Your heating and cooling system are the lungs of your home, and proper care of them is essential to a healthy living environment. Pollutants in the air come from many different places – foot traffic from the outdoors, cooking, smoking, moving around the home, and even cleaning. While the dust and debris in your environment are not all derived from buildup in your air ducts, an excessive amount of matter in air ducts can result in your breathing air being less than stellar. Everyone, especially those with respiratory conditions or allergies, is affected by poor air quality. Keep reading to find out if you should have your air ducts cleaned.
Reasons to Clean Your Air Ducts
1. There is mold growing inside the air ducts and/or on other components of your heating and cooling system.
2. There are insects or other vermin living inside your air ducts.
3. Your air ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris.
4. You’ve noticed that particles of dust and debris are being released through your air vents.
Indoor air pollution is serious – it can cause allergic reactions and other unpleasant symptoms. The presence of dust, pollen, and other debris is further complicated by the addition of moisture. Moisture makes microbiological growth possible and things like mold spores are subsequently released into the air in your home.
Preventative maintenance of your air ducts will minimize dust contamination.
Below are some tips for keeping your air ducts clean…
1. Air filters are important. They are positioned at the point in the air duct where air is pulled in and they filter out particles that would otherwise clog the system, as well as help to keep dust and other debris out of the vents. Use the highest efficiency air filters approved by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
2. Air filters need to be checked and changed regularly. They are the first line of defense in keeping particles out of your air ducts and should be maintained with care.
3. Another thing about filters – for various reasons, your heating and cooling system may be missing air filters or some of your air filters may not be properly fitted, allowing air through the gaps around the filter holder. Make sure that there are no missing filters and that they’re all fitted properly.
4. Construction and renovation work taking place in your home can produce dust that can sneak into your air ducts. Always ask that the supply and return registers are sealed off and that the heating and cooling system is not turned on until construction dust is cleaned up.
5. Dust and vacuum your home regularly. Use the highest efficiency vacuum and vacuum filters, if necessary, that you can find.
Keeping Moisture Out of Your Air Ducts
Moisture in your air ducts equals the possibility of biological growth. You can decrease the chance of moisture getting into ducts with the following steps:
1. Repair all known leaks.
2. A major source of mold growth in air ducts is the cooling coils that remove water from the air. Make sure that the pans that collect this water from the cooling coils are draining properly.
3. In non-air-conditioned spaces, like attics, crawl spaces, and basements, water condensation forms more readily because air is not being pushed around as much. Make sure that the air ducts in these areas of your home are properly sealed and insulated in order to avoid condensation.
Do your air ducts need cleaning? A professional air duct cleaning service will be able to determine if air duct cleaning is right for your home.