Air ducts play a very vital role in your home. They circulate air from the heating and cooling systems to all rooms in the house, maintaining comfort throughout the year. When neglected, the air ducts may accumulate dust particles, pollen, mold, and other debris. Once you turn on the HVAC system, it recirculates the pollutants, which impact the comfort of your house and affects your family member’s health. You, therefore, need to clean the ductwork often to prevent pollutant buildup. Here are some advantages of cleaning your ducts often.
1. You Will Improve Indoor Air Quality
The air circulating through your ducts is the same that you and your family members breathe. Unfortunately, indoor air contains contaminants like pet dander, dust, volatile chemicals, carbon monoxide, and pesticides that get pulled into the HVAC unit. Over time, these pollutants accumulate within the ductwork and then re-enter your living space. Every time you breathe in such contaminants, they have the potential to trigger coughs, sneezing, bronchial congestion, and other respiratory illnesses. Cleaning the ductwork often will help eliminate such harmful particles, improve indoor air quality, and protect your family members’ health.
2. Cleaning the Ducts Will Boost Your HVAC Unit’s Efficiency
Once dust particles and other debris accumulate beyond a certain level within the ductwork, they impede airflow. This will cause inefficient flow of conditioned air, leading to cold and hot spots within your house. Your HVAC unit will have to work harder to try and circulate warm or cool enough air. The unit will thus consume more energy, resulting in higher utility bills. Once you clear off the debris from the ductwork, air can travel freely, allowing the HVAC system to perform at peak efficiency and saving you money.
3. It Eliminates Awful Odors
Paint fumes, tobacco smoke, cleaning agents, mildew, and food contribute to smells in the house. Stale odors may get trapped in the ductwork and repeatedly flow throughout the home. Bacteria and mold can also grow in the ducts and emit awful smells. When neglected, rodents and other critters make their way into the ductwork and leave behind some droppings. Others get trapped, die, and decompose, emitting stinky odors. Even after opening the windows or using air fresheners, such smells don’t go away. Duct cleaning helps eliminate contaminants and dead critters and discourages insects from nesting since they are less likely to find hiding spaces in clean ducts. This will restore a fresh smell to your house.
4. You Will Maintain a Cleaner Environment
When you turn off your HVAC unit for a few hours, dust particles accumulate in the ductwork. Once you turn on the unit, the particles recirculate in the house. They settle on your beddings, furniture, floor, and other objects. You will need to dust the surfaces often to keep your home clean and hygienic. If you notice that your house is becoming unusually dust, you need to check the ducts. When you clean the ductwork, you prevent pollutants from getting into your house repeatedly and can keep your home cleaner for a longer time.
5. It Helps Eliminate Irritants
Air ducts may also hold some harmful microorganisms. If you have children or live with seniors or people with compromised immune systems, recirculation of airborne contaminants can cause adverse health issues. When pet dander, animal fur, mold spores, and pollen enter the house, they can trigger allergic symptoms and asthma attacks. A periodic air duct cleaning will help prevent allergens from circulating throughout the home, creating healthier living conditions. Cleaner air also makes it easier to breathe. This will reduce sick time, medical bills, and discomfort levels.
6. It Keeps Your Home Safe
Dirty ducts can cause a fire. Over time, dirt, lint, and other materials may accumulate within the ductwork, and when they heat up, they might ignite and cause a fire. This can lead to massive damage to valuable property and puts the lives of your loved ones at risk. The risk is even higher for those with an old HVAC unit or if you use propane for your furnace, fireplace, or stove. It’s therefore vital that you conduct regular duct cleaning to reduce fire risks and keep your house safe.
7. Cleaning Ducts Can Prolong the Unit’s Lifespan
Dirty ductwork causes your unit to run for a more extended period to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. This strains the system and causes wear and tear, which leads to frustrating breakdowns in the middle of the season. As a result, you will have to call for emergency repairs more often than usual. If you continue to use the unit in such a condition, you will strain vital components like the motors and compressor and, eventually, the HVAC system will fail. You will need to replace the entire unit earlier than expected. A regular air duct cleaning routine will help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system.
8. The Air Filters Will Last Longer
The air filters trap dirt and other contaminants present in your indoor air. If there is too much dust in the ductwork, the air filters will get clogged faster than usual. You will therefore need to clean or replace them more often. This can be very tedious, so it’s a good idea that you clean the ducts often to eliminate such contaminants and help your filters last longer.
9. Technicians Can Spot Other Problems During Duct Cleaning
If you seek professional duct cleaning services, the technician will check for other issues throughout the ductwork. They will inspect the ducts for leaks, rust, gaps, and loose connections. The technician will also insulate the ductwork when necessary to improve the efficiency of your unit. A professional can quickly spot and fix any other issues within your HVAC system that you had not noticed before. They will change or clean the air filters, lubricate parts, and ensure that all other components run smoothly. Fixing minor issues will help prevent more extensive damage in the future.
Do You Need Quality Duct Cleaning Services? Contact the Professionals
Regular duct cleaning prevents pricey repairs and replacements while keeping pollutants at bay. However, this is not an easy task, and it requires some specialized equipment and technical skills. During cleaning, you may uncover some mold, dead critters, and animal droppings. The job also requires that you put on protective clothes to prevent dust and other contaminants from getting into your airway. So, if you aren’t used to such tasks, seek professional help. If you opt for DIY duct cleaning, you might create damage that will reduce airflow and affect the efficiency of your unit. It might also take longer to clean, and you might not access some hidden sections of the ductwork. For thorough ductwork cleaning, it’s a good idea that you contact a professional. Qualified technicians have high-powered vacuums and specialized cleaners designated to reach areas that standard tools can’t.
If you are looking for skilled technicians to assist you in duct cleaning, reach out to Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. We provide heating and air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance services. You can also reach out to us for plumbing, indoor air quality, ductless mini-split, water heater, and water purification services in Northern Valley, CA, and the greater Sacramento area. Call us now to request any of our services.
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