Without the air ducts, the central heating and cooling system becomes virtually worthless. It is because the ducts are responsible for carrying the air to and from the HVAC unit. However, most of us don’t even give a second thought to these very important air ducts…maybe because they are always concealed and not right there in your face. Nonetheless, ignoring them is not good for the air quality in your home. So what is that one thing that you should do to maintain them? The answer is simple – Air Duct Cleaning.
Today, we shall take some time out to learn the importance of air duct cleaning and the benefits that it brings.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning Important?
Air travels through the ducts continuously. Usually, the circulating air carries dust, dander, debris, and other particles. These deposit in small quantities throughout the ducts. Over a period of time, the deposits become large, so much so that the circulating air starts picking up these impurities and making them a part of the indoor air. In this manner, the indoor air quality deteriorates, and your breathing space becomes contaminated. Often it is referred to as indoor air pollution.
You will be surprised to know that EPA or the Environmental Protection Agency considers indoor pollution to be a major concern that is detrimental to the well-being of the residents. When a premier US agency is concerned, so should you be.
To improve the indoor air quality and make the air you breathe more hygienic, air duct cleaning is the only option.
4 Benefits Of Air Duct Cleaning You Didn’t Know
Now that you know how critical air duct cleaning is to the indoor air quality let us briefly look at what other benefits it has.
1. Fewer Allergies – The spring season is most often synonymous with an increase in allergies. It is primarily due to the presence of pollen in the air. This pollen finds its way indoors as well. Adding it to the present combination of contaminants in the home like mold, mold spores, dust, and dander, the environment becomes ripe for causing allergies. Sometimes pests and critters reside in the ducts, and their droppings are picked up by the air passing through. When these become a part of your breathing space, the allergic reactions can be severe. Until and unless the ducts are given a thorough cleaning, there is no way to get rid of the allergens that reside in the ducts and mix in the air you breathe. Once the ducts are cleaned, there will be a drastic drop in the occurrence of allergies and their severity.
2. Gets Rid Of Odors – Every home has a distinctive smell, sometimes it is good and sometimes bad. Rarely do people know that the ducts contribute to how your home smells, to a very large extent. The ducts are usually a thriving space for mold and bacteria. These tend to leave a musty, wet socks kind of smell picked up by the passing air and spread through the house. Similarly, if your ducts suffer from a pest infestation, you are in for a really unpleasant surprise when even one dies. The smell is offensive and permeates your abode, making it tough to breathe without gagging or pinching your nose. Last but not least, cigarette smoke and cooking smells are captured by the particles in the ducts and released into the breathing air. So, smells tend to linger for a very long time. Cleaning the ducts will get rid of all the mentioned menaces and make you home relatively odor-free.
3. Cleaner Home – When your home was new, it did not need cleaning often. However, as the years have gone by, the frequency with which your home demands cleaning has increased. And even then, within a day or two, it feels as if it is still dirty. This is the story of most homes where air ducts are conveniently forgotten. Basically, what is happening here, is that the moving air picks up the dirt from inside the ducts and deposits it on the various surfaces in the home. The dirtier the ducts, the dirtier your home, and vice-versa. No amount of cleaning will suffice until you get the air ducts cleaned by the professionals. Once all the impurities and particles inside it are removed, your home will become once again.
4. Reduces Power Bills – When the build-up inside the ducts becomes heavy, it restricts the flow of air. So now, your heating and cooling system has to work longer and harder to maintain the desired temperature inside the home. As a result, you will notice a sharp increase in the power bill for no good reason. Essentially, the build-up inside the ducts reduces the efficiency of your HVAC system. Getting rid of the blockage will improve the airflow efficiency and, in turn, the efficiency of your unit. When that happens, the power bills will again come down to normal and acceptable levels.
The Frequency Of Air Duct Cleaning
Fortunately, air duct cleaning is not something that you need to do every year. Getting them cleaned by professionals every five years is a good plan. However, if you reside in an area close to nature or in a place that often faces sandstorms, getting the air ducts cleaned every three years is a better option.
Whom To Call For Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning is a job that only professional duct cleaners can perform. Our regular household equipment has neither the power nor the range to go deep into the ducts for proper cleaning. So you need to ask your HVAC contractor for reference and contact professionals for taking care of the ducts in your home.
In The End
Air duct cleaning is a vital part of ensuring that your HVAC system works efficiently. It is also essential to maintain good air quality indoors. Additionally, it serves many other purposes, like making your home odor-free, reducing allergies, etc. So consciously make an effort to ensure that your ducts get the necessary TLC every 3 to 5 years.
