Cleaning air ducts is often times one of those considerations that enter into our mind and then exit it a few seconds later. We stare at an air duct for a few seconds wondering it is worth cleaning, shrug our shoulders, and then move on with our lives. Is it necessarily a bad thing that air ducts generally go overlooked? Not really.
The vast majority of the time you, nor your home, will experience any negative effects from a neglected air duct. However, there is potential for harm. Ultimately, the question “is it necessary to clean air ducts?” results in a gray area answer that is dependent on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, we will breakdown the question and explain air duct cleaning from both ends of the gray scale.
When duct cleaning is not necessary
First off, there is no concrete evidence that dirty air ducts threaten the health of a home’s occupants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared this themselves. Any dust or bacteria should stick to the duct itself; therefore, it should not drift into the living area. If you have an air filter installed into your HVAC system then your air ducts should stay clean. Any unwanted particles will be rid of prior to getting to the air duct if your system has an air filter. Keep in mind, air ducts are expected to prove their worth for 10-20 years. This does not mean they do not need to be cleaned for that time span; however, it gives you an idea as to the leniency you can have towards having them cleaned.
When duct cleaning is necessary
- If you notice mold on the vent of the air duct.
- A bad odor is unexplainably filling your home or part of your home.
- To potentially improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.
- To gain peace of mind.
In other words, duct cleaning is not something you need to do routinely. If any of the above issues come to fruition, then it’s a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned. The last bullet point—to gain peace of mind—is not to be laughed at. People are often suspicious of areas of a home that cannot be seen. Your home could be spotless from what the eye can see, though, that darn air duct might annoy you because you don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.
For this reason, it is not a bad idea to at least have someone inspect the air duct on occasion. Whether it’s yourself or a professional, the result of the inspection will either prompt the decision to have the air ducts cleaned, or it will give you the satisfaction that your air ducts are clean and free from harm.
How it can help
Duct cleaning can dispose of various filth, including vermin and bacteria. It can also alert you of issues with your HVAC system. Furthermore, a filthy air duct is often the result of a malfunctioned HVAC system. This is why the replacement of an HVAC system should coincide with the replacement of the air duct. The two essentially go hand in hand. At the end of the day, having the assurance that your air ducts are clean can give you one less thing to worry about.
How Area Wide Service can help
Area Wide Services Inc. offers duct and dryer vent cleaning. We will ensure your units are performing optimally once cleaned and that they will continue to perform optimally in the distant future. If you’d prefer, Area Wide Services Inc. also offers Duct Performance Testing. We will send out an expert to inspect your air ducts to determine and advice whether or not a cleaning is necessary. It will be cheaper to inspect rather than diving right into a cleaning. Area Wide Services is here to help with your air ducts, as well as any other heating/cooling needs that your home may need.