.
Lastly, a technician cleaning your ducts may spot other problems that need to be addressed before they cost you more money down the road.
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