Albuquerque Air Duct Cleaning – The Nitty Gritty On How Often to Clean Your Air Ducts
The tunnels in your home, called air ducts, carry conditioned and unconditioned air to different rooms. Like any other component of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, air ducts need to be maintained regularly. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) suggests scheduling air duct cleaning once every three to five years as an excellent general rule of thumb. That cleaning guideline can be extended to six to eight years if the appropriate procedures are followed. The accumulation of mold and other pollutants that cause allergic responses is a factor that should be considered when deciding whether to clean your air ducts more quickly for the health of your house and family.
Should You Clean Your Air Ducts Regularly?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that the air quality inside buildings can be anywhere from two to five times worse than outside air quality. Because these contaminants in the air recirculate throughout your home via the air ducts, they can cause problems for your family and your home. In addition to having your ductwork cleaned on a routine basis by a professional HVAC and indoor air quality contractor, you may need to schedule an appointment more quickly to organize your ducts if any of the following conditions are met.
Alterations Made to Your House or Current Living Situation
When is it necessary to clean the ductwork in your home? This is a question that both prospective and present homeowners should ask themselves. When moving into a new house, cleaning should be done, and this is especially important if the previous owner smoked, had pets, or did not have the ducts serviced within the past three years. Air duct cleaning is recommended during the construction of a new home to free the home of drywall dust and other construction debris that accumulates throughout the building process. Sawdust and other waste might make their way into your ducts after a home renovation job is over, so it is essential to clean them thoroughly afterward.
Visible Mold or Musty Smell
Mold thrives in humid, wet, and difficult-to-access environments, such as your home’s air ducts. If there is visible mold, a musty odor is present in the air, or if you have symptoms ranging from itching to coughing, you should have a cleaning performed on the contaminated ducting. A reliable service provider may remedy the mold by sanitizing the area to destroy existing growth and prevent future development.
Infestation with Pests
Creepy crawlies can build a home in your ducts, contaminating the house’s air with waste and smell. If you find pests in or around your home’s ductwork, or if you notice a deterioration in the function of your system, a thorough cleaning may get rid of the vermin and stop them from becoming a nuisance to you in the future.
An Excessive Amount of Dust or Debris
Dust, pet dander, dead skin cells, and other potentially harmful allergens can accumulate in ductwork over time, which is another reason why air ducts should be cleaned regularly. The visible manifestation of this excessive debris can be seen as puffs of dust that are expelled through air vents. The accumulation puts you and your family in danger of respiratory and other health problems while also reducing the airflow and performance of the system. The National Air Distribution and Control Association (NADCA) reports, “According to the United States Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy consumed for heating or cooling a home is wasted.” Both the lifetime of the system and the amount of money in your pocket may suffer as a result. This raises the topic of how to improve the flow of air through the air ducts of a building. If you hire a professional cleaner, they will be able to clear out all the dirt collected in your air ducts, allowing for optimal airflow that is both clean and safe for your family to breathe.
Excessive symptoms of the common cold or allergy-like conditions
Those who get their ducts cleaned regularly report having better health overall. However, if your ducts are unclean, they will circulate polluted air throughout your house, which can aggravate or even create allergy and cold-like symptoms for individuals who live there. The accumulation in air ducts can provide a home for dust mites that feed on human detritus. These dust mites are the source of asthmatic and allergic responses. When exposed to poor air quality, individuals in the family with respiratory problems are particularly at risk of becoming ill. When infants, children, or older adults live in the home, it is vital to maintain a high level of indoor air quality and have the air ducts cleaned regularly.