How often do you think about the air ducts in your home? Have you had them cleaned recently?
A clean air duct system in good condition circulates heated or cooled air from your HVAC unit all around the home. When you have your air ducts professionally cleaned on a regular basis, you and your family will enjoy clean, high-quality air at your preferred temperature.
However, when you wait too long between air duct cleanings, you risk breathing dirty, contaminated air. The importance of having your air ducts professionally cleaned cannot be overstated—let this handy guide from 1-800-Dry-Me-Out convince you to get those ducts cleaned on schedule.
Give Your HVAC Unit a Boost
Your HVAC system depends on air ducts to deliver cooled or heated air evenly throughout your house. Proper airflow encourages high-quality ventilation and even temperatures in every room of your home.
However, if you don’t schedule regular duct cleanings, dust and debris will build up in those ducts and begin to block airflow. Dirty ducts lead to uneven temperatures—like cold and hot spots—around the house and cause your HVAC unit to work overtime to correct that unevenness.
Have your ducts professionally cleaned to reduce stress on your HVAC unit. Clean ducts help heated or cooled air flow freely around the home. Plus, your HVAC unit won’t expend as much energy heating or cooling your home, so you’ll likely see savings on your energy bill.
Banish Allergens and Other Irritants
Dirty ducts lead to dirty air around the home. If anybody in your household experiences allergies or asthma, breathing irritant-laden air can exacerbate existing symptoms or even trigger attacks.
If you go too long between air duct cleaning appointments, you could see an uptick in the following particles floating around your home:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold and mildew
- Animal dander (if you have pets)
Breathing in these particles—even for those who do not have serious allergies or asthma—can lead to respiratory distress, headaches, fatigue, and other health woes. Create healthier conditions in your home by keeping your air ducts clean; your home should be a refuge from poor air conditions, not the source of them.
Eliminate Unpleasant Smells in the Home
Plenty of household activities, from painting to cooking, generate odors—some more pleasant than others. If those smells, like paint fumes, tend to stick around for a long time, cleaning your air ducts regularly can help get rid of those odors more quickly.
In addition, the ducts themselves can be a source of unwelcome odors. Bacteria and mold can build up in neglected ducts, and rodents that make their way in from outside can die and begin the decomposition process.
Have your air ducts professionally cleaned on a schedule, preferably every three to five years. If you notice your house smelling persistently foul, call for an air duct cleaning service sooner rather than later.
Reduce Fire Risks
Did you know that dirty air ducts can cause traumatic house fires? When accumulated dust, lint, and other debris heat up, they can easily catch fire and spread flames to multiple rooms in your home.
You probably know how important it is to clean the lint trap every time you use your clothes dryer; it’s a similar idea with duct cleaning. Avoid letting that lint build up too much in your ducts by having professionals clear it all out. You’ll rest easy knowing there’s one less fire hazard in your home.
Extend the Lifespan of Your HVAC Unit
On average, HVAC systems tend to last between 10 and 20 years. A high-quality system can last even longer if you keep up with maintenance and cleaning.
We’ve already mentioned how professional air duct cleaning can keep your HVAC unit from working overtime to heat or cool your home. The more you reduce stress on that unit, the longer it will last. Eliminate the need for costly HVAC repairs by keeping every element of the system, including your ducts, clean and free of buildup.
Keep Your Home Cleaner
When dirty air ducts blow contaminant-ridden air around your home, those contaminants—dust, pollen, and the like—often settle on surfaces like furniture and carpets. When your home’s air is dirty, you’ll find yourself sweeping, vacuuming, and dusting more often. Plus, when mold spores in the air find a home in dark, damp, poorly ventilated parts of your house, they grow quickly and become harder to remove.
Maintain a cleaner home and reduce the risk of mold growth in your kitchen and bathrooms by keeping your air ducts clean. A simple cleaning appointment every few years will keep extra contaminants from settling in your home.
When Should You Call for Air Duct Cleaning?
Now that we’ve discussed the many benefits of professional air duct cleaning, think about your own home and the people living in it. How do you know when it’s time to call for ductwork cleaning services?
It’s Been Several Years
Has it been more than five years since your last air duct cleaning? Ducts should be cleaned every three to five years, on average. If someone in your house has asthma or allergies, have the ducts cleaned every two years.
Your Home Has Hot and Cold Spots
If your HVAC system has a hard time heating or cooling your home evenly, dirty or clogged ductwork could be the culprit. Give your HVAC system a break from working overtime by having your ducts thoroughly cleaned.
Your Energy Bill Is Skyrocketing
Are you having a difficult time staying on top of your monthly energy bill? Your HVAC system could be expending more energy than usual in an effort to heat or cool your home thoroughly and evenly. Professional duct cleaning services can help bring that energy bill down to a manageable number.
You’re Sneezing and Wheezing
If you or someone in your home has a hard time breathing inside, have your air ducts cleaned as soon as possible. Your home should be a respite from airborne irritants, not a leading source of them.
Something Smells Bad
Is there a pervasive odor in your home that you can’t seem to eliminate? Are you having trouble finding the source of the smell? There’s a chance the answer lies in your air ducts. Small animals that get into your ducts often can’t find their way back out, meaning they die and decompose in the ductwork. A professional duct cleaner can get rid of dead animals, bacteria, and mold growth in your ducts, and you’ll breathe easier for it.
If your home’s air quality is less than ideal, it’s important to have your air ducts professionally cleaned as soon as possible. Duct cleaning professionals make quick work of sweeping lint, dirt, mold, and even animal carcasses out of your ductwork so you can live more comfortably in your home.
Do any of the above air quality concerns apply to your home? Call 1-800-Dry-Me-Out at your earliest convenience. Our ductwork cleaning technicians will have you breathing easier with regular duct cleaning appointments.