The Real Grime on How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts
Air ducts are the conduits that move cooled and heated air throughout your home. As any other HVAC system air ducts need regular maintenance to function at maximum efficiency.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) offers industry standards that mention that as a general rule, air duct cleaning should be done every 3 to 5 years. Depending on the method, that cleaning recommendation can be extended to 6 to 8 years.
Some molds and other contaminants can cause allergies, which could be a health concern for your home and family — this may be a reason to opt for a more immediate air duct cleaning.
When Is It Necessary To Clean Air Ducts?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air may be 2 to 5 times more toxic than outdoor air. Many of the impurities in the air will follow along with the air ducts throughout your home and can damage your home and family.
Aside from the routine air duct cleaning by a qualified H.V.A.C. and indoor air quality contractor, a timelier visit to get your ducts in a row may be needed in the following situations.
You Move from Old House
When do you need to get your ducts cleaned? That’s a question facing new and existing homeowners. You need air duct cleaning when you are relocating in a new place, particularly if the previous owner was a smoker or pet-owner, or did not service the ducts for a considerable time (in the last three years).
For new homes, air duct cleaning helps you eliminate drywall dust and other construction debris left in your house after building. A home remodeling project should deserve a good cleaning, because sawdust and other debris can get into your ducts.
You Notice Mold or Musty Smell In Air Ducts
Mold thrives in moist and hard-to-aspire locations like your air ducts.xA0 If you have visible mold, a musty odor, or symptoms ranging from itchiness to cough, cleaning should take place on the affected ductwork, he said.
A reliable service can repair the problem by treating the mold, sanitizing the areas to eliminate existing mold, and helping to guard against it in the future.
Air Duct Pest Infestation
Creepy crawlers can settle in your ducts and pollute the air that’s delivered throughout the home with their detritus and scent.
If you notice pests inside or around ductwork, or are experiencing a decrease in your system’s performance, a proper cleaning can eliminate vermin and stop them from bugging you in the future.
Excessive Dust or Debris in Your Air Ducts
Another reason for cleaning air ducts: dust, pet dander, dead skin cells and harmful allergens can accumulate over time in ductwork.
This extra debris can visibly manifest in poofs of dust that spew out of vents. Build up can expose you and your family to respiratory and other health problems, while reducing the system’s air flow and efficiency.
The NADCA reports that, “The U.S. Department of Energy says that 25 to 40 percent of the energy used to heat or cool a home is wasted.” This can shorten the life span of the system and your wallet. This leads to the question how to improve air flow in air ducts?
A professional duct cleaning will sweep away all this accumulated filth in your air ducts to make sure the airflow is at peak and clean for your family to enjoy breathing.
Excessive Cold or Allergy-like Symptoms
People with clean ducts, however, report overall better health. But, if your ducts are dirty, they carry dirty air that can exacerbate or even create allergies and cold-like symptoms in people inside the home. Dust mites that consume human detritus can include themselves in buildup that accumulates in air ducts and trigger asthmatic and allergic reactions.
Family members who already have respiratory problems are especially at risk of getting sick when exposed to unhealthy air quality.” Air duct cleaning will also make sense when there are children, elderly or newborns living in the house.