You’ve had your house for years and you’ve been running your HVAC system for just as long. As such, you’re wondering: should you have your air ducts cleaned? Is it really worth it?
The answer is a bold and resounding “YES!” Looking for more information on the matter? Here are the benefits of cleaning air ducts.
What are the Benefits of Cleaning Your Air Ducts
You never see the insides of your air ducts, so what does it matter if they’re dirty? It matters because it impairs the functionality of the ducts. Thereby, by cleaning air ducts, you’ll receive the following benefits.
Optimal Airflow
When dust and debris accumulate on the insides of air ducts, they leave less space through which forced air can travel. In some cases, they even block up certain portions of the duct system, making it almost impossible for air to make it to these areas at all.
But when you clean air ducts, you remove dust and debris, allowing forced air to travel freely without restriction. This enables optimal airflow to all areas of the house, ensuring that each room is receiving the requisite amount of heat and/or cold.
Better Air Quality
When air is forced through a duct system, it takes other things along with it. Namely, it takes dust, mold spores, pet dander, and any other substances contained within a dirty duct system.
It then spits these substances out through the system’s vents, allowing them to enter the home’s indoor environment and drastically negatively impacting its air quality.
Want to improve your home’s indoor air quality? You have to clean those ducts. The cleaner your ducts, the fewer contaminants that will enter into your living space.
Cleaner Smells
When mixed, dust, pet dander, and mold can create quite a pungent odor. Unfortunately, these three substances often end up inside of duct systems. And, even worse, their aromas are forced out into the adjoining house, creating a smell that is — to put it lightly — less than pleasant.
Want a cleaner-smelling house? You have to keep your ducts clean. Removing debris from your duct system will ensure that it’s only pumping out air, and not foul-smelling contaminants.
A Longer-lasting HVAC System
HVAC systems can thrive through all types of wear and tear. However, at some point, the deterioration will become too much, and your HVAC system will need to be replaced.
What you might not realize, however, is that you have some influence over when this happens. Simply put, the more you maintain your HVAC system, the longer it will last.
And what’s a big part of HVAC maintenance? Cleaning out your ducts! So, if you want to get the most out of your AC and furnace, regular duct cleanings are a necessity.
Increased Energy Efficiency
When a duct system is impaired by dust and debris, the air that goes through it isn’t able to as easily make it to its destination. In fact, a good deal of this air ends up being lost, producing nothing for its air conditioner or furnace’s trouble. In short, dirty ducts reduce the energy efficiency of their corresponding HVAC systems.
As such, if you want to increase the energy efficiency in your home, you have to clean your ducts. A clean set of ducts will allow air to travel freely, resulting in the smallest amount of energy loss possible. This will take any undue strain off of the HVAC system, allowing it to operate at max capacity.
The Cost of Cleaning Air Ducts
Now, you might be curious: how much does it cost to have your air ducts cleaned? The price can vary based on a number of factors, including the size of your duct system and the area in which you’re located.
However, generally speaking, air duct cleaning will cost between $300 and $500. A good rule of thumb is to expect that you’ll pay $35 per vent. So, if you count 10 vents in your home, you’ll pay approximately $350 in total.
What Happens During an Air Duct Cleaning?
Air duct cleanings are fairly straightforward, though not necessarily easily facilitated by the everyday homeowner. They include the following.
Disassembly of Duct System
First and foremost, your cleaning team will disassemble your duct system. This is done so that the team can access the interior of the ducts. If the ducts aren’t disassembled, the team will only be able to clean the vent areas of the duct system; this is not sufficient for providing the above-reviewed benefits.
Cleaning of Duct Components
Once the ducts have been disassembled, the cleaning team will begin to remove existing residue. Vacuums, bare hands, and other implements facilitate this.
In addition to cleaning the ducts themselves, the team might also clean the vents, the blower motor housing, the heat exchanger, and other such entities. The goal is to leave the system as clean and as functional as possible.
Reassemble the Duct System
After the duct system has been cleaned thoroughly, it will be pieced back together. To ensure maximum structural stability, the team might even apply a sealant to the areas connecting duct panels.
Change Air Filter
To finish off the procedure, the team will remove your air filter and replace it with a fresh one. The air filter catches the majority of airborne residue, and therefore needs to be changed every 1 to 3 months.
We’re well-versed in the process of air ducts cleaning and will clean your air ducts in a timely and professional manner. Contact us now to schedule an appointment!
Need Help Cleaning Air Ducts in Wellen Park?
What do you say? Ready to clean your ducts? Need help cleaning air ducts in Wellen Park, specifically? We here at Bowersox Air Conditioning & Heating are the people to see.
Schedule an appointment with us today
