Why Clean My Air Ducts?

With the advent of so many new products designed to improve air quality, homeowners are becoming more aware and concerned with the quality of the air inside their homes than they have in the past. Besides the sometimes poor Phoenix air quality, a major contributing factor in the purity of your air is your HVAC’s ductwork. Ensuring the cleanliness of your air ducts is an important step in improving the air you breathe.

Why would I want to clean my air ducts?

There are several reasons to consider having your air ducts inspected and cleaned. Depending on the following factors you, and the people living in your home, might observe significant improvements in both your health and other areas of your life.

• Family members with unexplained illnesses. For homes with family members who are experiencing regular symptoms like coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, nausea, fatigue, frequent headaches or other sicknesses, cleaning the ductwork could help.
• Family members with allergies or asthma. Contrary to what most would suspect, the indoor air we breathe is much more polluted than the air outside. The air ducts are a crucial component to your HVAC system, and are responsible for circulating heated and conditioned air throughout your home. Particularly for homes with allergy and asthma sufferers, scheduling an air duct cleaning can have a positive impact on the severity of their symptoms.
• Enhanced system performance. Professional cleaning of your ductwork should also include a cleaning of your heating and air conditioning unit and coils. When an HVAC system is not maintained and clean, it has to work harder to heat and cool your home. Studies have shown that HVAC systems run much more smoothly and efficiently when they are cleaned, and according to The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning engineers, dirty coils and blowers can cut efficiency by as much as 40 percent. When a system is running efficiently, less energy is used and that saves you money.
• Your home has recently been renovated or is newly constructed. New homes or homes undergoing renovation are susceptible to collecting dust and debris inside the ductwork. If vents were not properly sealed off, or if the heating or cooling system was run before everything was thoroughly cleaned, odds are good there is a notable amount of dust and particulate inside your system.
• Moving into a pre-existing home. Older homes are notorious for tightly constructed ductwork that can restrict airflow and allow for the collection of excess dust. What’s more, moving into a home previously occupied by someone else means you can’t be sure about the quality of your indoor air. If the previous owners smoked or owned pets, those odors and particulates are being circulated throughout the home each time you turn on your heat or air conditioning.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency does not claim these factors demonstrate a substantial need for duct cleaning, they do recommend that you have your ducts inspected and cleaned if you observe any of the following:

• Visible mold growing on the inside of your ducts or on components of your heating and cooling system. If you suspect this might be a problem, it’s best to have your ductwork inspected by a professional to help you identify suspected mold and the conditions leading to its growth as well as determine the severity of the problem.
• Evidence of pests within duct system. If you find or suspect that rodents or insects are inside your ductwork, it’s best to contact a professional to help you address the issue.
• Excessive amounts of dust, particulate or debris can be seen inside the ducts. When there is enough dust inside your ductwork to be clearly visible, a thorough cleaning can stop it from entering your living space through your supply registers.

To ensure the health and safety of your family, it’s best to have your ducts cleaned regularly by a certified and trained professional. Contact us to learn more about the importance of having your air ducts regularly inspected and cleaned.