Indoor air should always be as clean and healthy as possible, and a clean air duct system is essential to achieving this. Did you know that your home generates approximately 40 pounds of dust each year? This dust accumulates in the air ducts and is then circulated throughout the house. The dirtier the duct system, the harder the HVAC unit has to work to push air through the ducts and make it circulate evenly. It's important to clean your air ducts under specific conditions, such as visible mold in the ducts, rodent infestations, recent home renovations, clogged ducts by dirt, or if you've never cleaned your air conditioning ducts.
Contacting a professional is the best way to learn more about your treatment options and to schedule an air duct cleaning. As suggested by the EPA, cleaning ductwork as needed ensures that proper maintenance is performed. If you suspect there's a mold problem because of visible growth or a musty smell coming from supply vents, cleaning the ducts won't do much good if you don't get rid of the mold. Also consider inspecting your duct system for leaks, as leaking ducts reduce efficiency and cause air quality problems. While cleaning air vents will remove bacteria from the ducts, it's not necessarily an effective measure to prevent illness in the home. Often, the main reasons for needing an air duct cleaning service are moisture and bad odors.
A professional will be able to identify the problem and offer you treatment options, including cleaning mold from your air ducts. The tools and techniques used by trained duct cleaners greatly reduce the chances of ducts becoming damaged or reinfested. Environmental Protection Agency researchers measured dust levels and air conditioning system efficiency in test homes for one week during the cooling season and found that duct cleaning did not significantly improve dust levels or system performance. In fact, independent research done on duct cleaning indicates that the process accumulates so much dust that it creates a bigger problem than it solves. Cleaning your air ducts is one of the most effective ways to remove dirt, debris, and other unwanted particles from your home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Cleaning mold from air ducts usually includes an antibacterial solution, which can also prevent mold from growing again in the future.
But even if you don't have special health problems, cleaning your ducts can be intuitively appealing. Cleaning your air ducts is an important part of maintaining a healthy home environment. It helps reduce allergens in the air and improves indoor air quality. It also helps keep your HVAC system running efficiently by removing dirt and debris that can clog up your system.
Regularly scheduled cleanings can help extend the life of your HVAC system and save you money on energy bills. When it comes to choosing a professional for air duct cleaning services, make sure they are certified by NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association). This certification ensures that they have been trained in proper techniques for cleaning HVAC systems. Additionally, make sure they use high-quality equipment that is designed specifically for cleaning air ducts.
Cleaning your air ducts is an important part of keeping your home healthy and comfortable. Regularly scheduled cleanings can help extend the life of your HVAC system and save you money on energy bills.