When it comes to keeping your home's air ducts clean, it's essential to understand the potential risks associated with not doing so. From decreased airflow to mold growth, there are a number of issues that can arise if air ducts are not cleaned regularly. Not only can this affect the health of your family, but it can also cause problems with the heating and cooling unit, leading to more frequent repairs and a shorter lifespan for the unit. To ensure maximum airflow and reduce energy bills, it is recommended to have air ducts professionally cleaned at least once a year.
One of the main issues with leaving vents and air ducts untreated is mold. This is especially common with insulated ventilation grilles. If water enters the vents or condensation is allowed to accumulate, moisture will remain. Over time, without proper cleaning and maintenance of air ducts, mold and mildew will form.
In addition to affecting health, dirty air ducts can also cause problems with the heating and cooling unit. It's not uncommon for the unit to operate more frequently and for longer periods due to the additional strain associated with air moving through those dirty ducts. The increased amount of use will cause more moving parts to wear out faster. As a result, you'll have to request repairs more often. Overall, the additional stress shortens the life of the heating and cooling unit.
Even with quick repairs, the unit may not last as many years. From this perspective, choosing to have air ducts cleaned every two to three years can be considered a way to maintain the same unit for a longer period of time. As long as forced air continues to come out through the vents, it doesn't seem to make sense to think about the duct system. This is because dirty ducts cause the heating and air conditioning to overheat, increasing the risk of fire and leading to high levels of carbon monoxide. Professionals are trained to know what to look for, how to manage cleaning professionally and without damaging the ventilation grilles or surrounding areas, and what is needed to inspect a duct system after cleaning is complete. The best way to ensure maximum airflow is to have ductwork professionally cleaned at least once a year.
A clean air duct system helps your HVAC system operate more efficiently, reducing those monthly energy bills. If allergies, asthma, or other medical conditions related to breathing are a problem for your family, it's important that you have your air ducts cleaned by a professional. If there doesn't seem to be another reason for the increase in symptoms, have a professional inspect the ducts to see if they need cleaning. These are just some of the risks you face when you don't keep your home's air ducts as clean as they should be. A simple way that is often overlooked is to clean the air ducts every time you see dirt on the walls surrounding the vents. Some of the lesser-known signs of health problems related to dirty air ducts include the onset of skin diseases. In addition to the ducts themselves, it is also necessary to clean the fan and other parts of the system that force air into the ducts.
Even if they are not present, but if you notice that your home's air seems stale or family members begin sneezing, coughing or having nasal congestion more often than usual, it is worth checking if your air ducts need cleaning.
