How Often Should I Clean Air Ducts?
If you’re wondering how often to clean air ducts, fortunately, you don’t need to do it all that often to ensure the safe and proper running of your home’s heating and cooling systems. Scheduling an appointment every three to five years is enough to ensure your ducts aren’t actively damaging the health of those inside your home.
Signs You Need To Clean Air Ducts Quickly
Routine air duct cleaning removes regular buildup in your HVAC system. This process helps support healthy indoor air quality (IAQ). It also provides smooth air flow for your heating and cooling system. This can improve efficiency, which supports smart energy consumption and lower utility bills.
In some situations, routine maintenance isn’t enough. And you may need to schedule air duct cleaning sooner than three to five years from your last cleaning. Some signs that your ductwork needs a more immediate cleaning include:
Illness
Lingering colds, sinus infections, and other respiratory problems may indicate the need for better IAQ. Asthma and allergy sufferers may benefit from more frequent cleanings, as well.
Infestation
Rodents and insects are fond of making air ducts their home. Prevent the spread of disease and illness from these vermin with air duct cleaning.
Mold
Mold is a dangerous contaminant. Remove visible growth as soon as possible. But you’ll also need to remove the source. Mold spores are air borne and may spread easily through your vents. If you encounter this problem, talk to your technician about restorative and preventative measures.
Dirty Consequences
So what trouble’s in a little dirt and dust? Plenty. There are a number of problems caused by dirty ducts, ranging from increased energy costs to health problems:
- Dirt and dust restrict your HVAC system’s heating and cooling. In the winter, dirt-clogged heat exchangers cannot warm the air as efficiently. In the summer, dirt-clogged condensing coils are unable to cool the air as well. These both increase the HVAC systems run time, requiring it to use more fuel and energy to heat and cool your home.
- Dirt and dust restrict air flow. Let’s say your system is doing a fine job of heating and cooling the air. But if the blower fan or motor can’t turn because of dirt or the air filter is clogged with dust, then the system can’t effectively circulate that properly warmed or cooled air through out your home. It’s still going to run longer and use more energy.
- The longer your HVAC system operates, the more wear and tear it undergoes. Long run times can shorten the overall life time of HVAC systems, from AC compressors to hydro pumps, burners, and motor bearings. You’ll wear out your home’s HVAC system sooner.
- Dust contains not only fine dirt, but also dead skin, pet dander, microorganisms from cat litter (toxoplasmosis), and other particulates such as pollen, mold spores, fungi, and even rodent feces. Left to contaminate your HVAC system, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, mites, and other pests.
- Dirt and dust spread quicker in a home with dirty ducts. No matter how diligent you may dust and clean your home, fine particulate contaminates, including dangerous allergens, quickly flow from room to room to cover tables, smart phones, and children’s toys.