Your home’s ductwork is not likely to be something that you spend a lot of time thinking about. However, it fulfills a central function in your home: without your ducts, your AC and heating could not work.
Just like all other surfaces in your home, your ducts can get dirty. However, dirty ducts are a little harder to reach than your floors and shelving – so they can go quite a while without being cleaned. That’s why it’s important to talk to HVAC professionals about a regular cleaning schedule.
Read on for an overview of professional air duct cleaning and its many benefits.
What is Ductwork?
Ductwork refers to the metal venting that connects your central HVAC system to the vents in each room of your home. Ducts work to move heated or chilled air, depending on the season, throughout your house to control the temperature.
Ducts need to be sealed and insulated to prevent air from leaking out and temperature being exchanged. The sealed nature of ducts, however, means that sometimes debris can accumulate within them. This can happen when your air filter in your furnace or AC becomes too clogged, or when debris falls through the vents of your home.
When dust, debris, and other things collect in your ducts, it can restrict airflow. This can represent several operational problems for your HVAC system, which is why it’s important to get a professional to clean the ducts out periodically.
What Are the Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning?
Air duct cleaning should be a core part of your regular HVAC maintenance schedule. It’s a good idea for a professional to look at your ducts at least once a year, and even more often if you experience any of the red flags mentioned below.
1. Professional Air Duct Cleaning Leads to Better Air Quality
The most apparent reason why you should consider having your air ducts cleaned is that it will improve the air quality in your home. Dust and other airborne particles can build up in your ductwork, which then means that your HVAC system is blowing those particles around every time it turns on. Ductwork cleaning can help ease allergy symptoms that you may be experiencing.
It’s also important to note that mold can grow in your ducts. Mold spores can cause or aggravate several illnesses, particularly lung problems.
You’ll be able to tell when mold forms in your ductwork because you’ll smell an earthy or musty odor throughout your home. It will be stronger when your AC or furnace is running. By cleaning out your ducts regularly, you’ll prevent mold from forming and protect the health of you and your family.
2. Improved Energy Efficiency
Another key reason to get your ducts professionally cleaned is to improve the performance of your HVAC system. Ductwork that is clogged with dust and debris won’t be able to circulate air very well. This means that your furnace and AC will have to work for longer periods to reach the temperature set on the thermostat.
You may notice that your ducts need cleaning if there are drafts or cold spots that have recently developed in your home. Cleaning the ducts can improve the evenness of your heating and cooling, while also cutting down on your utility bills.
3. Fewer Repairs
In a similar train of thought to the above point, having clean and clear ducts can reduce the amount of mechanical strain on your HVAC system. Units that have to operate for longer to hit the thermostat temperature will suffer from more wear and tear. Clear ductwork will not only save you money on your utility bills but also your repair bills and other maintenance costs over the long run.
What Does Professional Air Duct Cleaning Look Like?
Professional duct cleaning will seal your ductwork off in sections. Then, they’ll use a series of brushes to knock loose any stuck dirt and dust within the vents, while using a high-powered vacuum to suck out all the particles.
If mold is present in your ducts, your ducts will also have to be sanitized. Wet vacuums may remove any standing water that still sits in your vents, while cleaning chemicals will be sprayed and scrubbed into the ductwork to remove the existing mold growth and to kill any remaining mold spores that may be floating around.
Depending on the severity of your mold problem, you may have to leave your home while contractors work on your ductwork. If the problem has spread outside of your ducts to other areas of your home, you may have to get in touch with mold remediation specialists.
Florida’s Climate Means Your Ducts are Almost Always in Use
Having professional air duct cleaning done at regular intervals can prevent the range of problems explored above from occurring. It also means that your HVAC system can work at its peak effectiveness.
Florida’s temperature means that you’ll likely be running the AC constantly. Further, the high humidity in the state means that there’s a higher risk of mold developing in your ducts. That’s why maintaining clean ducts should be at the top of your household maintenance list.
Are you in the Venice, Florida area?
Get in touch with our team today to schedule a duct inspection or for any other HVAC maintenance needs that you may have.
Schedule an appointment with us today
