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Air Ducts and Maintenance: How Do I Know If They Need to be Cleaned?
June 24, 2021
Air Ducts and Maintenance: How Do I Know If They Need to be Cleaned?
Knowing the benefits of regular air duct maintenance.
When you're a homeowner, you're always tackling maintenance chores and looking for ways to make your house cleaner and safer for your family. From mowing the grass to having the air conditioner serviced each spring, there are many items on your to-do list. One thing you might not have thought about is cleaning your air ducts.
Air duct cleaning falls under the heading of routine maintenance. You need to schedule this essential service at least once every five years. If you have small children, older adults, or anyone with breathing issues in your home, it's a good idea to have the ducts cleaned more often. But how do you know that it needs to be cleaned? There are signs.
Signs You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
As your air ducts fill with dust, dirt, and debris, they send you signs that it's time to get a professional cleaning. You want to have them cleaned regularly, but it's a big job, so you don't want to have them cleaned when they aren't dirty. Here are a few signs that it's time:
- Rodent or pest infestation: Do you hear the scuttling of little feet? You might have a pest infestation, and they are using your duct system to move around your home. These pests also leave behind feces and other unpleasant things.
- Construction and renovations: There's nothing like a home improvement project to whip up the dust and debris into the air. Even if you had your ducts cleaned a year ago, construction makes it essential to do it again.
- Skyrocketing energy bills: Do you go into shock when you see your electric bill? These high bills might be due to clogged and dirty air ducts. Cleaning ducts add to the energy efficiency of your HVAC system.
- Dust everywhere: If your house looks like an old museum the day after you dust, it might be a sign of dirty air ducts. The ducts are simply recirculating dust and debris into your home.
- Mold: Is there a musty, unpleasant smell in your home that you can't pinpoint? It might be mold inside your air ducts. Mold loves to grow in dark, moist places, and your air ducts provide a perfect hiding spot.
When you notice one of these signs, it's time to get your air ducts cleaned.
Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
Before you start googling air duct cleaners, you want to know that there are benefits to having them cleaned. After all, it isn't dirt and dust that you can see. Here are a few benefits to consider.
- Healthier home: Part of the job of air ducts is to carry cooled or heated air to the rooms where it's needed. As the air travels, it can pick up dust and allergens. When you clean your air duct regularly, you'll notice that your family seems healthier with fewer colds, allergy attacks, or breathing issues.
- Better air quality: With clean air ducts, you'll notice an improvement in the air quality in your home. This can help the area appear brighter, feel fresher, and smell better.
- Cleaner home: You devote a lot of time to keeping your home clean and cleaning your air ducts can help. Without the additional dirt and debris from clogged air ducts, you'll spend less time dusting and cleaning.
Although there are benefits to cleaning your air ducts, there are real dangers for not doing it regularly.
Dangers of Not Cleaning Air Ducts Regularly
You might have an out of sight, out of mind mentality when it comes to cleaning your air ducts. However, there are dangers to leaving them dirty, including:
- Respiratory illnesses: Not having cleaning air ducts routinely reduces the air quality in your home. This can lead to respiratory illness, especially in children and older adults.
- Mold growth: Mold can create many problems in your home. It also likes moist, dark places to grow. Mold growth in your air ducts presents a danger to the health and well-being of your family.
- Fire hazard: When your air ducts become excessively dirty, they become a fire hazard. All the dirt, dust, and debris can catch fire and burn quickly. Also, the duct system winds its way through most of your home.
Air duct cleaning is an essential maintenance chore for homeowners. At HVAC Cleaning Technologies, our team understands the importance of this job and has the skills to rid your air ducts of dust, dirt, debris, and allergens. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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Keeping your air vents clean is essential for a healthy home. If you ignore them, dust and dirt can build up and cause several problems. In this article, we will discuss different factors that determine how often you will need air duct cleaning . By the end, you'll know exactly when and why you should clean your air vents, making your home a safer place. Pets That Shed Fur or Dander Pets bring joy and companionship to our homes, but they also bring fur and dander (tiny skin flakes). This gets sucked up into your vents, building up inside, and reducing the quality of the air. The more pets you have, the more they shed, and the faster your air ducts will clog up with fur and dander. Here are some examples to help you understand: Dog Fur: If you have a dog, you know how much they can shed. Imagine all that fur getting stuck in your air vents. This can block the airflow and make your heating and cooling system work harder. It can also make the air you breathe dirty. Cat Dander: Cats shed tiny flakes of skin called dander. This dander can get into the air and make it hard to breathe, especially for people with allergies. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, pet dander can worsen asthma symptoms in children. If you have a cat, it’s important to clean your air vents regularly to keep the air clean. Air duct cleaning can help reduce pet dander circulating in your home, making it easier for everyone to breathe. Family Members with Allergies or Asthma If someone in your home has allergies or asthma, clean air vents are very important. Here’s why: Pollen and Dust: Pollen and dust can get into your air vents and spread throughout your home, every time the air conditioner is turned on. This can make allergy symptoms worse. Cleaning your air vents can remove these allergens and help everyone breathe better. Asthma Triggers: Dust mites, mold, and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks. If you have someone in your home with asthma, it’s very important to keep the air vents clean to avoid these triggers. If you finally get a handle on your allergies with medication, but for some reason, your symptoms keep coming, back, your dirty air ducts might be the culprit. Post Home Renovations or Remodeling Renovations and remodeling can create a lot of dust and debris. All that dust can easily get sucked into your air vents and reduce the air quality in your home. Let’s look at some examples: Drywall Dust: When you cut or sand drywall, it creates fine dust that can get everywhere. This dust can clog your air vents and make your air dirty. Cleaning the air vents after a renovation can remove this dust and improve the air quality. Wood Shavings: If you’ve had work done with wood, such as new cabinets or flooring, tiny wood shavings can get into your air vents. These shavings can block the airflow and make it hard for your heating and cooling system to work properly. Water Damage and Signs of Mold Water damage can cause mold to grow in your air vents. This mold can be very dangerous to your health, so it’s important to clean your air vents if you notice any signs of mold, such as a musty smell, black spots, or discoloration. Mold exposure can cause a variety of health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , mold can cause health problems like coughing, wheezing, and even lung infections. Cleaning your air vents can help prevent these health issues. How Often Should You Clean Your Air Vents? Now that you know the factors that can affect your air vents, you might be wondering how often you should clean them. Here are some guidelines: Every 3-5 Years: As a general rule, you should have your air vents cleaned every 3-5 years. This can help keep your air clean and your heating and cooling system running efficiently. More Often for Pet Owners: If you have pets that shed fur or dander, you should clean your air vents more often. Every 2-3 years is a good rule of thumb. After Renovations: If you’ve had home renovations or remodeling, you should clean your air vents as soon as the work is done. This can remove any dust and debris from the work. If You Notice Mold: If you notice any signs of mold, you should clean your air vents right away. This can help keep your air safe to breathe. Conclusion In this post, we covered the factors that determine how often you should clean your air vents. We talked about pets that shed fur or dander, family members with allergies or asthma, post-home renovations or remodeling, and water damage and signs of mold. By considering the factors we've discussed in this guide, you can determine how often you should schedule air duct cleaning for your home. Regular cleaning can help: Improve indoor air quality Reduce allergens and irritants Make your home more comfortable Extend the lifespan of your HVAC system Reduce your energy bills Remember, a healthy home starts with clean air! If you have any questions about air duct cleaning in Cumming , Georgia, or if you'd like to schedule an appointment, contact HVAC Cleaning Technologies today! Our team of certified technicians uses state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to ensure a thorough and effective cleaning. Let us help you create a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable home for your family.
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Our Service Areas
HVAC Cleaning Technologies specializes in air duct cleaning and mold remediation for HVAC systems throughout Atlanta, Suwanee, Cumming, Alpharetta, Gainesville, Roswell, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth, Buford, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville, Dawsonville, Canton, North Georgia Region, Flowery Branch, Milton, Johns Creek, Peachtree Corners, and more!
