You may not think of them often, but air ducts are a major component of any home or building. Air duct ventilation shafts circulate and regulate air throughout a building. They distribute heat in the colder seasons, and cold air in the warmer seasons. As air ducts regulate the air that everyone breath’s, it is important to regularly monitor them and clean them when necessary.
The cleaning of air ducts is not just cleaning the passages that air travels through.
It is also cleaning each component of the air duct including grilles and diffusers, cooling coils, heat exchangers, drip pans, fans, and every other component. Air duct systems are complex and may require a professional air duct cleaner.
So, why is cleaning air ducts important? While there is no formal indication that contaminated or dirty air ducts cause health or respiratory issues, there are benefits to cleaning. Some of the benefits included preserving your heating and cooling systems, saving energy and costs, reducing allergy irritants, and reducing any potential odor. We will discuss each of these in more detail below.
To Preserve Your Heating and Cooling Systems
As air ducts are what circulate air throughout buildings, those with built up dust or mold can inhibit this flow of air. With reduced air flow comes reduced heating and cooling ability. If you notice that your heating or air conditioning bill is increasing and you are have to adjust your thermostat more frequently or to more extreme temperatures, this can indicate that the air flow is inhibited. After ruling out other possibilities, it may be time to review your air ducts.
Cleaning your air ducts also maintains your heating and cooling systems by removing any mold or rusting agents. It can make your system last longer. Cleaning them also improves air flow efficiency, which can save on costs.
To Save on Energy
Similar to the last passage, inhibited air flow means that you have to use more energy to heat each room and to cool each room. This means that the energy you are using increases and so is your energy bill. Monitor your air ducts to ensure you are not wasting money on unnecessary energy costs.
To Reduce Allergy Irritants
Two of the most common contaminants found in air ducts are dust and mold, both of which can cause allergic reactions. As air ducts regulate air flow through rooms, any dust mites or mold spores within the duct can transfer to the rooms and people can breathe them in, causing allergic reactions. This is not to say that a little dust in your air ducts can cause severe reactions, but if you have ruled out other possibilities and you are still experiencing red or itchy eyes, sneezing fits, or runny nose, it may be time to check your air ducts for any severe dust or mold.
To Reduce Odor
Severe odors or smells can pervade a building through air ducts often in the form of excessive mold or a rodent that crawled into the air ducts and perished. If you notice an odor emitting from any ventilation shaft or cannot find the source, check your air ducts. You may find a deceased animal, which is easy enough to clean up and dispose of, or you may notice an excess amount of mold, which is not as easy to clean. If mold is the cause, you will need to call a professional and get that portion of the duct system replaced.
Conclusion
While it is important to monitor your air ducts and investigate them if you suspect any issue, you do not have to regularly clean them. Only attempt to clean air ducts if you know that they are causing your heating and cooling issues, causing allergies, or emitting odors. It can be difficult to tell if contaminated or dirty air ducts are the cause of these issues, so it is best to get the opinion of a professional prior to cleaning. However, you can’t go wrong by having them cleaned in any case.
Some households prefer and annual duct cleaning while others opt for it as it is needed, or every few years. Consulting a professional will help you decide what is best for you and your home.
716 Duct Clean in Livonia provides the highest quality air duct cleaning services throughout the Detroit Metro area. We use the most advanced and powerful duct cleaning system available as it able to reach and dislodge all contaminants in any angle or elbow thoroughly and efficiently in one pass.
You and your home will always benefit with duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning services, especially when it is done right. Our duct cleaning experts have been at it for more than 25 years with a commitment to complete customer satisfaction. Call us for a Free Estimate!