Should You Have Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Let’s face it…not many homeowners give much thought to what’s going on inside their air ducts. And why would they? Your ductwork is concealed behind walls, ceilings, and floors. However, your HVAC system is pulling air from inside your home and distributing it throughout your living spaces day in and day out. And with that air come dust, dirt, pet dander, pollen, and other contaminants.
Indoor Contaminants Have Places to Hide
Over time dust and other debris can accumulate in your home’s ductwork, reducing indoor air quality and forcing your heating and cooling system to work harder. Routine professional air duct cleaning is one of the most overlooked services when it comes to your home maintenance, but it can greatly affect your family’s comfort, health, and energy efficiency.
Give Your Air Ducts the Thoro Cleaning They Deserve
Here at ThoroClean, we offer Albuquerque homeowners professional air duct cleaning services that remove years of accumulated debris from their HVAC systems.
Clean Ducts Mean Cleaner Air for Your Home
Your heating and cooling system is constantly pulling air into your home, heating or cooling it, and distributing it throughout your living space. As your HVAC system cycles on and off your ductwork traps airborne debris. While most of this debris is captured by your HVAC filter, the rest accumulates inside your ductwork.
You Might Be Surprised by How Dirty Your Ductwork Is
No matter how clean you keep your home, dust and debris will still find its way into your HVAC system. Over time, this debris will collect inside your ductwork. Common contaminants that find their way into air duct systems include:
- Dust
- Pet hair and dander
- Pollen
- Mold spores
- Dirt from outdoors
- Bacteria and allergens
If your ducts are dirty enough, each time your system turns on some of these contaminants can get sucked back out into your home.
Need Air Duct Cleaning More Frequently?
While most homes could benefit from air duct cleaning, some homes require it more than others. Factors that can contribute to quicker accumulation of debris in your ductwork include:
- Pets
- Residents with allergies or asthma
- Residents who smoke inside
- Recent remodeling projects
- Recently moved into an older home
If you’re experiencing persistent allergic symptoms or smoke smells when your vents are on, it may be time to hire a professional duct cleaning company.
How Frequently Should You Have Air Ducts Cleaned?
While there’s no set schedule for how often you should have your air ducts cleaned, a good rule of thumb is every three to five years.
However, you may need to have your air ducts cleaned more frequently if:
You Have Pets
If you have pets that tend to shed a lot of hair, you may want to consider having your air ducts cleaned annually. Pets love to curl up on your furniture and their bedding which can cause excess pet hair and dander to get trapped inside your HVAC system.
Allergies and Asthma
Do one or more members of your family suffer from allergies or asthma? If so, it may be worth it to have your air ducts cleaned more often. Cleaner ducts mean fewer allergens and irritants floating around your home.
Smoking Inside
Do you or someone in your household smoke indoors? Not only does smoke smell terrible, but it can cause damage to your HVAC system. Smoking indoors is one of the many reasons you should get your air ducts cleaned more frequently.
Recent Renovations
If you recently had any type of remodeling or renovations done around your house, you may want to consider getting your ducts cleaned. Drywall dust and other debris can settle into your ductwork during these projects.
You Purchase an Older Home
Just like with renovations, older homes come with their own dust and debris. When you purchase an older home, you may want to have your air ducts inspected and cleaned.
You Notice Excessive Amounts of Dust
Do you notice large amounts of dust buildup in your home no matter how often you clean? If you answer yes to these questions, it may be time to hire professional duct cleaning service.
How Do I Know If My Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
If you answer yes to any of the questions above, it may be time to schedule an air duct inspection. Other telltale signs that your air ducts may need to be cleaned include:
Excessive Dust Throughout Your Home
Does your house always seem dusty even after you clean? Your air ducts could be the culprit. When dust builds up in your air ducts it can spread throughout your home every time your HVAC system turns on.
You See Dust Blowing from Your Supply Vents
If you remove your vent covers and see dust visibly coming out of the air supply vents when your HVAC is on, it’s a good indicator that dust has built up inside your ductwork.
Hot or Cold Spots
If you notice that some rooms in your home feel hotter or colder than others, there may be an airflow problem. Dust and debris can restrict airflow within your ductwork causing hot or cold spots.
Musty Odors
Musty odors coming from your vents can be caused by mold or mildew in your ductwork. Another indication is that you should schedule air duct cleaning service.
Visible Mold or Rodents
If you see visible mold near your vents or notice rodent or insect droppings in your ductwork you will want to schedule air duct cleaning as soon as possible.
Cleaning your air ducts is a detailed process that should only be performed by trained technicians. Here is what you can expect during a professional air duct cleaning service:
Inspection of HVAC System
First, our technician will conduct a thorough inspection of your ductwork and HVAC system. This allows us to identify areas of concern like heavy buildup, restricted airflow, or other problems.
Removal of Debris in Ductwork
Using powerful equipment like rotary brushes and air whips our technicians loosen debris inside the air ducts. Industrial vacuums then remove debris from the ductwork. The contaminated debris is stored inside the vacuum canister, so it doesn’t get redistributed back into your home.
Other components that are typically cleaned during duct cleaning include:
- Supply ducts
- Return ducts
- Registers, duct vents, grilles, and diffusers
If your technician notices damaged or heavily contaminated components within your HVAC system, they will let you know. In some cases, those components may need to be cleaned as well.
Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
There are several benefits to hiring a professional duct cleaning service. Not only will your indoor air quality improve but you’ll also notice other benefits like:
Cleaning your air ducts will rid your home of trapped debris and allergens. A few benefits of cleaning your air ducts include:
- Improved indoor air quality
- Reduce allergy symptoms
- Reduce Sneezing and Congestion
- Reduce the amount of dust floating around in your home
- A cleaner feeling at home
- Increased HVAC Efficiency
When dust and debris build up inside your air ducts it can clog them up. When your air ducts are clean, your air travels freely through your ductwork.
Benefits of cleaning your air ducts include:
- Improved airflow
- Better comfort
- Less wear on your HVAC system
- Lower energy bills
Getting Rid of Unpleasant Smells
If you have pets, live with someone who smokes indoors, or just cooked something that left you with a lingering odor chances are your ductwork is trapping those smells. One of the benefits of hiring professional duct cleaning is they’ll get rid of that odor.
When Should You Schedule Air Duct Cleaning?
The best time of year to schedule air duct cleaning is typically in spring and fall. Cleaning your ducts in the spring and fall allows your cooling and heating systems to run more efficiently when they need to the most.
If you’re experiencing issues with indoor air quality, unusual odors, water damage, smoke damage, or pests. It’s best to schedule air duct cleaning as soon as you can.
Why Choose a Professional Duct Cleaning Service?
Air duct cleaning isn’t a DIY project. In most cases, you won’t have the tools or equipment to properly clean your air ducts. Furthermore, if not done correctly you could damage your ductwork.
Professional air duct cleaning technicians have been trained to clean your HVAC system. They use professional-grade tools and equipment to ensure your entire duct system is cleaned.
Give ThoroClean a Call Today
There’s no reason you should have to come home to feel congested or itchy eyes. If it’s time for your home’s air ducts to be cleaned give ThoroClean a call. Our professional air duct cleaning services are designed to keep homes in Albuquerque and surrounding areas comfortable all year long.
Not sure if you need your air ducts cleaned? Contact ThoroClean today at **505-883-04** and we’ll send out one of our highly trained technicians to inspect your air ducts and give you a free estimate.