Air ducts play a vital role in the overall function and effectiveness of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Maintaining them is critical because they’re the source of all the air flowing through your system.
When your air ducts are clogged, your HVAC system cannot function adequately. However, when the ducts are clean, the system operates effectively and doesn’t need to work as hard.
Below, we’ll discuss why you should clean air ducts, when to do it and how clean air ducts are better for your health and system performance.
If you think of your air conditioner or central heating system as the heart of your ventilation system, then it makes sense that it would require air ducts to carry a consistent flow of air. Maintaining the air ducts is essential to preserving air quality and keeping the air in your home fresh. Here’s how:
HVAC systems contain robust air purification components. This includes grates on all the vents and a sizable filtration system.
Your air conditioning or heating system helps maintain home air quality by filtering out impurities. Picking the right type of HVAC filter is crucial.
Your air conditioning system is responsible for delivering air to all the rooms in your home. No matter which vent or duct is clogged, it reduces efficiency. When your ducts are clean, your system can effectively deliver air to all parts of your home, ensuring consistent air quality.
Whether you use central heating or air conditioning, your HVAC system is essential to maintaining consistent temperatures. When your air conditioning receives insufficient air flow, it compromises its ability to function.
Clean air ducts provide the required airflow to keep the unit running optimally. They also ensure that the flow from the unit reaches all rooms and establishes the desired temperature throughout your home.
Now that you have a basic idea of how essential air ducts are to system performance, let’s look at some signs your air ducts need cleaning:
If you see scorching, dust and debris around your air vents, it’s a sure sign that they need cleaning. The filtration system should remove contaminants as the air passes through. However, visible dust deposits indicate that the system is likely overtaxed.
There are many potential causes of foul odors, but none of them are good for heating or cooling systems. If you notice any kind of musty or moldy odor, it could indicate mold growth within the ducts.
When your system struggles to take in enough air, it can become inconsistent. Clogged filters and air ducts (or even partial closures) can make your air conditioner work harder and less efficiently.
As mentioned above, malfunctioning air ducts make your system work harder. These performance issues also increase energy bills. The air conditioner spends more time running air pumps, conditioning systems and other elements that would run less consistently in a well-maintained system.
If you see undue mold growth on any system components, it could indicate a more severe infestation since large parts of the ductwork are not easily visible. Some things to bear in mind with this include:
If you do suspect a mold infestation, have it checked out as soon as possible, as mold can cause multiple health problems.
Some signs are more severe than others, according to the EPA. These include:
If any of these signs appear, arrange duct cleaning at once, and consider scheduling an air conditioning maintenance service. Doing so will help ensure your ventilation system works optimally and protect your family from potentially hazardous environmental factors.
When you don’t clean air ducts, it causes various adverse effects, including the following:
In short, not maintaining air ducts can have potentially devastating results. It’s essential to keep them clean and maintained for your well-being and that of your family.
Many people wonder why they need to clean air ducts if the inefficiency isn’t bothering them. One excellent reason is that clean air ducts may offer health benefits, such as:
By cleaning your air ducts regularly, you reduce the number of allergens and irritants circulating in your home. While regular air conditioning filters can help eliminate specific allergens, they’re not perfect. The system may pick up dust mites, pollen spores and even pet dander, recycling them along with the air.
Top tip: If you have allergy sufferers in your home, consider upgrading your filters. Special HEPA filters are more effective at eliminating allergens and keeping your air cleaner.
One unfortunate result of an air conditioning system is that it can recycle the same air for extended periods. By cleaning the air ducts and ensuring your home gets enough fresh air sometimes, you can reduce the likelihood of recycling unclean air.
The South can get hot and humid, and wherever there’s humidity, there’s mold and fungi. When spores make their way into your air ducts, they can grow there. Mold spores can irritate respiratory problems or allergies, and some molds produce mycotoxins, which can be harmful if they’re touched, ingested or inhaled. Cleaning the air ducts helps remove mold spores and potential toxins, improving your quality of life.
Yes, it does! Air ducts are the lifeline of your HVAC system, and the efficiency benefits of air duct cleaning include:
Clean ducts help eliminate unnecessary strain on your system, allowing it to work optimally. If you want to ensure your utility bills remain reasonable and your system works well, ensure you have a regular maintenance plan.
Dirty air ducts have a significant impact on your home’s energy efficiency and utility bills. Here’s how:
Both of these things lead to higher utility bills and reduced air efficiency. Equipment maintenance is essential to maintaining low utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
While air duct cleaning isn’t particularly complex, it is a thorough multistep process. Here’s what to expect during the cleaning process.
In some cases, the technicians may discover other areas for improvement or offer you additional services. These may include:
While inspecting your home’s ducts, the technicians may discover torn or damaged air ducts. In the case of small tears, they may simply repair the duct. However, if they find more intensive damage, it may require significant repair or a complete replacement.
In these instances, get a quote for repair. Damaged air ducts reduce efficiency and create extra places where contaminants may enter the system.
During the duct cleaning process, the technicians may discover that your system’s filters are worn, damaged or dirtier than expected. In these instances, they may recommend replacing the filters.
Since the filters are responsible for the air purity in your home, this service is worth considering.
Pro tip: If both your ducts and filters require work, ask the HVAC company to quote you for a complete AC service. It may offer better value for money than paying for two individual services.
Sanitization is a potential follow-up service after cleaning the ducts. It involves using chemicals to disinfect the ducts and kill bacteria or mold spores. Even if mold is present in your air ducts, the EPA recommends exercising caution when it comes to biocides and sanitizers.
Some of the potential concerns with applying a chemical solution include:
According to the National Duct Cleaners Association, you should have ducts cleaned every three to five years. However, you may need to have your ducts cleaned more frequently based on environmental conditions and needs.
Some reasons to arrange more frequent cleanings include:
Depending on the environmental conditions, you may even consider including it in your yearly AC maintenance schedule.
If you live in a reasonably clean area without significant dust loads and don’t suffer from allergies, you can easily adhere to the three to five-year guideline.
Now that you understand the importance of air duct cleaning and proper maintenance, you’re ready to find a team that can meet your needs. Consider working with Strada Air Conditioning & Heating. We serve homeowners in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and more.
As a fully licensed service provider, we offer benefits like:
Whether you’re ready to have your home’s air ducts cleaned or require a full service on your HVAC unit, we’ve got you covered. Schedule a hassle-free appointment or get a quote today.
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers. At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed. In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
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