Air Ducts and Maintenance: How Do I Know If They Need to be Cleaned?

When you're a homeowner, you're always tackling maintenance chores and looking for ways to make your house cleaner and safer for your family. From mowing the grass to having the air conditioner serviced each spring, there are many items on your to-do list. One thing you might not have thought about is cleaning your air ducts. 

Air duct cleaning falls under the heading of routine maintenance. You need to schedule this essential service at least once every five years. If you have small children, older adults, or anyone with breathing issues in your home, it's a good idea to have the ducts cleaned more often. But how do you know that it needs to be cleaned? There are signs.

Signs You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

As your air ducts fill with dust, dirt, and debris, they send you signs that it's time to get a professional cleaning. You want to have them cleaned regularly, but it's a big job, so you don't want to have them cleaned when they aren't dirty. Here are a few signs that it's time:

• Rodent or pest infestation: Do you hear the scuttling of little feet? You might have a pest infestation, and they are using your duct system to move around your home. These pests also leave behind feces and other unpleasant things. 
• Construction and renovations: There's nothing like a home improvement project to whip up the dust and debris into the air. Even if you had your ducts cleaned a year ago, construction makes it essential to do it again. 
• Skyrocketing energy bills: Do you go into shock when you see your electric bill? These high bills might be due to clogged and dirty air ducts. Cleaning ducts add to the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. 
• Dust everywhere: If your house looks like an old museum the day after you dust, it might be a sign of dirty air ducts. The ducts are simply recirculating dust and debris into your home. 
• Mold: Is there a musty, unpleasant smell in your home that you can't pinpoint? It might be mold inside your air ducts. Mold loves to grow in dark, moist places, and your air ducts provide a perfect hiding spot. 

When you notice one of these signs, it's time to get your air ducts cleaned. 

Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning

Before you start googling air duct cleaners, you want to know that there are benefits to having them cleaned. After all, it isn't dirt and dust that you can see. Here are a few benefits to consider.

• Healthier home: Part of the job of air ducts is to carry cooled or heated air to the rooms where it's needed. As the air travels, it can pick up dust and allergens. When you clean your air duct regularly, you'll notice that your family seems healthier with fewer colds, allergy attacks, or breathing issues. 
• Better air quality: With clean air ducts, you'll notice an improvement in the air quality in your home. This can help the area appear brighter, feel fresher, and smell better. 
• Cleaner home: You devote a lot of time to keeping your home clean and cleaning your air ducts can help. Without the additional dirt and debris from clogged air ducts, you'll spend less time dusting and cleaning.

Although there are benefits to cleaning your air ducts, there are real dangers for not doing it regularly.

Dangers of Not Cleaning Air Ducts Regularly

You might have an out of sight, out of mind mentality when it comes to cleaning your air ducts. However, there are dangers to leaving them dirty, including:

• Respiratory illnesses: Not having cleaning air ducts routinely reduces the air quality in your home. This can lead to respiratory illness, especially in children and older adults. 
• Mold growth: Mold can create many problems in your home. It also likes moist, dark places to grow. Mold growth in your air ducts presents a danger to the health and well-being of your family. 
• Fire hazard: When your air ducts become excessively dirty, they become a fire hazard. All the dirt, dust, and debris can catch fire and burn quickly. Also, the duct system winds its way through most of your home. 

Air duct cleaning is an essential maintenance chore for homeowners. At HVAC Cleaning Technologies, our team understands the importance of this job and has the skills to rid your air ducts of dust, dirt, debris, and allergens. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.