What is the importance of hvac duct cleaning services?
Unless ducts are really dirty there’s no reason to clean them. But due to growing concerns about indoor air quality, duct cleaning is one important part of hvac maintenance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends cleaning only if the ducts and HVAC unit are contaminated. If done properly, duct cleaning doesn’t hurt; but it’s not something that needs to be on your regular home maintenance list.
You probably don’t need to have your ducts and HVAC system cleaned unless:
Renovation: If your home has been remodeled especially if there was asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, or significant dust your ductwork may need to be cleaned. Ducts should be sealed off during home renovations; but if they weren’t, dangerous dust and debris may become lodged inside the ductwork.
Animals: If there’s evidence of animal infestation or nesting in your ducts or HVAC system, have the animals removed then clean the ductwork and HVAC unit.
Mold: If there is visible mold growth inside the ductwork, the ducts and HVAC system should be cleaned.
Contaminants: If noticeable debris, pet hair, odors, or other contaminants are being released into the room through the ducts after the registers have been cleaned and vacuumed; then the ducts may need to be cleaned.
Illness: If someone in your family is suffering from an unexplained allergy-related illness, and you’ve taken every other possible step to decontaminate your home, you may want to consider having your ducts cleaned to see if the HVAC system was the culprit.
Benefits of Duct Cleaning
The rule of thumb by most of the hvac technicians is that if the ducts look dirty, they probably are dirty, and that dirty HVAC systems should be inspected by a certified HVAC technician. Below are some other reasons homeowners choose to have their air ducts cleaned.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is one concern that people have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. In a typical six-room building, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually through everyday living. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home. The system taken air in and breathes air out.
Through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work.
While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies.
You can never tell what can happen due to dirty ducts. It is quite obvious with regards to the harmful effects of having contaminated air. It may even lead to life threatening diseases in same scenarios. Hence, it is always suggested that you make sure of the situation of your ducts.
Energy Savings
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use.
When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness. As a consumer, you would understand the importance of saving money. We are all trying to curb the huge bill of air conditioning and conquer its domain. Hence, it is quite important that you make sure of your ductwork so as to keep your wallets happy. Hvac duct cleaning services are always beneficial to the customer in various different ways.
Are Dirty Ducts Hazardous to Your Health?
EPA asserts no studies have proven that duct cleaning prevents health problems. Also, there isn’t proof that dirty ductwork increases dust levels inside homes.
But some people are more sensitive to airborne dust and pet dander than others. If your nose is getting itchy just thinking about what might lurk in your ducts, the $300 to $600 it costs to clean a 2,000-square-foot home is a worthwhile investment. But before you reach for the phone, take a good look to see if your ducts are dirty.
Take A Picture
Wouldn’t it be handy if you could take an incredible journey through your ductwork to see if cleaning is needed? Using a pocket digital camera equipped with a flash, you can come close. Simply remove a floor or ceiling register, reach as far as you can into the duct and take a couple of pictures. If there’s dirt or duct piled up within a few feet of the register it will be easy to snake a vacuum cleaner hose into the duct and remove the stuff. However, if you see a long trail of unpleasant sticky substance or a thick coat of dust beyond what your vacuum can reach, your duct may be a candidate for professional cleaning.