What Is In Your Ducts?
If you do not clean your ducts, you are breathing in some harmful contaminants. Also, these contaminants can escape into your home through ventilation systems which can cause health problems for your family members who live with you.
A typical ducts system contains some or all of the following:
- Duct tape
- Zinc, lead, and/or asbestos insulation
- Insect nests (insects like dusty areas)
- Mouse droppings
- Rodent hairs (rodents like dusty areas)
- Mold (mold needs dust to grow on)
Why Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
The air ducts in your home are one of the most neglected parts, yet they play a crucial role in your home’s ventilation.
Your air ducts, or HVAC ductwork are the tubes that carry heated or cooled air throughout your home. Over time, these ducts can become clogged with dust, dirt, and other debris.
Winter may bring the cold and flu, but it also may bring bugs and rodents into your ductwork in search of warmth. If these pests die in your ducts, their carcasses can contaminate the air in your home.
Springtime brings pollen that can accumulate in your ductwork and cause allergy flare-ups.
And over time, dust can accumulate in your ductwork. A dirty air duct is the perfect environment for mold to grow and spread throughout your home, which can cause serious respiratory problems.
What Happens When You Don’t Maintain Your HVAC System?
Dirty Filter
The role of an HVAC air filter is to filter out pollen, allergens, dander, and other airborne particles that can harm your health. A good air filter will give you high-quality indoor air that can not only prevent illnesses but also shorten them. When your air filter is dirty, airborne particles aren’t filtered; instead, they enter your home through your ductwork and are breathed in by you and your family.
Leaks
Leaks in an HVAC unit can be caused by several common scenarios: the drain hole is blocked with dirt or debris, the condenser pump is broken, the seals on your unit aren’t tight, or your hose is clogged or blocked. All of these things can occur if you don’t properly maintain your HVAC unit.
Dirty Blower
The role of your HVAC’s blower is to circulate the warm or cool air throughout your home. When it gets dirty, it requires more energy to operate, which increases your energy bills. If a blower gets dirty enough, it will fail and once it fails, it’s a sign that more problems are to come. If this happens, many HVAC companies recommend replacing your entire HVAC system.